Billionaires’ Row $19M estate sold amid Feinstein family legal battle
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The recent sale of former Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s storied San Francisco mansion has quietly closed the final chapter of a contentious trust battle within one of the city’s most well-known families. The property, perched on Billionaires’ Row, commanded about $19 million in an all-cash deal last month, marking a significant milestone in the winding estate proceedings following Feinstein’s death in 2023.
Details of the property sale highlight San Francisco’s luxury allure
Originally built in 1917, the Lyon Street residence stands out even among San Francisco’s most coveted addresses. The home spans more than 9,500 square feet and offers sweeping views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. Its prized location places it across from the Presidio and adjacent to the iconic Lyon Street Steps, an area known for attracting the city’s tech elite and legacy families alike.
Feinstein and her husband, billionaire financier Richard C. Blum, purchased the property in 2006 for $16.5 million. The recent sale reflects both the property’s enduring prestige and the steady strength of San Francisco’s luxury real estate market, despite fluctuating national trends. According to public records, the buyer paid entirely in cash, a common occurrence for ultra-high-end transactions that rely on privacy and speed.
The mansion’s backyard directly borders another notable property, the so-called “Jewett House” at 2990 Broadway. That estate, built in the 1980s, recently sold for $26.5 million, securing its place as one of the city’s priciest residential sales so far this year.
Legal feud brought hidden family tensions into public view
The Lyon Street transaction is the latest in a series of high-value sales required to resolve the complex estate left behind by Feinstein and Blum. After Blum’s passing in 2022 and Feinstein’s death the following year, family members found themselves locked in a legal battle over the distribution of trust assets. Katherine Feinstein, the late senator’s daughter, acted as co-trustee alongside Michael R. Klein, managing multiple disputed properties during the process.
The trust dispute revealed longstanding rifts between Katherine and Blum’s three daughters from his previous marriage. To settle claims, several significant properties were sold off, including a Stinson Beach home for $9.1 million, an Aspen ranch for $25.2 million and a Lake Tahoe estate for $36 million. Collectively, these transactions demonstrate how large, complex estates often generate public scrutiny and drawn-out negotiations when multiple heirs and high-value assets are involved.
High-profile sales reflect broader shifts in San Francisco’s luxury market
Beyond its family context, the sale underscores the staying power of San Francisco’s top-tier real estate. While the broader Bay Area market has cooled in the past two years, the highest end remains resilient, buoyed by cash-rich buyers seeking trophy homes in iconic locations. Data from Compass and Redfin show that despite fluctuating mortgage rates and shifting tech sector fortunes, cash offers continue to dominate at the top of the market, often shielding prime listings from broader market volatility.
Properties along Broadway Street and Lyon Street form part of San Francisco’s so-called Billionaires’ Row, an enclave that regularly draws executives, investors and celebrities. Recent activity shows that landmark homes in this pocket can still command premium prices, reinforcing the area’s status as one of the city’s few recession-resistant corridors.
For the Feinstein family, the sale brings an official close to a complicated trust administration marked by court filings, competing claims and multiple luxury sales. It also serves as a reminder that even the most carefully prepared estate plans can become a matter of public record when family disagreements arise.
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