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

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Back in 2023, Mark Cuban found himself seated on a warehouse floor alongside viral sensation Bobbi Althoff as a guest on The Really Good Podcast (1).

During the 58-minute interview, Althoff used her awkward yet engaging tactics to get Cuban to open up about a range of topics, from the Dallas Mavericks to Shark Tank — and even asked him for $5 million to buy a home.

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"You could give me a billion dollars right now, and it probably wouldn't even affect you," Althoff quipped, negotiating with Cuban. "Fine, $5 million, we'll go small. I could buy a house in Southern California."

Despite finding common ground over their shared birthday and lactose intolerance, Cuban didn't give in. He cautioned Althoff that even with a multimillion-dollar handout, California living would remain beyond her means.

"I would have given you $5 million for nothing," the Shark Tank star replied.

Cuban then explained to her why owning a house that expensive wouldn't work out, even if he bought it for her.

Homeownership alternatives in Southern California and beyond

When the podcast initially aired in 2023, the median sale price of a California home was around $742,000, according to Redfin (2). As of June 2026, Redfin says that price has risen to $777,566. But if you ask the California Association of Realtors (CAR), prices are actually about 19% higher, with the median sale price hovering at $887,680 as of July 2026 (3).

No matter which numbers you believe, it's clear that house prices are going up in the state of California.

Cuban also emphasized the importance of considering the full financial picture when thinking about homeownership. While you may believe you can afford the initial down payment, there can be significant ongoing expenses associated with maintaining a property.

"You'd have to pay all those taxes," said Cuban, nodding to the high property tax rates in California.

According to CAR data from the second quarter of 2026, a minimum annual income of $228,400 is necessary to afford the costs associated with homeownership in that state (4).