Back of the envelope for the computers is what, $12k? Add in $2k or so for the TVs and you're at at about $15k. That's a pretty doable amount for someone without other expensive hobbies at ~$100k/year, which is around the starting salary for Google SWEs. So I guess if normal SWE compensation in the Valley is defined as wealthy then yes?

It's not the computers that prompted my comment, it's the whole house. The computer desks are just part of a custom built home. Just look at those photos. Especially in California. I don't live there, but from what I hear, a custom home of that size has got to be in the millions?

I only deal with making glass for windows, but the last all custom entrance we did was supposed to have cost something like $30,000. So I'm thinking you're probably right.

Oddly enough, we have made quite a few windows for Google lately, but that $30k entrance was for someone else.

Yeah the computers were a tiny fraction of the cost of the house.

In absolute terms, yes, the house was expensive. However, it's actually probably below-average for Palo Alto. It's not very big (don't need that much space), and building a house does not actually cost that much more than buying one (assuming you can find an empty lot, which I was lucky enough to do).

Even the unique customizations didn't cost a whole lot. There are some cable tubes in the walls, and some custom cabinetry. The awesome architecture was free -- my dad designed it. :) Building curved walls and clerestory windows isn't that expensive; design is the hard part.

In any case, I've been working at Google for six and a half years and spending very little of they money I earned. The savings from that and a hefty mortgage were enough to build the house. :D