The Sandcastle at 1900 Spindrift Drive in La Jolla is owned by Darwin Deason, the Texas billionaire who founded the technology outsourcing firm Affiliated Computer Services. He has held title to the oceanfront estate since assembling it from two separate parcels in the early 2010s, and as of mid-2026 he still owns it, though the property is actively listed for sale at $87.5 million.
Who Darwin Deason Is
Deason built Affiliated Computer Services into one of the country’s largest business process outsourcing companies, handling operations for clients such as E-ZPass and UPS. He took the company public in 1994 and sold it to Xerox in 2010 in a deal valued at roughly $6.4 billion. Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.3 billion as of 2025.
How He Assembled the Estate
Deason bought two adjacent parcels on Spindrift Drive for a combined total of about $26 million, consolidated the lots, and built the current residence, which was completed in 2015. He reportedly uses the home primarily as a vacation retreat rather than a full-time residence.
What the Property Includes
The Sandcastle spans roughly 13,000 square feet of living space across three stories on a 0.82-acre lot. It has 10 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms split between a main house and a separate guest residence. The architecture draws from the grand manors of southern France, with stucco exteriors, a clay tile roof, and expansive glass walls facing the Pacific.
One of the property’s most unusual features is what the listing describes as one of California’s only private beaches, a secluded stretch of sand accessible from the grounds.1Sand Castle La Jolla. Sand Castle La Jolla The estate also includes a swimming pool, spa, sauna, exercise room, five fireplaces, an automatic security gate, and parking for 11 vehicles.
Current Listing and Price History
Deason first listed the Sandcastle in October 2024 at $108 million, a price that would have set a San Diego County record. With no buyer, the asking price dropped to $92.5 million in February 2026 and was cut again to $87.5 million by late May 2026. Even at the reduced figure, a sale would rank among the most expensive residential transactions in the region’s history.
The county assessor values the property at approximately $24.3 million for tax purposes, producing an annual property tax bill of about $304,000. Under Proposition 13, assessed value for a long-held property can only rise about 2 percent per year, which is why the tax figure sits well below the asking price.
How to Confirm Ownership Yourself
California’s Public Records Act, codified at Government Code Sections 7920 through 7931, gives the public the right to inspect property records held by county agencies. For San Diego County, ownership information is maintained by the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk.
You can look up 1900 Spindrift Drive using either the street address or the Assessor’s Parcel Number, which is 346-44-05.2CEQAnet. 1900 Spindrift Drive and 1912 Spindrift Drive Entering either into the assessor’s online search tool returns the current owner, assessed value, and basic parcel data. The county also maintains an index of recorded grant deeds and other transfer documents that trace the full chain of title. The assessor’s online portal through ParcelQuest allows up to 25 free searches in any 30-day period before a subscription is required.3San Diego County Assessor Recorder County Clerk. ParcelQuest Disclaimer A copy of a recorded deed from the Recorder’s office costs $2.00 for the first page and $0.05 for each additional page, with an extra $1.00 for certification.4San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. Recorder County Clerk Fee Schedule
One caveat worth knowing: for many trophy properties, the recorded owner is an LLC or trust rather than a person, and the real buyer’s identity stays hidden. A federal rule from FinCEN that would have required disclosure of the individuals behind all-cash entity purchases was vacated by a federal court before it took effect.5FinCEN.gov. Residential Real Estate Rule That is not the case here. The Sandcastle is held in Deason’s own name, so a standard public records search returns him directly.