Mark Zuckerberg Will Stay in California Even If Billionaire Tax Passes—After Spending $112 Million on Palo Alto Megacompound

Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg have reached an agreement that will keep the social media mogul in California, after he raised concerns over a proposed billionaire wealth tax.

Proposition 40, a ballot initiative that would establish a one-time tax of up to 5% of a billionaire’s net worth, so long as they were a California resident on Jan. 1, 2026, caused Zuckerberg to tell Meta he was considering moving his primary residence outside California.

If the measure passes in November, Zuckerberg could see a tax bill of $12.5 billion, due to his nearly $250 billion net worth.

Under the agreement, Zuckerberg will receive non-voting Class C Meta shares that he can sell to cover the potential wealth tax bill. In return, he must commit to remaining a resident of California, where Meta is headquartered, for eight years, according to a company filing.

The CEO will be able to immediately sell up to 20% of his Class C shares, representing 10% of his “overall economic stake in the Company,” which would allow him to pay the proposed tax without impacting his majority voting control.

Meta planned to issue the new Class C common stock in January 2027 as a means to fund acquisitions and create employee equity while maintaining the existing voting structure.

“We created this new class of shares with the purpose of creating a publicly traded non-voting stock usable for capital raising, employee compensation, acquisitions, other general corporate purposes while preserving the voting power of existing Class A and B shareholders," Susan Li, Meta’s CFO, said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

A special committee described in the company filing determined that Zuckerberg’s relocation out of California, which could result in him publicly listing his residential real estate on the market, would cause questions of management throughout the company.

It also highlighted the importance of Zuckerberg’s proximity to the Meta headquarters and its Superintelligence Labs.

“The Special Committee further believed it is critically important to keep Mr. Zuckerberg in a leadership position with our Company and that he continue to reside in and manage the Company from our headquarters in California to ensure his continued ability to effectively drive our performance during this era of unprecedented challenge and competition in our industry,” the filing reads.

Critics of Proposition 40 have argued that imposing a major wealth tax on billionaires could lead to an exodus of California’s wealthiest residents and entrepreneurs.

For Zuckerberg, leaving California would mean stepping away from his ever-expanding Palo Alto compound, which now consists of 11 properties totaling $112 million.

Zuckerberg purchased his first dwelling in the Palo Alto neighborhood of Crescent Park in 2011 for $7 million. 

At the time, the social media tycoon was worth $13.5 billion. In the decade-and-a-half since, his fortune and property holdings have ballooned, now earning him the ranking of sixth wealthiest person in the world.

He continued acquiring homes in the neighborhood, next purchasing the property behind his primary dwelling for $4.8 million in 2012. He bought three properties in 2013, for $10.5 million, $14 million, and $14.5 million, respectively.

The most recent purchase, taking place in mid-2025, brought the property count to 11. 

Constant construction has turned the once-peaceful neighborhood into a luxurious estate for Zuckerberg, his wife, Priscilla Chan, and their children. Adjacent homes have been turned into guest houses, and pickleball courts and a large swimming pool with a hydrofloor have been installed.

The Times also reports that one property has been turned into a private school for 14 children, which would potentially be a violation of a city code.

Several of the remaining neighbors have raised concerns about the ongoing construction and extensive security presence around the makeshift compound.

In another attempt to clamp down on California billionaires, Palo Alto Vice Mayor Greer Stone and Councilman Keith Reckdahl proposed a motion that would restrict the creation of multiproperty compounds.

The initiative specifically targeted residents purchasing three or more homes within a 500-foot radius, an apparent shot at Zuckerberg’s bulging estate.

The proposal was rejected by the Palo Alto City Council, with Council-members arguing it would impinge on private property rights.

In addition to his Palo Alto compound, Zuckerberg purchased two properties in Lake Tahoe, CA, in 2018 and 2019 for a combined $59 million.

He also owns a over 1,000 acres in Kauai, HI, which is being used for ranching, farming, and conservation—in addition to the two mansions the tech mogul has built on the property so far.