Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison bought eight homes in a gated Boynton Beach, Florida, community for nearly $10 million in 2023, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The properties were intended for members of his household staff, including tutors for some of his children, creating a nearby housing option separate from the family’s main residence.
Key takeaways
The purchases were made through a limited liability company, and the homes changed hands in a series of transactions over several weeks. The arrangement put staff within commuting distance of Ellison’s Manalapan estate while allowing them to live outside the family compound.
- Eight Palm Meadows Estates homes were bought for nearly $10 million.
- The transactions closed in May and June 2023, with most properties reportedly not publicly listed.
- The homes were intended for household employees, including children’s tutors.
A cluster of homes for household employees
The properties are in Palm Meadows Estates, a 288-home gated community in Boynton Beach, between West Palm Beach and Boca Raton. The Journal reported that the purchases were made through an LLC with a California address. Residents initially speculated about the buyer, with some guessing that technology executives Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk were involved.
Ellison and his wife, Jolin, have five children, all under 18, according to people familiar with the family cited in the report. Some of the older children are homeschooled at the family’s Manalapan property, where several tutors help teach them, including in multiple languages.
Near the family’s Manalapan estate
Palm Meadows Estates is about a 30-minute drive from Ellison’s oceanfront Manalapan compound, which he purchased for $173 million in 2022. The Boynton Beach homes are comparatively modest suburban properties; some have swimming pools and landscaped yards.
The community offers 24-hour security, a recreation center, a pool, fitness facilities, and pickleball and tennis courts. Housing employees nearby can shorten their commute without placing them inside the main residence.
Why employers provide housing
Peter Mahler of Mahler Private Staffing told the Journal that housing can help wealthy households recruit in costly areas and keep employees close to work. He also noted that off-site residences may offer families more privacy than having staff live within the primary home.
The purchases reflect an unusual approach to household staffing: rather than accommodate employees on the estate or rely on a longer commute, Ellison’s family acquired a group of nearby homes. The reported transactions were completed in 2023; the homes were not described as being for Ellison’s personal use.