Tech billionaires Jack and Laura Dangermond donated $165 million to protect a stunning 24,000-acre stretch of California coastline visible from space

Jack and Laura Dangermond, the tech billionaires widely regarded as pioneers of the digital mapping industry, put their fortune toward protecting one of California's most extraordinary landscapes. The couple donated $165 million to The Nature Conservancy, its largest private gift ever, to help purchase and permanently protect the 24,000-acre Cojo/Jalama Ranch at Point Conception in Santa Barbara County, according to a report in The Yahoo Finance.

The property includes eight miles of coastline, centuries-old coastal oak trees and a remarkable ecosystem where warm and cold ocean currents meet.

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A California coastline visible from space

Point Conception is where California's coastline bends inland, creating a distinctive geographic feature that can even be seen from space. The area is also an ecological treasure. According to The Nature Conservancy, at least 39 threatened or special-status species are found across the property.

The wildlife includes whales, porpoises, mountain lions and monarch butterflies. The landscape has also earned comparisons with some of America's most famous natural wonders, with some observers suggesting it can rival the beauty of Yosemite or Yellowstone. For the Dangermonds, the connection to the land goes back decades.

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The land captured their hearts in the 1960s

Jack and Laura Dangermond first fell in love with the coastline during a coastal camping trip on their honeymoon in the 1960s. Decades later, their philanthropy is helping ensure the landscape remains undeveloped.

The property had previously been the subject of controversy after it was sold for $140 million in 2007 to real estate developers. Plans to develop the land ultimately failed. The Dangermonds' donation now gives conservationists an opportunity to permanently protect the property.

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Who are Jack and Laura Dangermond?

The couple founded Esri in 1969 with just $1,100 of their personal savings. The company became a global leader in geographic information system, or GIS, technology, helping organizations map and understand everything from cities and infrastructure to wildlife and environmental changes.

Although Google Maps and Apple Maps dominate consumer navigation, Esri has become one of the biggest names in commercial digital mapping.

Forbes has estimated the Dangermonds' combined fortune at around $4 billion.

Their commitment to conservation has also extended beyond their personal donations. Esri provides mapping software to thousands of nonprofit organizations, including groups working in conservation and global health.

The couple has received major recognition for their environmental work, including the Audubon Medal from the National Audubon Society.

A different side of billionaire influence

The Dangermonds' gift also offers a striking contrast to some other controversies involving wealthy technology figures and California's coastline.

Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla faced years of legal battles over public access to Martins Beach after purchasing the surrounding property. A court eventually ordered access to be restored.

Facebook billionaire Sean Parker, meanwhile, was fined $2.5 million after his wedding festivities in Big Sur damaged an ecologically sensitive area.

Against that backdrop, the Dangermonds' decision represents a very different use of wealth: spending $165 million to keep a spectacular piece of California wild, undeveloped and accessible to conservation efforts for generations to come.