Wealthy Americans accustomed to luxe California mansions and New York penthouses are increasingly snapping up historic homes abroad. Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire CEO of Meta, has now added a 196-year-old Gothic castle in Ireland to his growing property portfolio.

Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, recently bought Strancally Castle in Waterford, Ireland — a 19th-century, Gothic-style mansion overlooking the River Blackwater in the country's southeast. The three-story home was built in 1830 and extensively renovated in 2003. It reportedly features 11 main bedrooms, a cut-stone Gothic Revival facade, 16,000 square feet of living space, and sprawling green lawns spread across 440 acres.

The transaction did not appear on the Irish state property price register, but the Irish Times estimates that the couple's new home could be worth between €20 million (around $23.3 million) and €30 million (roughly $35 million).

Beyond its luxury and historic appeal, the purchase may also serve a practical purpose. Meta's international headquarters are located in Dublin, about 125 miles from Strancally Castle. Meta has anchored its international operations in the Irish capital since 2008, and Ireland's long-standing role as the European base for U.S. technology companies — Google and Apple also house major operations in the country — has made it familiar ground for American executives. The family will not reside in Ireland full-time, but the estate is set to serve as a European home base for the highly influential family. Asked about the billionaire's castle purchase, the Waterford City and County Council emphasized the area's rugged coastlines and picturesque towns. The county takes its name from Waterford city, founded by Vikings in 914 and regarded as Ireland's oldest city.

"Mark and his family are excited to continue caring for this historic home and look forward to spending time in Ireland, where Meta maintains its international headquarters," Brian Baker, a spokesperson for Zuckerberg, told Fortune.

Wealthy Americans are buying up million-dollar mansions in Europe

Zuckerberg is just one of many wealthy Americans adding foreign postcodes to their property portfolios. His own holdings already include his long-time Palo Alto home, properties around Lake Tahoe and a large ranch on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

In 2019, hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin bought a $122 million Georgian mansion near Buckingham Palace — at the time, London's most expensive sale in more than a decade. The 16,000-square-foot mansion at 3 Carlton Gardens boasts a spa and an indoor swimming pool, along with a historic backstory: it previously served as Charles de Gaulle's wartime headquarters.

Other ultra-rich Americans, including George Clooney, Tom Ford, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, have all added European homes to their portfolios.

Wealthy, non-famous Americans have also been eyeing U.K. homes, chasing stability as the United States grapples with a soaring cost of living, political polarization, and economic uncertainty.

London luxury sales surge

London witnessed a staggering jump this year in the number of sales valued above £15 million ($20 million) — and it was largely driven by Americans with deep pockets, according to luxury real estate company Beauchamp Estates. An estimated £1.24 billion ($1.66 billion) worth of property was sold across 34 deals between January and June 2026, compared with £694.1 million ($928 million) in sales across 27 properties during the same period of 2025. In the first half of this year, Americans accounted for 30% of all home sales above $20 million — up from 20% at the end of 2025 — helping fuel the £546 million ($730 million) rise within just six months (Fortune).

The real estate firm says newly minted tech wealth, favorable buying conditions, and uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration are driving more Americans into the city's luxury housing market.

"The U.S. economy and booming tech sector are generating significant wealth, but unease over Trump has helped to generate a 10% rise in American buyers transferring some of their money offshore into London property purchases," Rosy Khalastchy, director and head of the St John's Wood Office at Beauchamp Estates, said in a press release shared with Fortune earlier this year.

Beauchamp Estates also points to a preferential exchange rate, opportunities for deals and discounts, and the city being viewed as "a good European business base" for growing buyers' success. Beyond the financial incentives, Americans are choosing London for its social scene and quality education system. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, also recently enrolled their children in British schools upon their move back to the U.K. from California. Zuckerberg's Waterford purchase extends that same American appetite from London's prime postcodes to Ireland's heritage estates.