Matt Mullenweg says he has made an offer to buy Mirene, the Sausalito houseboat owned by Stewart Brand and Ryan Phelan. In a post on his personal blog, Mullenweg said the proposal depends on the sellers accepting it and that he hoped to learn from the couple about the vessel’s future, according to his post.
The sale is not yet complete
The available account does not identify the offer amount or indicate that Brand and Phelan have accepted it. It also does not establish whether the berth or other items included in the earlier listing would transfer if the deal proceeds.
Mirene’s background
Mirene is a 64-foot wooden vessel built in 1912. Brand and Phelan bought it as salvage for $8,000 and spent years restoring it with Sausalito waterfront craftspeople, according to the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE.
SFGATE reported that the boat contains about 583 square feet, one bedroom and one bathroom, with an engine room still part of its layout. The outlet also reported that Mirene has traveled around San Francisco Bay and to the Delta, giving the vessel a use beyond serving as a docked home, according to SFGATE’s account.
The earlier listing
Brand and Phelan listed Mirene, its berth and a 15-foot Boston Whaler tender for $1.8 million in October 2025, with Compass agent Steve Sekhon handling the listing, according to the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE.
Brand, who is 87, explained the decision to sell by saying, “It’s time for younger owners,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Until the offer is accepted and the transaction closes, ownership of Mirene remains unresolved.
