Unassigned
San Diego Billionaire Mansion Gets $20M Price Cut To $87.5M
A grand oceanfront mansion in La Jolla, California, has returned to the spotlight after a major price drop. The home, known as the Sand Castle, once carried a price tag of $108 million. After several changes, the estate is now listed for $87.5 million, making it one of the most talked-about luxury homes in San Diego.
The property belonged to late tech billionaire Darwin Deason, the founder of Affiliated Computer Services. Deason built great wealth in the technology world before selling the company to Xerox in 2009 for $6.4 billion. His California home reflects the scale of that success, with its palace-style design, ocean views, rare beach access, and custom details.
Via Sand Catle
Even with the $20 million price cut, the mansion remains far above most homes in the area. If it sells close to the new asking price, it could nearly double San Diego’s previous residential sale record. That record was set in 2023 when private equity billionaire Egon Durban bought a property for $44.1 million.
Via Business Insider
The mansion sits on the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, one of San Diego’s most expensive and scenic neighborhoods. La Jolla is known for cliffs, beaches, ocean views, and high-end homes. Few properties in the area offer the same level of privacy, space, and direct connection to the water.
The estate is sand-colored, filled with balconies, and built to make the ocean part of daily life. Many rooms open toward the sea, while outdoor areas lead toward terraces, a pool, and a private beach setting. The design makes the property feel more like a coastal resort than a regular private home.
Via Bloomberg
Via Compass San Diego Housing Market
The reduction does not mean the estate has lost its rare appeal. The mansion still includes features that are difficult to find anywhere else in the city. Its oceanfront location, custom seawall, direct beach access, and palace-level design keep it among the most valuable homes ever listed in San Diego.
Via Lajolla
The main house covers about 13,000 square feet and includes a dramatic two-story entry hall. Large rooms, detailed ceilings, marble floors, and crystal lighting help create a formal and grand first impression. The layout was built for both private living and large-scale entertaining.
One of the most striking rooms is the oval-shaped dining room. It seats 16 guests and sits beneath a 19th-century crystal chandelier. Large windows bring in views of the Pacific Ocean, while gold accents and polished details give the room a true palace-like feel.
Via Ocean Home Magazine
Via Lajolla
Gold details can be found throughout the mansion, including 18-karat and 24-karat accents. These touches appear in bathrooms, ceilings, and decorative areas. The home has 14 full bathrooms and three half-bathrooms, giving it the scale of a private resort or boutique palace.
Via San Diego Union Tribune
Several bedrooms open to balconies or offer direct views of the Pacific Ocean. These rooms were designed to feel bright, elegant, and calm, with crystal chandeliers, soft colors, and custom furnishings. The sea views help balance the formal interiors with a relaxed coastal mood.
The bedroom design follows the same theme as the rest of the home. Every space uses rich materials and polished finishes, yet the ocean remains the main focus. This balance between palace style and beach living is one reason the Sand Castle feels different from other luxury homes in California.
Via Realtor
Via Luxury Home Nets
This room shows how much care went into the home’s design. The Sand Castle was not built with plain luxury in mind. Each major space has a theme, story, or custom detail, which makes the mansion feel personal and carefully planned.
Via San Diego Ville
The property also has two cabanas, with one designed for men and one for women. A beachfront kitchen adds another layer of comfort for outdoor meals and gatherings. These features make the home suitable for hosting guests while keeping the ocean as the main backdrop.
One of the most unusual details is the private beach area. Deason imported soft white sand from Augusta National Golf Club, the famous course that hosts the Masters Tournament. The sand alone reportedly cost $40,000, showing how much attention went into even the smallest lifestyle details.
Via Sand Castle La Jolla
Via Luxury Houses Net
This is one reason the estate continues to attract attention despite its high price. Buyers are not only looking at bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage. They are also looking at a rare oceanfront setting, a custom-built private beach experience, and a home that carries the personal vision of a billionaire owner.
Via Sillicon Valley
The mansion blends French palace style with Southern California coastal living. Marble floors, gold details, crystal chandeliers, custom mosaics, oceanfront terraces, and rare imported materials all give the home a strong sense of luxury. The private beach, pool, cabanas, and beachfront kitchen make the outdoor space just as notable as the inside.
For wealthy buyers, the Sand Castle offers more than a large home by the water. It offers a rare piece of La Jolla real estate that may not be possible to build again under today’s rules. That makes the estate a major listing in California’s luxury housing market, even after its headline-making price cut.
More in UnassignedVia Sand Catle
Even with the $20 million price cut, the mansion remains far above most homes in the area. If it sells close to the new asking price, it could nearly double San Diego’s previous residential sale record. That record was set in 2023 when private equity billionaire Egon Durban bought a property for $44.1 million.
Versailles-Inspired Home On Pacific Ocean
The Sand Castle was designed with strong inspiration from the Palace of Versailles in France. The home also takes design ideas from Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a famous luxury hotel in the South of France. The result is a rare mix of European palace style and California oceanfront living.Via Business Insider
The mansion sits on the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, one of San Diego’s most expensive and scenic neighborhoods. La Jolla is known for cliffs, beaches, ocean views, and high-end homes. Few properties in the area offer the same level of privacy, space, and direct connection to the water.
The estate is sand-colored, filled with balconies, and built to make the ocean part of daily life. Many rooms open toward the sea, while outdoor areas lead toward terraces, a pool, and a private beach setting. The design makes the property feel more like a coastal resort than a regular private home.
Via Bloomberg
Why The Mansion’s Price Was Reduced
The Sand Castle first entered the market in October 2024 with a price of $108 million. That number made the home one of the boldest listings in San Diego history. Luxury buyers are used to high prices, but crossing the $100 million mark in San Diego is still a major step. The new price of $87.5 million brings the mansion below that psychological barrier. For buyers, a home under $100 million can feel more reachable, even when the price is still extremely high. In luxury real estate, price perception can matter almost as much as the property itself.Via Compass San Diego Housing Market
The reduction does not mean the estate has lost its rare appeal. The mansion still includes features that are difficult to find anywhere else in the city. Its oceanfront location, custom seawall, direct beach access, and palace-level design keep it among the most valuable homes ever listed in San Diego.
Inside The Main House And Guest House
The property includes a seven-bedroom main house and a three-bedroom guest house. The guest house was inspired by Le Petit Trianon, a small palace on the grounds of Versailles. This gives the estate a strong French feel from the main home to the extra living space.Via Lajolla
The main house covers about 13,000 square feet and includes a dramatic two-story entry hall. Large rooms, detailed ceilings, marble floors, and crystal lighting help create a formal and grand first impression. The layout was built for both private living and large-scale entertaining.
One of the most striking rooms is the oval-shaped dining room. It seats 16 guests and sits beneath a 19th-century crystal chandelier. Large windows bring in views of the Pacific Ocean, while gold accents and polished details give the room a true palace-like feel.
Via Ocean Home Magazine
Luxury Details Imported From Europe
The Sand Castle stands out because of its custom materials and rare design pieces. Fireplaces throughout the main house were imported from France. Antique statues, marble surfaces, mosaics, and detailed ceiling work add to the European style of the home. The mansion also includes several custom mosaics by New Ravenna. These details help give the property a handcrafted look instead of a standard luxury finish. Nearly every piece of furniture in the home was custom-made, which means the rooms were designed as complete spaces rather than filled after construction.Via Lajolla
Gold details can be found throughout the mansion, including 18-karat and 24-karat accents. These touches appear in bathrooms, ceilings, and decorative areas. The home has 14 full bathrooms and three half-bathrooms, giving it the scale of a private resort or boutique palace.
The Bedrooms Offer Ocean Views And Private Comfort
The estate includes 10 bedrooms in total across the main house and guest house. The primary bedroom suite is one of the most private and valuable areas of the mansion. It includes an oceanfront terrace, a private study, and separate his-and-her bathrooms.Via San Diego Union Tribune
Several bedrooms open to balconies or offer direct views of the Pacific Ocean. These rooms were designed to feel bright, elegant, and calm, with crystal chandeliers, soft colors, and custom furnishings. The sea views help balance the formal interiors with a relaxed coastal mood.
The bedroom design follows the same theme as the rest of the home. Every space uses rich materials and polished finishes, yet the ocean remains the main focus. This balance between palace style and beach living is one reason the Sand Castle feels different from other luxury homes in California.
Via Realtor
A Nautical Bar With Rare Details
One of the home’s most unique spaces is its nautical-themed bar. The design is said to be a nod to Darwin Deason’s yacht, Apogee. The room uses wall-to-ceiling wood paneling, creating a warm and private space away from the bright marble and gold areas. The bar includes walnut finishes, onyx marble, and 18th-century mermaid statues. These features give the room an old-world sailing feel while still matching the mansion’s luxury style. Half-moon windows add charm and bring in views of the ocean outside.Via Luxury Home Nets
This room shows how much care went into the home’s design. The Sand Castle was not built with plain luxury in mind. Each major space has a theme, story, or custom detail, which makes the mansion feel personal and carefully planned.
Pool, Cabanas, Beach Kitchen, And Private Sand
The outdoor area is one of the strongest parts of the estate. The mansion includes a pool lined with blue Thassos marble tiles. Around the pool, terraces, and seating areas face the Pacific Ocean, giving residents and guests a resort-style experience.Via San Diego Ville
The property also has two cabanas, with one designed for men and one for women. A beachfront kitchen adds another layer of comfort for outdoor meals and gatherings. These features make the home suitable for hosting guests while keeping the ocean as the main backdrop.
One of the most unusual details is the private beach area. Deason imported soft white sand from Augusta National Golf Club, the famous course that hosts the Masters Tournament. The sand alone reportedly cost $40,000, showing how much attention went into even the smallest lifestyle details.
Via Sand Castle La Jolla
Rare Estate That May Be Hard To Repeat
The Sand Castle has direct beach access through an elevator that takes residents and guests down toward the private beach area. The beach is elevated around 10 feet above the ground, giving it a rare and protected feel. This setup adds privacy while keeping the estate closely connected to the shoreline. The listing agents have said the home’s custom seawall and direct beach access could not be easily recreated today because of modern state building standards. That makes the property more valuable than just its size, design, or materials. It includes coastal features that may be nearly impossible to build again.Via Luxury Houses Net
This is one reason the estate continues to attract attention despite its high price. Buyers are not only looking at bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage. They are also looking at a rare oceanfront setting, a custom-built private beach experience, and a home that carries the personal vision of a billionaire owner.
Sand Castle’s Lasting Value
Darwin Deason’s Sand Castle mansion remains one of the most impressive homes ever placed on the San Diego market. The $20 million price cut brings the asking price down to $87.5 million, but the estate still sits far above the city’s previous record sale. Its size, location, and design keep it in a class of its own.Via Sillicon Valley
The mansion blends French palace style with Southern California coastal living. Marble floors, gold details, crystal chandeliers, custom mosaics, oceanfront terraces, and rare imported materials all give the home a strong sense of luxury. The private beach, pool, cabanas, and beachfront kitchen make the outdoor space just as notable as the inside.
For wealthy buyers, the Sand Castle offers more than a large home by the water. It offers a rare piece of La Jolla real estate that may not be possible to build again under today’s rules. That makes the estate a major listing in California’s luxury housing market, even after its headline-making price cut.
