A historic Irish estate has become the latest addition to Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s growing property portfolio. The Meta chief executive and his wife have purchased Strancally Castle, a sprawling 440-acre property in County Waterford, Ireland, featuring a Gothic-style mansion overlooking the River Blackwater. The acquisition brings a 19th-century residence, with a history stretching back nearly 200 years, into the family’s collection of homes.As reported by the Irish Times, dated October 7, 2026, the purchase price was initially estimated at between €20 million and €30 million. However, Ireland’s Property Price Register subsequently recorded a sale figure of €51.17 million for the property, covering the principal residence and up to one acre of land. The total expenditure on the full estate is understood to be higher.
Inside Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s 440-acre Irish estate and Gothic castle
Strancally Castle sits on an extensive stretch of land in County Waterford, with the main residence occupying around 16,000 square feet. Strancally Castle is a three-storey Gothic Revival mansion spanning approximately 16,000 square feet, set within a 440-acre estate overlooking the River Blackwater. Its position overlooking the River Blackwater gives the property a distinctive setting in the Irish countryside.The house has undergone renovation work over the past two decades, bringing changes to a building that dates back to around 1830. Its original construction was commissioned by John Keily, a former member of the British Parliament. Irish architects James and George Richard Pain were responsible for its design. The brothers also worked on several other historic buildings in Ireland, including castle residences.The scale of the estate extends well beyond the main house. Its extensive grounds and historic architecture distinguish it from a conventional luxury residential purchase.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Irish castle purchase price and previous owners
The purchase price was subsequently disclosed through Ireland’s Property Price Register. According to the Irish Times, Zuckerberg and Chan paid €51,171,155 for Strancally Castle, with the sale recorded on August 17, 2026. The registered figure covers the principal residence and up to one acre of land, meaning the couple’s total expenditure on the entire 440-acre estate would be considerably higher.The estate was previously owned by Michael Alen-Buckley, co-founder of investment management firm RAB Capital, and his wife, Giancarla Alen-Buckley. The couple expressed their happiness at the change in ownership in a statement to the Irish Times, saying, “We leave our home of 25 years fondly and are grateful for the opportunity we have been given to save and restore Strancally Castle … We are delighted that Mark and his family intend to build on our stewardship by continuing to invest in maintaining and enhancing the property and grounds as their home in a sustainable manner ... We wish them and their family much happiness in this unique and blessed place.”Zuckerberg’s spokesperson Brian Baker also confirmed the purchase. He said, “Mark and his family look forward to caring for this historic home and visiting when traveling to Ireland, where Meta maintains its international headquarters.”
Why Mark Zuckerberg chose Ireland for his latest property purchase
The location has a connection to Zuckerberg’s professional life as well as his family’s property interests. Ireland is home to Meta’s European headquarters, which the company established in the country in 2009. Its substantial Irish operations make the country a destination for Zuckerberg’s business-related visits.The company, which operates Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has maintained a substantial presence in Ireland for years. The castle is therefore expected to serve as a place for the family to stay when visiting the country rather than simply another overseas property.The purchase also places the couple among wealthy technology executives who have acquired substantial residential properties outside the United States. Their latest acquisition is considerably different from the modern homes and large residential compounds more commonly associated with Silicon Valley fortunes.
Zuckerberg’s property portfolio stretches across several US states
Strancally Castle is far from the first major property purchase made by Zuckerberg and Chan. The couple have built up an extensive collection of residential properties, with holdings in California, Hawaii and other parts of the United States.In Palo Alto, California, Zuckerberg reportedly spent more than $110 million acquiring at least 11 properties in the affluent Crescent Park neighbourhood. The purchases attracted attention from local residents as several homes in the area became part of his wider property holdings.He also previously owned a San Francisco residence, which he sold in 2022 for $31 million. In Washington, DC, the Meta founder paid approximately $23 million in cash for a mansion spanning around 15,000 square feet.Hawaii is another important part of the family’s real estate interests. Zuckerberg has invested in a large property there, while Lake Tahoe is home to another sizable compound associated with the technology executive. His interest in water sports has also been visible on social media, where he has shared footage of himself hydrofoiling.The Irish castle adds a different kind of property to this collection, bringing historic European architecture into a portfolio otherwise centred largely on American residential estates.
Mark Zuckerberg’s growing property portfolio and interest in classical history
Zuckerberg’s interest in classical history has occasionally appeared in his personal life. He and Chan have given their daughters names associated with Roman history, reflecting an interest in the ancient world, as reported by Los Angeles Times.Strancally Castle, with its 19th-century origins and Gothic architecture, offers another connection to European history. Its previous owners have expressed their hope that the property will remain well maintained under the family’s ownership.Zuckerberg, who leads Meta, had an estimated fortune of more than $200 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index in November 2026. The acquisition of the Waterford estate adds another substantial property to the family’s holdings.Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports and property records. The Times of India has not independently verified the transaction details, property valuation or total purchase price of the estate.