NBA Superstar Wilt Chamberlain’s Iconic Bel-Air Bachelor Pad Finally Scores a Buyer. What’s Next?
There’s been a lot of speculation about the ultimate fate of NBA superstar Wilt Chamberlain’s storied and luxurious Bel-Air, CA, mansion.
Once the ultimate symbol of swinging-bachelor decadence, the brutalist-style dwelling from the 1970s was custom built for the Hall of Famer, who died in 1999.
The eye-popping architecture had been on and off the market for years, with prices as high as $18,999,000. It was most recently offered for $9,995,000–the value of the hilltop lot alone. The price suggested a teardown might be in the lofty property’s future.
New owner, now what?
Recently, Chamberlain’s dishy digs finally sold for a wee bit below the ask—$9,675,000, to be exact. So who bought it, and what does the new owner intend to do with the rad pad? We do know it’s a “one-of-a-kind home, unlike anything in all of Los Angeles, that cannot be rebuilt with the same configuration—even if somebody has $1 billion to their name,” according to listing agent Bobby Syed, of Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills.
The first question is easy to answer. Multimillionaire crypto-entrepreneur Erik Voorhees, creator and CEO of cryptocurrency exchange ShapeShift, is affiliated with the trust listed on the transaction.
But what Voorhees intends to do with the property remains to be seen. The 40 year old is certainly in a position to enjoy the virtues of the 9,395-square-foot home as it stands.
While the pad’s storied playboy accoutrements (e.g., the retractable ceiling above the primary suite bed and a sunken hot tub at the foot of it) are long gone, plenty of impressive features remain. The stonework, five-story living room with a cathedral ceiling, and 2,000-pound front door are among the home’s standout details.
Updated party pad
In fact, the seller, Dmitri Novikov, purchased the property for $6,555,000 in 2008. He spent millions over the years, reconfiguring and updating the property to preserve its Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired vibe. But he also gave it a more timeless appeal and brought it into the 21st century.
The five-bedroom, eight-bath manse is still the ultimate party pad, with its enormous swimming pool, which winds its way into the living room and wraps around the house—a feature that would be impossible to get permitted today.
Other luxury features include a media room, billiard room, gym, redwood sauna, chef’s kitchen with stainless steel appliances, an outdoor kitchen, and a generous indoor-outdoor entertainment space. There are also garages and a 10-vehicle motor court. Basically, the house still rocks.
Those are all great reasons for Voorhees to bring his toothbrush and move right in.
Then again, that 2.5-acre parcel with mature trees and lush foliage is situated atop a private promontory with extraordinary views of the city, the canyon, the lake-like reservoir, and beyond.
Just as the house is one of a kind, the lot itself is a rare and coveted commodity in these parts. Given the price Voorhees paid for the place, he could easily afford to tear it all down and build something of his own design in its place.
But why mess with perfection? Time (and Google Earth) will tell.
Randy White contributed to this report.
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