Former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder and his family donated their Potomac mansion to the American Cancer Society after failing to sell the home after over a year on the market.
The Snyders put the home up for sale for over $49 million in February 2023. The asking price dropped by $14 million in August after the family struggled to sell what would have been the all-time record selling price for a Washington D.C. area residence.
The donation has led to heated online speculation that Snyder donated the house for a tax write off, instead of a charitable act. As a donation, Snyder can deduct the full appraised value of the estate from his taxes.
The four-story home sits along the Potomac River at 11900 River Road.
The 30,000 square feet mansion includes five bedrooms, a home theater, a pool, a guest house, and a staff house. Jordan’s King Hussein and Queen Noor used the property as their formal estate until it was purchased in 2000 and expanded by Snyder.
Snyder sold the Washington Commanders, a team he purchased in 1999, for over $6 billion in July 202 after numerous controversies clouded his reputation and struggling team. On the same day Snyder sold the Commanders, the NFL fined him $60 million over sexual assault allegations and financial impropriety. The fine came after a 17-month-long investigation.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) said the donation will play a critical role in accelerating their mission in a March 1 release announcing the gift. The non-profit is dedicated to fighting cancer by supporting cancer patients, researching the disease and advocating for policies.
The Snyder family has a personal history with cancer awareness advocacy and the ACS.
The ACS honored Tanya Snyder, a former co-CEO of the Commanders and Dan Snyder’s wife, in 2023 as “Mother of the Year” for her cancer awareness campaigns. Tanya Snyder is a cancer survivor and was the national spokesperson for the NFL’s “Crucial Catch” breast cancer awareness campaign.
In a press release, ACS CEO Karen Knudsen thanked the Snyder family for their donation.
“We are incredibly grateful for the gift, and the generosity cannot be overstated,” Knudsen said.
