Dan Snyder’s former Potomac riverfront mansion, a sprawling luxury estate once listed among the most expensive residential properties in the region, will be offered at auction next month after a series of price reductions and an eventual charitable donation. The estate, which was gifted to the American Cancer Society nearly two years ago, is now expected to generate millions for cancer research and patient support programs across the country.
Snyder, the former owner of the Washington Commanders, originally purchased the Potomac, Maryland property in 2000 for $8.64 million. More than two decades later, in February 2023, the estate was listed for $49 million amid renewed attention on the longtime NFL owner’s real estate holdings. After the listing remained active for several months, the price was cut to $34.9 million, but the property was later removed from the market and ultimately transferred to the American Cancer Society as a philanthropic gift from Snyder and his wife, Tanya.
The mansion, designed in a French Chateau-inspired style, is now listed at $24.9 million ahead of its auction. Organizers expect starting bids to fall between $7.5 million and $11.5 million, a substantial drop from its initial asking price but still likely to generate significant support for the nonprofit. According to the organization, all proceeds from the sale will benefit cancer research initiatives and nationwide programs assisting patients in more than 20,000 communities.
The auction opens for bidding at 3 a.m. on December 5 and will close on December 18. Early bids are already being accepted as interest grows around the rare offering of a property of this scale in the Potomac region. The estate includes three separate structures — the main residence, a guesthouse, and a staff home — spanning more than 40,000 square feet combined. Set on 13 acres along the Potomac River, the property features extensive amenities, including a large pool, a professional-grade theater, a clubroom, a wine cellar, and 11 garage bays.
Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, expressed deep appreciation for the donation when it was first announced in 2024, noting that gifts of this magnitude play a vital role in advancing the organization’s mission. Tanya Snyder, a breast cancer survivor, has maintained a long-standing connection with the organization, and her advocacy work was recognized in 2013 when she was named Mother of the Year by the American Cancer Society.
The upcoming auction marks the latest chapter in the estate’s long history and highlights the significant philanthropic impact the property is expected to make as it transitions to new ownership.
