A billionaire baseball team owner is donating a $2 million stretch of sand to the public following a fiery accusation that he stole sand from a Malibu beachfront for his gorgeous coastline mansion.
Milwaukee Brewers owner, Mark Attanasio, has agreed to donate a $2 million oceanfront parcel to the California Coastal Commission.
The sandy parcel will be open to the public, The Los Angeles Times reported.
It comes after a dispute between the organization and Attanasio, where the latter was accused of stealing sand from a public beach in Malibu next to his $35 million oceanfront home.
In 2024, the billionaire’s construction team allegedly used excavators to dig up sand on Broad Beach, which was taken back to his property.
The act kicked off a lawsuit, saying Attanasio violated the California Coastal Act, which then started an investigation from the coastal commission.
The investigation found out that the excavation hurt sensitive habitats, like starfish, and partially blocked public access to Broad Beach.
As a way to rectify the situation, Attanasio has agreed to give up a $2 million portion of sand to the public on the new parcel of land he is currently in the process of buying.
It is not located on Broad Beach, but Big Rock Beach, 14 miles away.
Milwaukee Brewers owner, Mark Attanasio, has agreed to donate a $2million oceanfront parcel for public use as part of a deal with the California Coastal Commission. This is an aerial shot of his home in Malibu
Attanasio is accused stealing sand from Broad Beach for his own home. The new parcel of sand will not be located on the same beach he is accused of stealing from, but at Big Rock Beach, which is 14 miles down
Attanasio’s lawyer, Kenneth Ehrlich, declined to comment on the agreement until the sale is finalized, The Times reported. The Daily Mail has reached out to Attanasio’s lawyer and the Coastal Commission for comment.
The California Coastal Commission is overjoyed at the prospect of gaining more public beach access, as it is rare for them to receive land rather than homeowners paying up a fine.
‘This is a better way to resolve the situation than settlement money sitting in a pot somewhere,’ Lisa Haage, the Coastal Commission’s Chief of Enforcement, told The Times.
‘We’re very excited because we rarely have the opportunity to dedicate a whole parcel to the public.’
Attanasio’s new property is more than 5,000 square feet and has 70 feet of beach access, The Times reported.
It used to have a three-story building on it, but the structure was burned down during the Palisades Fire.
A coastal commission investigation found that the sand Attanasio allegedly stole hurt sensitive habitats. He has also agreed to return to the sand and restore the beach
The parcel of land will be preserved for recreational use, but it is unclear what Attanasio plans for it outside of the donation.
In addition, the baseball owner, who is worth nearly $2 billion, has agreed to return the sand and restore the beach, The Times reported.
