Lesser-Known Apple Co-Founder, Mike Markkula, Is Selling His 14,000 Acre Ranch for $45 Million
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The co-founder of Apple, Mike Markkula, put up his 14,000 acre California ranch up for sale according to a report by Sarah Tilton from The Wall Street Journal. The asking price, according to Tilton, is $45 million, down from the original price back in 2013 of 59.95 million. Quite a big difference in a housing market that has been slow to improve since the last recession.
Tilton describes Markkula’s residency thusly, “a working cattle ranch, the property includes a private lake, riding sea, two barns and a 2,900-foot landing strip. The 5,413-square-foot main house has one bedroom, one bath and two half-baths. A covered walkway connects it to a two-bedroom guest wing, and there is also a separate two-bedroom guesthouse. The range also has offices and homes for the manager and staff.”
The property sounds like it has it all for a successful businessman or woman. While the loss in value is surprising, Markkula purchased the property back in 1982 according to a quote used by Tilton. She writes he paid $8 million at 9,000 acres for the property originally; still a decent profit by any means, and the property was eventually upgraded to 14,000 acres. “Mr. Markkula said he and his wife, Linda, bought the ranch as a second home and possible retirement home after looking at properties for a year and a half,” Tilton writes.
The Mercury News writer Pueng Vongs claims Markkula, “is the lesser known of the Apple co-founders that include Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.” Vongs writes, “You’ll also get 300 to 450 heads of cattle at the working ranch and horse facilities, among many other amenities.” It’s not often a person has the opportunity to purchase property along with cattle at the same time.
Markkula may not be the most well-known founder of Apple, but his efforts did help make Apple what it is today. Moving on is part of life and while he’s selling his home, some lucky buyer will be able to say he or she lives in a house once owned by a legend. If you are in the market, and can afford it, Markkula’s home is ripe for the taking.
