Back in 2000, Dan Snyder purchased a hilltop property in the Rockville area of Maryland from Jordan’s King Hussein and Queen Noor for $8.6 million. Snyder, the former owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, sold the team to a group led by private equity billionaire Josh Harris last summer for a record $6.05 billion. He spent millions more to acquire six adjacent parcels and transform the existing structure into a French chateau-inspired estate on 13.5 acres of protected parkland overlooking the Potomac River.
The entry gates.
A sports court.
Custom wrought-iron doors open into a vestibule.
The reception hall boasts a large limestone fireplace.
A commercial-grade kitchen.
One of two octagon-shaped solariums.
The movie theater.
A bar-equipped club room.
The primary bedroom.
A luxe bathroom.
A fireside library.
A grooming station.
The showroom-style garage doubles as an event space.
The property overlooks the Potomac River.
After attempting to find an off-market buyer since 2018, Snyder listed the property on the open market in February 2023 for $49 million. Despite reducing the price to just under $35 million, the estate remained unsold. Snyder and his wife Tanya have now donated the estate to the American Cancer Society (ACS), marking the largest gift in the organization’s 110-year history.
The front exterior.
The ACS hopes to sell “The Estate at River’s Edge” at its last listing price, with proceeds advancing the nonprofit’s mission to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. Tanya Snyder, a cancer survivor and former national spokeswoman for the NFL’s “Crucial Catch” breast cancer awareness campaign, was previously recognized by the ACS as “Mother of the Year.”
The garage.
Designed by architect John Ike and completed in 2004 by Horizon Builders, the estate features a four-story French limestone mansion with five bedrooms and 12 bathrooms across over 25,000 square feet of living space. The mansion includes intricate mahogany moldings, honed marble, imported stone accents, covered terraces, and balconies with water views. Highlights include a grand entry vestibule, double-height reception hall with a coffered ceiling, 24-foot limestone fireplace, living room with interior balconies, library with a marble fireplace, formal dining room, sunrooms, family room, and a commercial-grade kitchen. The primary suite features a private balcony, separate sitting area, dual baths, automated dressing rooms, and an adjoining library with built-in bookcases and a marble fireplace. The lower level includes a bar-equipped club room, movie theater, wine cellar, and garden-laced grounds with a waterfall-enhanced pool and spa, sports court, and helipad.
The pool area.
Additional buildings include a three-level guesthouse with a showroom-style garage and catering kitchen, a guard house, and a manager’s house. The donation offers substantial tax benefits for Snyder, allowing him to claim an income-tax deduction equal to the appraised value of the property, estimated to be close to $45 million. This solution was more practical than holding onto the property and paying taxes on its assessed value, which was nearly $18 million in 2022.
The grounds feature a helipad.
