WESTSIDE
ESTATE AGENCY

Beverly Hills · Malibu

WESTSIDE ESTATE AGENCY

Beverly Hills · Malibu

WSJ: After $100MM Malibu Purchase, WhatsApp Co-founder Jan Koum Pays $87MM for the Home Next Door

The clifftop property includes a funicular down to the ocean that was built by late country singer Kenny Rogers

Jan Koum, the co-founder of WhatsApp, is paying $87 million for a Malibu, Calif. mansion right next door to one he already owns, according to two people familiar with the deal.

The transaction is the latest big-ticket deal for Mr. Koum in the Los Angeles area. In 2019 he purchased the neighboring Malibu property from entertainment executive Ron Meyer for $100 million. Then last year Mr. Koum spent $125 million for the Beverly Hills estate of Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The seller in the latest transaction is Diana Jenkins, a Bosnia-born entrepreneur and philanthropist. Ms. Jenkins, founder of health-drinks company Neuro Drinks, was previously married to British financier Roger Jenkins. Her home came on the market last May for $125 million, The Wall Street Journal reported. It is on Malibu’s Paradise Cove, and its prior owners include Barry Diller and the late country singer Kenny Rogers.

Sitting on a cliff top, the property has its own funicular leading down to the ocean (Mr. Rogers was slapped with a $2 million fine by local authorities for installing it.). On nearly 3 acres, it includes a single-story, five-bedroom house with vaulted ceilings, herringbone floors and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the gardens. It also has a dance studio and a recording studio. On the grounds, there is a three-bedroom guesthouse, a swimming pool, a waterfall and koi pond, a sports court and a guard house.

The funicular leads an oceanfront cabana, which has retractable ceilings, a wet bar, a built-in barbecue and fire pit.

Mr. Koum, 44 helped launch WhatsApp, an internet messaging service, in 2009. Following the service’s acquisition by Facebook in 2014, he remained as a Facebook director for several years before stepping down in 2018. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index pegs his net worth at $12.5 billion.

The buyer was represented by Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency.

Click here to read the full article on wsj.com.




Let's Connect ...

OOPS.
There was an error sending your message. Please try again later or call us.
THANK YOU.
We've received your inquiry. Someone will contact you soon!

Beverly Hills

460 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 247-7770

Malibu

3900 Cross Creek Road #5
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 456-1171