In 2020, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman bought it then more expensive San Francisco homes list for $27 million. Four years later, a suit claims the 9,500-square-foot property was a poorly constructed “lemon,” including mold problems and a leaking infinity pool that flooded the lower level.
Greg Malin, CEO of home developer Troon Pacific, took viewers on a tour of the 950 Lombard St. property. in May 2020 Architectural overview videoshowing everything from the property's “Batcave” garage to its health villa.
The video listed the property for $40.5 million, the most expensive at the time, though Altman would later buy it for about $27 million. The estate takes up an entire city block – the same size as six normal-sized lots. The main house has five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms, and the cottage has a sauna, steam room, massage area and spa.
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A lawsuit filed last week in San Francisco Superior Court, which The San Francisco Standard related to Altman on Tuesday as the homeowner, details how the luxury residence fell apart after several years of use. The filing accuses Troon Pacific and Mountain of “poor construction” and “cutting corners” at the 950 Lombard St. property.
The construction defects “were concealed and/or not subject to discovery by a reasonable investigation,” the filing said.
The lawsuit alleges that a lower-level flood caused part of the ceiling to collapse. The source of the damage? Flowing infinity pool. The lower level of the residence also had “widespread” mold. Correcting these issues alone would cost more than $4 million, the plaintiffs estimate.
According to the lawsuit, there were also contractor bags inserted into the sewer lines and an unrelated line depositing raw sewage onto the ground at the side of the property.
Troon Pacific has been called out for “deceptive” behavior before. In May, the developer had to pay 48.1 million dollars to investors who backed a home renovation project that was never completed.
Altman is listed as the current owner of 950 Lombard St., according to The San Francisco Standard, and is worth at least $2 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
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