
Billionaire PGA Tour star's father sold stunning mansion with own ice rink for $35 million
Maverick McNealy earned close to $1 million at the RBC Heritage last week, but is
accustomed to living a life of luxury
.
The
PGA Tour
star has climbed to 10th in the world rankings and finished T3 at the RBC Heritage, three shots behind Andrew Novak and Justin Thomas. McNealy, 29, has one professional win and is edging closer to a second title with five top 10 finishes in 2025.
Despite his success on the golf course, McNealy considered leaving the sport to pursue a career in business before turning pro. His dilemma was likely influenced by watching his father Scott McNealy build a company worth $7.4 billion. The golf star grew up in lavish surroundings, with his unique childhood home being sold for $35M last year.
The Bay Area mansion that was previously the McNealy family home was initially listed for $96M in 2018. The golfer's parents spent $11M to build the vast property in 2008.
Tech billionaire McNealy, who has an estimated net worth of $1BN, co-founded Sun Microsystems and sold the company for $7.4BN in 2010. Having made their fortune, the family designed the five-bedroom and seven-bathroom mansion around Maverick and their other three sons.
The Portola Valley home remarkably boasted an ice hockey rink, golf course, rock-climbing wall, poker room, and party room with a disco ball. Other notable features included the home theater and gym, as well as a hidden bunker with panic buttons to ensure the family's safety.
Scott McNealy played alongside Maverick at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February
(Image:)
Previous listing agent Deepee Chattha explained to SFGATE that the family was not serious about selling the 13-acre mansion until 2019. The couple almost halved the asking price to $53M and later remodelled the house in their attempt to find a buyer.
'A lot of heart went into building this home. It was built from love,' Chattha told
SFGATE
in 2020. Four years on, the private listing was bought by an LLC named Zenith Property for $35M last July.
Having access to a home golf course would have helped PGA star McNealy hone his skills. As a teenager, he was rated among the top golf prospects in the US and has since made his mark in the pro ranks, winning the RSM Classic in November 2024.
Earning his first victory on the PGA Tour appears to have given McNealy added confidence this year. The 29-year-old had achieved two top 10 finishes before finishing runner-up by a stroke to Ludvig Aberg at the Genesis Open in February.
Scout McNealy has been Maveick McNealy's caddie
(Image: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
He followed this by finishing T3 at the Valero
Texas
Open earlier this month and ended the Masters in T32. A week later, McNealy collected $960,000 for his performance at the RBC Heritage.
According to the
PGA
, McNealy has earned $4.8M so far this year. His overall career earnings stand at $17M since joining the tour in 2020.
McNealy's upbringing around golf has also benefited one of his siblings. Since late last year, the world No.10 has been caddied by his youngest brother, Scout.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Daily Star
29-04-2025
- Irish Daily Star
Justin Thomas can rest easy as PGA Tour star beats Rory McIlroy to $1.3M prize
Justin Thomas breathed a sigh of relief as Andrew Novak finally broke through to secure his first-ever PGA Tour title. Earlier this month, Thomas managed to beat Novak in a tense playoff at the RBC Heritage, securing his first win since the 2022 USPGA Championship. But in doing so, Thomas couldn't help but worry that his victory might come back to haunt him in the same way Jordan Spieth's had years ago. The story goes back to 2015, when Spieth edged out then 46-year-old Tom Gillis at the John Deere Classic, thwarting the veteran's chance to become the oldest first-time PGA Tour winner in 20 years. Thomas reminisced about the incident during an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast. He said: "For the whole year [PGA star] Jason Duffner was grilling Jordan like, 'man, you just ruined Tom Gillis' career, he would've had a two-year exemption, he would've been in Maui, he could've taken his family there, he could've been swimming with the dolphins with the tournament champions, but you had to beat him in a play-off and ruin his life'." However, Thomas remained optimistic about Novak's prospects. He added: "Gilly was a little closer to the end of his career, and Andrew's playing well, but I hadn't thought of that after telling the story, and so I definitely hope it pans out now [for Novak]." Novak came up just short against Thomas in the RBC Heritage (Image: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) That confidence was justified as Novak, in tandem with Ben Griffin, won the Zurich Classic in New Orleans on Sunday, banking $1.3 million between them. The US pair edged out the Danish duo Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard by one shot while defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry had to settle for a tie for 12th after a closing 72. Novak said retaining a positive attitude was key to finally landing PGA Tour silverware. He said: "I've done a pretty good job not getting overly frustrated with the close shaves. "I've been trying to take as many positives from each as I can. There was a lot of confidence coming into this week for sure." Ben Griffin (left) and Novak after winning the Zurich Classic in New Orleans (Image:) Novak, 30, grew up in South Carolina while Griffin, 28, is from North Carolina. They became close in their early years as pros after playing in the same tournaments as teenagers. Griffin said: "We've done just about everything in our career together. It's just a full-circle moment. I feel like we've had similar tracks to where we are today."


Irish Daily Star
28-04-2025
- Irish Daily Star
Amanda Balionis toasts after eventful Zurich Classic and intimate Rory McIlroy chat
Amanda Balionis ended a frantic and stressful weekend in New Orleans by raising a glass with friends after another marathon golf event filled with weather shambles, power outages, and a sit-down with Rory McIlroy that stole the show. Balionis took to Instagram to post a celebratory story late Sunday night, clinking wine glasses with three friends at what appeared to be a local spot near TPC Louisiana in Avondale. The vibes were set to "Cheers to Life" by SondoMaster, especially the part of the record that says, "Let's celebrate this moment we're living. Raise our glasses with happy smiles." The 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans featured a 93-minute weather delay during the final round , thunderstorms that threatened from just seven miles out, and a network power outage so bad that CBS Sports once again had to think on the fly and play replays of last year's event. The tournament also saw a 92-minute delay in round three, also due to inclement weather, with McIlory having to wait over an hour just to putt . Read More Related Articles Justin Thomas dismisses Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau theory after Masters drama Read More Related Articles Rory McIlroy to skip tournament for 'reset' after Shane Lowry title defense doesn't go to plan Through the chaos and literally the storms, Balionis still delivered one of the tournament's most viral moments that was shared to her social media. It was a genuine interview with McIlroy and partner Shane Lowry, two old friends who once again put their well-known relationship on full display to the golf community. "Trevor Immelman said this is the most relaxed and happiest he's maybe ever seen you in your career," Balionis posed to McIlroy after their final round. McIlroy smiled while Lowry chimed in and said, "If he's not happy now, he never will be." The moment caught fire online, as fans quickly noted the easy chemistry between McIlroy and Balionis that has grown over the years through interviews. "These two are so fun together," wrote one fan, while another joked, "The way their eyes shine when they speak tells it all." McIlroy remains happily married to his wife Erica Stoll, who was present for his historic Masters win earlier this year. The pair celebrated their victory with a return trip to Ireland, including a stop in London , despite speculation that his wife and daughter did not join him on the return flight home. Even without a duo trophy in hand this season, McIlroy and Lowry made a run at defending their Zurich Classic title , tying for No. 12 place after shooting a rough 72 in the final round to finish. The duo of Benjamin Griffin and Andrew Novak outlasted Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard by a single stroke, pocketing $2.65 million apiece for their first PGA Tour wins. Balionis has used her time after the tournament to show her fitness progress online. She has continued her ongoing work in the dog adoption space, hosting an adoption event for Tito's Golf Club and even involving golfer Davis Riley to help with adoption efforts for her Puppies and Golf nonprofit, which she founded as its President.


Irish Daily Star
28-04-2025
- Irish Daily Star
Golf star fumes over 's--- greens' as tournament setback dents PGA Tour hopes
Alistair Docherty has vented his frustrations on social media regarding the greens conditions at Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington. This club is hosting part of the Korn Ferry Tour, a breeding ground for those aiming to make it to the PGA Tour or striving to stay there. With so much on the line, emotions can run high during the competitions – Docherty is the latest golfer to voice dissatisfaction after an underwhelming performance. It comes as weather delays crushed Rory McIlroy's hopes of defending his PGA title at the Zurich Classic. The criteria at the Veritex Bank Championship sparked controversy last week when players shooting eight-under-par through the first two rounds were still sent packing. This 36-hole cut-off was unprecedented in Korn Ferry Tour history, leaving many competitors feeling stung by the narrow margins. Read More Related Articles McIlroy to skip tournament for 'reset' after failed Lowry title defense Read More Related Articles Justin Thomas reaction to Schauffele and Scheffler rejection speaks volumes Docherty fell short of the cut by just one stroke after carding a 65 and a 69, and following his departure from the tournament, he couldn't suppress his disillusionment. The 31-year-old blasted the decision to hold the event at the Arlington venue on X, posting: "Dumbest event on the KFT. Putting contest on s--- greens." Echoing Docherty's sentiment, his caddie Mike Green criticized the course's appropriateness for a high-pressure event stating: "Sums up how s--- the course is." At the same championship, Johnny Keffer reaped the rewards, entering with a comfortable five-under 66 lead. The Swede continued with momentum to experience a day abundant with birdies, wrapping up at a staggering 30-under-par and clinching the title by three clear shots. Alistair Docherty hit out on social media (Image: (Image: Getty)) Blades Brown, the 17 year old sensation, once again impressed, finishing joint-second with Julian Suri, Tyson Alexander, Zach James, and Joshua Creel. The young golfer finished 27-under with rounds of 61-67-66-63 at the par 71 course, setting a new record for the highest-finishing under-18 player in Korn Ferry Tour history – a record previously held by Si Woo Kim in 2013. Thanks to his top-25 finish, Brown has earned the right to compete in the Tulum Championship at PGA Riviera Maya. However, he is set to compete in next week's PGA Tour event, The CJ Cup Byron Nelson instead. To reach the threshold of 237.718 for Special Temporary Membership for the remainder of the Korn Ferry Tour season, he will need to earn an additional 52.551 points this season.