S.F. venture capitalist sells Sea Cliff mansion for $26 million to benefit charity
San Francisco Chronicle By Aidin Vaziri
A trailblazing Bay Area venture capitalist has sold his residence in San Francisco’s tony Sea Cliff neighborhood for $26 million, with all proceeds designated for his foundation focused on young people’s well-being.
The Sea Cliff estate, once home to George Sarlo, a Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor who co-founded Walden Venture Capital, one of the first firms in the city to fuel the Silicon Valley technology boom, hit the market in June. Situated at 290 Sea Cliff Ave., in one of San Francisco’s most exclusive neighborhoods, the 1920s Mediterranean-style oceanfront property boasts nearly 8,000 square feet of living space.
The four-bedroom, four-bath home features vaulted ceilings, arched doorways and intricate decorative details evocative of an Italian villa with Spanish Revival influences.
It offers unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands.
Sarlo, who acquired the property in 1993 for $2.2 million, renovated the home over the years, according to the listing agents. Upgrades include a chef’s kitchen with marble counters, top-of-the-line appliances, and a breakfast room, as well as a new roof, a two-car garage, and EV charging stations.
The sale benefits the Sarlo Family Foundation, a nonprofit Sarlo established in 2011 to support youth resources. Sarlo’s life story, documented by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, highlights his journey from arriving in the United States in 1956 to amassing a net worth estimated at over $100 million.
The buyer was not disclosed.
In recent years, he has invested in psychedelic therapies to address psychiatric conditions such as depression and PTSD, drawing from his own childhood trauma.
He was not available for comment regarding the sale of the property. Tania Toubba and Debi DeCello of Sotheby’s International Realty handled the sale.
Sea Cliff has been home to notable figures including tech mogul Jack Dorsey, singer Linda Ronstadt, actor Sharon Stone, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett and the late comedian Robin Williams.
