Thomas Tull: A Billionaire's Bank Account, A Yinzer's Heart

PITTSBURGH, PA - To say that Thomas Tull is giving up a lot to move to Pittsburgh is no exaggeration.

He’s leaving his 38-acre compound in Thousand Oaks, California, whose main estate boasts 32,000-square-feet of living space and includes 12 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, a 20-foot-wide movie screen and a wine vault that holds 2,500 bottles of vino. On the grounds are a farm, infinity pool and fresh-stocked pond with a working water wheel. The estate’s 11,000-square-foot guest house comes with - get this - its own guest house.

Tull is asking $85 million for the property. To put that in perspective, the most expensive place currently on the market in Pittsburgh is listed at a paltry $4.3 million, an amount the billionaire could lose between his sofa the seat cushions and not be concerned.

There perhaps is no greater ambassador for Pittsburgh at the moment than Tull, 47, which is odd. He was born in New York and thus has no inbred affinity for chipped ham, Primanti Bros. sandwiches or anything else on which we native yinzers were raised.

But the former head of Legendary Entertainment, which produced the Batman "Dark Knight" trilogy, “The Hangover,” and other blockbusters has been a Steelers fans since before kindergarten age. Tull has recalled in interviews watching the Steelers defeat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX when he was just 4.

So he did what any preschool Steelers fan of that era would have done if they could: grow up, become wealthy beyond any reasonable expectation and buy a stake in the franchise. He became a minority owner of the team in 2009.

Tull, who could not be reached for comment by Patch, gradually increased his personal investment in the city. He bought a home in Edgeworth and last year purchased Rivendale Farms in Washington County, an agricultural accessory of which few NFL minority owners can boast.

Tull recently announced that he’s moving here permanently and bringing his holding company, Tulco, with him. He further cemented his ties to this town a few days ago with the announcement that he is helping take national a local business - the Milk Shake Factory. Currently making shakes on the South Side and Downtown, the factory run by the Edwards family soon will have 25 locations across the country.

“The Edwards family has built an iconic and beloved local brand with the Milk Shake Factory and our business and farm ventures are proud to be a part of the next generation of its growth and opportunity,” said Alba Tull, Tull Investment Group CEO and Tull’s wife.

Tull is giving up a lot to move to Pittsburgh. But by embracing his adopted city with such a bear-hug, Tull gains a title that distinctly distances him from all put the smallest percentage of civilization.

He’s a billionaire yinzer.

Eric Heyl is Patch’s Pittsburgh field editor. Reach him at 412-334-4033 or Eric. Heyl@Patch.com.

Tull photo: Getty Images.