The software mogul, whose PeopleSoft was wrested away by Oracle, wants to build a 72,000-square-foot home in the San Francisco Bay Area that would dwarf the White House and nearby Hearst Castle. The custom-made, three-story mansion would be on 22 acres in Alamo, a tony suburb about 30 miles east of San Francisco. The estate would feature a tennis court, stables, pool and large garage.

But Duffield's compound — much larger than the megamansions of peers Bill Gates and Larry Ellison — may not happen if neighbors have their way.

"I don't have a problem with the home's design or with Mr. Duffield, but it's just too large," says Bruce Smith, the Alamo resident whose family previously owned the home that Duffield hopes to raze to make room for his new house.

The proposed home would be one of the largest in the USA, dwarfing Hearst Castle (60,645 square feet), the White House (55,000) and Gates' home (48,000).

The proposal is subject to approval by the architectural committee of the Bryan Ranch Homeowners Association, where the 22-acre parcel is located. A decision is due by the end of the month, says Paul Wilkinson, who works with the management company for the association. He declined further comment.

"Mr. and Mrs. Duffield are aware that there is both support for and opposition to their home, and we look forward to working together on it," Dugdale said in an e-mail message.

The 65-year-old software executive and animal-rights activist lives on an estate near Lake Tahoe, Calif., where he also owns the Ponderosa Ranch, a 500-acre ranch where the TV show Bonanza was shot.

Duffield temporarily relocated to Silicon Valley last year to run PeopleSoft in a last-ditch effort to stave off Oracle's hostile bid. Oracle prevailed, and, as PeopleSoft's founder, Duffield profited handsomely from Oracle's $11.1 billion acquisition.

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