R
ob Leathern, a former Facebook and Google executive, has purchased a luxurious mansion in Austin's Barton Creek neighborhood for $5 million. The 6,100-square-foot home at 8210 Chalk Knoll Drive was previously owned by Kenneth French, an economist and finance professor at Dartmouth College. Leathern, a Dartmouth alum, founded Trust2 Consulting last year to advise startups and tech companies on AI, product management, and privacy.

    The property boasts five bedrooms, multiple dining areas, and a wet bar, with the backyard overlooking a par-3 hole of Fazio Canyons Golf Course at Omni Barton Creek Resort. The Barton Creek neighborhood is one of Austin's largest and oldest, with luxury homes priced from $1.75 to $8.75 million.

    Despite challenges in the luxury market, high earners in tech have kept some deals flowing. However, Houston and Dallas outpaced Austin in ultra-luxury home sales this year, with 12 new signed contracts over $2 million hitting the Austin market last week at nearly $40 million in total volume.