Perched high above the Pacific Ocean, in Southern California’s exclusive Laguna Beach community, is a cliff-side compound that’s on the market for $35 million. (Click here to see the video of this amazing home.)

But it didn’t always look like this.

“Originally it was a cottage, almost like a shack in disrepair,” explains homeowner and tech entrepreneur Mark Hammond, who gave CNBC an exclusive tour of his residence.

Property records show Hammond purchased the original Laguna Beach structure in August 2005 for $9.5 million. He says it took him eight years and millions of dollars to transform it into the home it is today.

The 6,000 square foot beach home has five bedrooms, six bathrooms including a killer master suite with glass walls that give a clear view all the way to the coastline.

“The best part? No neighbors can see you,” says Hammond.

In the living room, a painting above the fireplace mantle can slide to reveal a big-screen TV.

One level below, down a floating staircase, is the owner’s favorite room in the house: his private man cave.

Inside, there’s a glass-encased wine cellar and a state-of-the-art movie theater.

One of the movie theater’s walls has a curtain that slides open with the press of a button, revealing a window into the garage where Hammond parks his sportscar and displays his favorite motorbikes. There’s also an oil-change pit in the garage.

“I’ve collected over 50 motorcycles from the ’60s and ’70s,” he explains, including this Yahama bike with a mannequin that wears Hammond’s riding gear from when he was 17.

Out back, a stairway to the ocean below leads to the property’s most unique feature: a private beach and tide pool that fills up with water, sometimes even sharks.

“We get fish almost daily in the pool,” Hammond says. “When the next high tide comes, it pulls them back out to sea.”

But after living here for more than a decade, Hammond says he’s ready to part with his Laguna Beach property.

“I decided to list the house for $35 million because I’d like to do another project before I get old,” he explains. “I really enjoy having the vision and then watching that vision come alive.”

Hammond, who retired at age 40, describes himself as a serial tech entrepreneur.

“I had a health care company… and insurance software company that I sold in the mid ’90s,” he tells CNBC. The last company Hammond was CEO of — software firm Appriss Retail — provides fraud detection for big-box retailers. “I sold that company a few years ago, and finally retired for good this time.”

This article was originally written by Christopher DiLella and appeared here .