Image - the speakers
San Francisco
Live Stream

When a Tech Billionaire Moves in Next Door

In-person TicketsOnline-only Tickets

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Over the past decade, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has bought up at least 11 houses around his home in a quiet residential Palo Alto neighborhood, spending more than $110 million to create a family compound, according to a recent New York Times investigation. And the neighbors are not happy—despite his gift of noise-canceling headphones to drown out construction noise.

“Since his arrival 14 years ago, Crescent Park’s neighborhood tranquillity and even many of its actual neighbors have vanished,” the Times found. “Residents hardly ever see the Facebook founder, now worth about $270 billion, but they feel his presence every day.” 

But Zuckerberg isn’t the only elite tech titan to become a controversial neighbor. The Times has also investigated Elon Musk’s conflict with residents of West Lake Hills, Texas, over fences, cameras, and building codes. 

Join New York Times investigative business reporter Kirsten Grind and San Francisco bureau chief Heather Knight to hear what happens when tech billionaires move into the neighborhood. We’ll also go behind the scenes with them to learn about how the Times covers the Bay Area and the tech industry . . . and they’ll take your questions.

Notes

This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.

If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

Photos courtesy the speakers.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Thu, Nov 20 / 6:00 PM PST

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers
Image - Kirsten Grind

Kirsten Grind

Investigative Business Reporter, The New York Times

Image - Heather Knight

Heather Knight

San Francisco Bureau Chief, The New York Times

Sheera Frankel

Reporter, The New York Times

Format

5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

Members receive 30–50 percent discounts (not a member? Join)

In person:
$25
Free for Leadership Circle members and students with valid I.D.
Online:
$10
Free for Leadership Circle members and students with valid I.D.