A tech legend's San Francisco home lists for staggering sum

SFGate By Anna Marie Erwert

When star tech engineer and innovator Jon Rubinstein bought 2006 Washington St. #4, he was attracted to its provenance. The apartment sprawls over an entire floor in an iconic salmon pink 11-story co-op designed by a prominent San Francisco architect, according to the listing. Like the iPod and the Palm Pre, the apartment presented a challenge to Rubinstein: how to restore the historic apartment to its former glory while at the same time upgrading it to suit the needs of one of the world’s most influential tech engineers. Now, after almost 20 years and a more than $10 million overhaul, this property is for sale, asking $25.5 million. 

Jon Rubinstein is no stranger to innovation. He was at the forefront of Apple’s early halcyon days, helping develop devices that would transform the tech industry — if not the world. After working on the iPod and iMac, Rubinstein took over the position of executive chairman at Palm, Inc., eventually becoming CEO of that company before it was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2010. Rubinstein stayed on with Hewlett-Packard for about two years. 

He has also served on the board of directors of Amazon and Qualcomm, and he was the co-CEO for Bridgewater Associates. A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Rubinstein was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2005, hailed for helping to “launch some of the most influential computing products of our time.”

In 2010, when he paid $7 million for this property, Rubinstein was drawn to the building and unit’s historic bones. The Beaux-Arts property was built by San Francisco starchitect Conrad Meussdorffer in the 1920s and displays his trademark penchant for striking design. Other notable Meussdorffer creations include the St. Regis apartments in Lafayette Park and the luxury tower at 2500 Steiner St. These buildings, along with 2006 Washington St., “are often considered the finest apartment buildings in San Francisco,” according to NoeHill.

But when Rubinstein purchased #4, the four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom abode — occupying an entire 5,250-square-foot floor of the 2006 Washington St. co-op — was hiding its historic beauty. A 1960s remodel had obscured the unit’s Beaux-Arts sensibilities under pink and green tiles. Wiring and plumbing were badly in need of updates. Rubinstein wanted to restore the property but, as any self-respecting tech engineer would, also upgrade it for high-end, cutting-edge contemporary luxury. “We were fully committed to carefully returning this home to the beautiful design that the architect, Conrad A. Meussdorffer, created for the building 100 years ago,” Rubinstein told SFGATE in an email. “But we wanted to do that while incorporating state of the art, contemporary materials, amenities, security and the latest technology.”

Among the renovations, all of which adhere to Meussdorffer’s original sensibilities, are a state-of-the-art kitchen complete with a staff elevator, a library/media room clad in deep walnut, a thermally isolated and keypad protected wine room that can store more than 2,500 bottles, as well as a home gym. 

Overall, the process involved taking the apartment “down to the shell” and even entailed “craning new interior finishes such as floors, cabinets and double paned casement windows because the materials were too large for the service elevators,” listing agent Neal Ward of Compass wrote in an email. “The five year remodel of their apartment recreated the beautiful aesthetic of the original design from nearly 100 years ago.”

The updates are carefully woven into the unit’s vintage feel. The living fireplace is adorned by marble. The french doors open into private balconies whose intricate wrought iron frames postcard views of the San Francisco Bay, the long hallways glowing with glossy parquet floors underfoot and antique-inspired light fixtures overhead. All in all, the property is a unique offering. “From the day it was built to today, 2006 Washington represents the best of the best in ultra luxury,” Ward said. “It is one of the most exclusive addresses in San Francisco and even all of Northern California. With just 12 units — most being full-floor co-ops — these residences are rarely on the market.”

“We will miss this lovely apartment, but hope that the next owners will experience the same joy that we found in the expansive light, the stunning views and the wonderful environment for entertaining our family and friends,” Rubinstein said. “We’ve relocated to the East Coast but will treasure our time in this unique San Francisco home.”

The listing of 2006 Washington St. #4 represents one of the most expensive properties so far in 2025.