A 'small' $5M: Bobbi Althoff asked Mark Cuban to buy her a house. His answer shows why homeownership is out of reach

In February 2023, viral sensation Bobbi Althoff sat on a warehouse floor opposite Mark Cuban during an interview on The Really Good Podcast (1). During the 58-minute discussion, Althoff requested the wealthy Shark Tank star to invest $5 million in buying her a home. Despite their shared birthday and lactose intolerance, Cuban refused, explaining that even with a multimillion-dollar handout, the high cost of living in California would render homeownership unattainable for Althoff.

The median home sale price in California was around $742,000 in 2023, and according to Redfin, it had risen to $777,566 by June 2026. However, the California Association of Realtors reported prices were about 19% higher, with the median sale price at $887,680 as of July 2026 (2). Cuban emphasized the importance of considering the full financial picture when thinking about homeownership, noting that ongoing expenses such as property taxes could be significant.

In 2026, a minimum annual income of $228,400 was necessary to afford the costs associated with homeownership in California (3). Althoff pushed forward with her proposal, questioning Cuban about the financial feasibility of homeownership in the state.