Investor Warren Buffett may be worth more than $75 billion, but he’s as famous for his frugal lifestyle as he is for his money-making brilliance. At age 86, the “Oracle of Omaha” is ready to part ways with the California beach house he’s owned since the 1970s, and recently placed it on the market at the not-so-bargain price of $11 million.
Billionaire’s Beach House
With a fortune estimated at $76 billion, Warren Buffett’s frugality is legendary. Although the investor/philanthropist famously lives in the same modest home in Omaha, Nebraska that he’s owned since 1958, he did splurge on this California vacation home in Laguna Beach, which he purchased in 1971 for $150,000. Naturally, he’ll make a few bucks on this investment, as the asking price is $11 million.
A Modest Home
Featuring six bedrooms and seven baths, the home is certainly spacious and boasts all the modern amenities. However, in typical Buffett style, the home is certainly modest for someone of his vast wealth – although the view is certainly spectacular.
Live Like a Billionaire
It only takes a few million to live like a billionaire! “For the first time in nearly 50 years the legendary ‘Oracle of Omaha’s’ home (at) 27 Emerald Bay is now available!” declares the listing.
His Wife Liked It
According to the Wall Street Journal, Buffett bought the home because his wife, Susan, liked it, and never really considered its potential as an investment.
Modest for the Neighbourhood
As the home’s realtor, Bill Dolby of Villa Real Estate, told the Wall Street Journal, the home is one of the more modest ones to be found in the pricey gated community in which it’s situated. “It has few of the pricey flourishes expected in the homes of billionaires,” said Dolby. “Much of the flooring is grey carpeting; the kitchen countertops are mostly white laminate.”
Ocean Views
Most of the rooms in the home have views of the ocean, thanks to the close proximity to Laguna Beach’s Emerald Bay. A separate building houses a large family room that boasts this wrap-around covered deck.
Living Room
The home’s sleek, modern design aesthetic is on full display in the spacious living room, with the fireplace serving as a focal point. A sheltered staircase leads to the second floor.
California Living
The living room features numerous windows to showcase the ocean view in the distance, while a large glass door accesses the self-contained family room.
Open Concept
The main floor is centred around this open-concept living area, which includes the living room, dining room (shown in the foreground) and adjoining kitchen.
Comfortable Kitchen
The kitchen is not particularly large, nor particularly extravagant given the wealth of the home’s owner, with the white laminate countertops and butcher block kitchen island.
Bright and Sunny
The kitchen may be somewhat modest, yet plenty of windows and a French door let in loads of natural light, as do the twin skylights carved into the sloped ceiling.
Buffett’s Bedrooms
Two of the home’s seven bedrooms have separate entrances, which are surprisingly modest but far from shabby.
Master Ensuite
The master bedroom’s ensuite is a bit more on the high-end side, with marble countertops and a soaker tub in an adjoining walled-off area.
Ensuite Bath
Five of the six bedrooms feature ensuite bathrooms, such as this one. The home has seven bathrooms in total, which includes two full baths and one half-bath.
Personal Touch
While most of the home is somewhat innocuous in terms of design, with beige walls and carpeting, this powder room is a standout, with its black-and-white checkerboard flooring and wall adorned entirely with covers of The New Yorker magazine.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom is sparsely furnished but oh so spacious, with glass doors accessing a private patio.
Three Generations
Another of the home’s bedrooms, this one is clearly meant to be shared by young girls. According to the listing, three generations of the Buffett family have enjoyed staying at this idyllic vacation home over the past half-century.
Bedrooms Aplenty
Another bedroom, demonstrating how pretty much every room in the home is flooded with California sunlight.
Spare Bedroom
With this many bedrooms in the home, a room like this could be easily converted into a home office or fitness room.
Outdoor Living
Given that Buffett and his family used the home primarily as a vacation getaway, this beautifully shady outdoor patio no doubt enjoyed plenty of family fun over the years.
A Billionaire’s View
If any one picture could sum up the main selling point of the home, it would be this one, showcasing the stunning view from this sunny deck.
Buffett’s Beach
The home overlooks Emerald Bay, one of the most gorgeous beaches to be found in Laguna Beach, in the heart of “The O.C.”
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