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Inside 4 tech billionaires’ new Malibu mansions: Google’s Sergey Brin, WhatsApp’s Jan Koum, Apple’s Laurene Powell Jobs and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen splashed millions on beachfront homes
STORYUmesh Bhagchandani
- Beverly Hills in Los Angeles may be popular for celebrities like the Kardashians, Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift and Rihanna, but tech billionaires are looking to Malibu
- Brin just bought Pink’s former home while Ukrainian-American Koum and Steve Jobs’ widow Powell Jobs have owned several properties in the region
Los Angeles is home to much of Hollywood’s rich and famous, often in neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Calabasas. But lately, it seems that Malibu has been all the rage and has apparently caught a particular new wave of tech billionaires’ attention, with many looking to expand their property portfolio in the region. Like, who doesn’t love an oceanfront home, right?
From WhatsApp’s former CEO Jan Koum to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, we take a look at which billionaires have recently splashed out on Malibu mansions.
WhatsApp’s former co-founder Jan Koum has US$187 million worth of property in Malibu
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The Ukrainian-American billionaire is best known as the co-founder of WhatsApp. He has a net worth of US$9.7 billion.
In 2019, Koum bought a Malibu mansion for a jaw-dropping US$100 million from NBCUniversal vice-chairman Ron Meyer, per Dirt. At nearly 14,000 sq ft, the property has six beds and seven-and-half bathrooms and was custom-built by the late architect Gwathmey Siegel in the late 90s.
His first Malibu mansion sits on a 1.2-hectare (three-acre) clifftop lot that overlooks the scenic Paradise Cove beach and features a sprawling pool, green gardens and tennis court outside. He counts Leonardo DiCaprio and Courteney Cox as his neighbours.
In 2021, Koum bought his next-door neighbour’s mansion for US$87 million. The gorgeous property belonged to Bosnian-born beverage mogul and new Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member, Sanela Diana Jenkins, who asked for US$125 million as the initial price.
Umesh Bhagchandani is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Jakarta, where he spent the better part of his life writing for Indonesia Tatler. Currently, he still writes film reviews on his blog (meshthemoviefreak) and is developing Jakarta Veg Bible along the way.
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