Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have purchased Strancally Castle, a Gothic-style residence in County Waterford, Ireland, according to a statement from a Zuckerberg spokesman.
The historic property, built in 1827, is a three-storey cut-stone house situated approximately 93 miles southwest of Dublin. The Alen-Buckley family, who had owned the castle, sold it to Zuckerberg in a recent off-market transaction. The price of the deal has not been disclosed. A spokesman for Zuckerberg stated that he and his family are "excited" about the purchase and look forward to maintaining the historic home and spending time in Ireland, where Meta has its international headquarters.
The property has undergone extensive renovations over the last two decades. Meta employs around 1,500 people in Ireland, with its international headquarters, a virtual and augmented reality business in Cork, and a data center outside Dublin.
This acquisition occurs as Zuckerberg and Meta face a federal trial in the United States. A coalition of states is seeking approximately $200 billion in penalties, alleging that the company deliberately designed Instagram and Facebook to be addictive to young users. During opening statements, California prosecutor Megan O'Neill characterized Meta's business model as one intended to "hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public." O'Neill also stated that Meta "exploited how kids' brains work."
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser described the trial as social media's "big tobacco moment," suggesting the states are intervening where Congress has not acted. He noted similarities to past landmark cases against tobacco companies, citing concerns over public health and marketing to children.
Meta's legal team, led by lawyer Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some users have had negative experiences on the company's platforms but asserted that Meta has "tried to come up with tools to help them." Prior to the trial, Meta denied the allegations, maintaining that it has collaborated with parents, experts, and law enforcement to implement safeguards for children.
Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar testified that in the early years of Facebook, the company's priority was rapid user acquisition, often making safety and security secondary considerations. Zuckerberg and his family plan to continue residing in the United States, using the Irish property for business-related visits to the country.