Château de la Garoupe in Cap d’Antibes Set to be Acquired by Ukrainian-American Billionaire Jan Koum, WhatsApp Co-founder
The Ukrainian-American billionaire Jan Koum, who notably co-founded WhatsApp, has just signed a sales agreement through a Real Estate Civil Society (SCI) to acquire the Château de la Garoupe in Cap d’Antibes, as reported Nice Matin. Seized by the French state, the former property of Boris Berezovsky, a Russian oligarch, has finally found a buyer.
In a landscaped park of about 10 hectares, with its five outbuildings, swimming pool, and tennis court, the 1,300-square-meter Château de la Garoupe is one of the most beautiful villas in Cap d’Antibes.
This real estate gem of the French Riviera, built for an English Lord and frequented by Pablo Picasso, Cole Porter, and Ernest Hemingway, represents an extraordinary architectural and cultural legacy. Its acquisition offers a unique opportunity to own a historically rich and prestigious residence in an enchanting setting.
Photo: DR
The transaction is estimated at around 65 million euros, as reported by Nice Matin. Considering the recent valuation of the Château de la Garoupe at 158 million euros, it represents a highly advantageous deal for the Ukrainian-American billionaire.
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan Koum grew up in a modest household. His family faced economic challenges, and their lives were marked by the scarcity typical of the Soviet era. In 1992, at the age of 16, Koum and his mother immigrated to the United States, settling in Mountain View, California.
Koum’s story is a quintessential American dream. To make ends meet, he worked as a cleaner at a grocery store, a testament to his work ethic and determination. Despite facing financial hardships, Koum’s passion for technology and programming led him to enroll at San Jose State University
Jan Koum co-founded WhatsApp with Brian Acton in 2009 , which has since become the world’s largest mobile messaging service. Facebook acquired the startup in 2014, sealing the deal with a remarkable $22 billion in cash and stock. Koum served as the CEO of WhatsApp until his resignation in April 2018, at which point he also announced his departure from Facebook’s board. Before venturing into the world of messaging apps, Koum accumulated nearly nine years of experience at Yahoo.
Jan Koum’s wealth is estimated at $13.7 billion, according to the Forbes World’s Billionaires List for 2023.