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· collected 2026-09-06 · by TOI World Desk
The owner of a 1,100-acre Sonoma ranch, tech entrepreneur Mark Leslie and his wife Debra, sold the property for $38.5 million to set a record for the highest residential property sale in California's Sonoma County. The couple purchased the land in 2014 for $12 million and spent an additional $33 million on renovations, which included building a private estate with 14,966 square feet of living space and major agricultural facilities. The property was listed for $39.995 million before selling for $38.5 million, closing on August 21. The sale broke the previous county record of $35 million set in 2023.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In 2014, tech entrepreneur Mark Leslie and his wife Debra Leslie bought a 1,100-acre ranch in Sonoma County, California for $12 million. The property, known as The Summit, was mostly undeveloped at the time and needed significant renovations. Over the next 12 years, the Leslies spent an additional $33 million to transform the land into a highly self-sufficient private estate, which now includes a modern main house, guest homes, barns, and specialized farming facilities. The estate has finally sold for $38.5 million, setting a record for the highest residential property sale in Sonoma County, surpassing a previous record of $35 million set in 2023. The sale is also notable because it was previously recorded as an undeveloped plot of land when the Leslies first purchased it.
Written for “Tech Mogul's Private Vineyard Estate” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 5941 · logged 2026-09-07
A huge 1,100-acre estate high on the slopes of Sonoma Mountain has sold for $38.5 million (£29.2 million), setting a record for the highest residential property sale ever recorded in California's Sonoma County.
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estate → sell → County
The large agricultural property, known as The Summit and located at 3100 Sonoma Mountain Road, was bought in 2014 by tech entrepreneur Mark Leslie and his wife, Debra Leslie.
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property → know → Leslie
According to property records and reporting by The Wall Street Journal, the couple paid $12 million for the undeveloped land and later spent another $33 million to redesign, restore and build a highly self-sufficient private estate.
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couple → accord → estate
The sale broke the previous county record, set in 2023 when an estate in nearby Glen Ellen sold for $35 million.
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estate → break → million
Transforming raw land into a self-sufficient compound
When the Leslies bought the land in 2014, the mountainous property was mostly undeveloped and needed years of earthworks, infrastructure work and landscape restoration.
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property → transform → earthworks
During their 12 years of ownership, they turned the hilltop into a large private estate, building a modern main house along with guest homes, barns and specialised farming facilities.
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they → turn → homes
Official MLS listings (ML82046933) show that the estate has 14,966 square feet of total living space across its buildings.
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estate → show → buildings
It includes 10 bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and three partial bathrooms.
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It → include → bedrooms
The main house has large open-beam timber ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and stone fireplaces.
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house → have → ceiling
Its design takes advantage of uninterrupted 360-degree views stretching from Mount Tamalpais and Mount Diablo across San Pablo Bay to the San Francisco skyline.
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design → take → skyline
Beyond the main living areas, the estate has major agricultural facilities, including three modern commercial greenhouses, a 12-car underground display garage and an independent off-grid energy system.
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estate → have → grid
The system uses large solar arrays, backup generators and deep freshwater wells.
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system → use → arrays
Extensive ecological restoration on Sonoma Mountain
A large part of the $33 million spent on improvements went towards restoring the natural environment across the 1,100-acre property.
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part → spend → property
To improve natural drainage and reduce erosion on the steep canyon slopes, environmental crews removed invasive vegetation, strengthened natural creek beds and built several private lakes and fillable swimming basins.
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crews → improve → lakes
The project also included planting millions of seasonal daffodils alongside native oak trees, creating open meadows that provide a habitat corridor for local wildlife.
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that → include → wildlife
The property also has fruit orchards, terraced organic vegetable gardens and dedicated vineyard areas suitable for winemaking.
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property → have → winemaking
The property's remote location makes it one of the most private estates in Northern California, while still being less than an hour's drive from San Francisco.
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it → make → Francisco
A landmark transaction for Northern California real estate
The property was first listed with an asking price of $39.995 million before selling for $38.5 million.
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property → list → million
MLSListings records show that the sale closed on August 21, with listing agents from Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty and The Dreyfus Group representing the transaction.
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agents → show → transaction
"The Summit is a world entirely of its own, offering an unmatched level of privacy, seclusion, and self-sufficiency in one of Northern California's most breathtaking natural settings," the listing agency's marketing material stated.
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material → offer → settings
The buyer's identity has not been revealed in public county land records.
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identity → reveal → records
However, real estate brokers familiar with the deal said wealthy buyers continue to value large and secure properties in coastal California that offer full off-grid independence while remaining close to major technology centres.
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that → say → centres
