Mark Zuckerberg and his wife make an extravagant wish come true with billionaire money

T here comes a point when billionaire money can turn an almost childlike fantasy into something very real. For Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan , that now apparently means being able to say they have a castle of their own.

The Meta CEO and Chan have purchased Strancally Castle, a striking 19th-century Gothic Revival property in County Waterford, Ireland, according to multiple reports. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg has confirmed the acquisition, saying the family is excited to care for the historic home and spend time in Ireland. The price remains private, but the estate has been valued at between €20 million and €30 million roughly $23 million to $35 million.

And this is no mansion simply borrowing the word “castle.” Built around 1830, Strancally rises above the River Blackwater and sits within roughly 440 acres of countryside.

The three-story property has undergone extensive restoration over the past two decades, turning an aging piece of Irish history into the kind of secluded retreat that very few people in the world could ever call home.

Zuckerberg and Chan bought the estate from Michael and Giancarla Alen-Buckley, whose family had owned it for about 25 years . The former owners said they were leaving with fond memories after having the opportunity to save and restore the property, while expressing satisfaction that its new owners intend to continue investing in the house and grounds. The deal was completed privately and off-market several weeks ago.

The castle will not replace the couple's life in the United States. Instead, it is expected to become their home when spending time in Ireland, a country with a particularly important connection to Zuckerberg's business empire: Meta has its international headquarters in Dublin and employs around 1,500 people in the country.

Perhaps the most extraordinary part is that buying a castle is only the latest chapter in the couple's remarkable real-estate story. Zuckerberg and Chan have amassed extensive property in Hawaii, and earlier this year they were reported to have paid $170 million for a waterfront mansion on Miami's ultra-exclusive Indian Creek Island.

For most people, owning a castle belongs to childhood stories, movies or a dream that disappears somewhere along the way to adulthood. For Zuckerberg and Chan, extraordinary wealth has made that fantasy a set of keys.

Their new retreat comes with hundreds of acres, a river at its doorstep, and nearly two centuries of history, proving that when money is no longer an obstacle, even the most extravagant wishes can become reality.