Is Wilt Chamberlin’s Iconic Bel-Air Home a Teardown? It Was Just Listed for Land Value

Wilt Chamberlain's Iconic Bachelor Pad

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The swingingest of all bachelor pads—later renovated into an elegant architectural masterpiece—is now available for the price of the land value alone: $9,995,000.

Does that mean the iconic Bel-Air mansion built for NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain is destined for the wrecking ball?

Not necessarily, according to Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills listing agent Bobby Syed, who hopes a buyer will appreciate the legendary mansion as much as the ground it sits on.

Yet, it’s certainly true that developers who want to build something new will covet the 2.51-acre parcel, which is situated on a private promontory with extraordinary views.

Views

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But buyers inclined to preserve the statement mansion and actually live there—or add it to a personal collection of iconic homes—know that the estate could never be reproduced.

“This is a one-of-a-kind home, unlike anything in all of Los Angeles, and it cannot be rebuilt with the same configuration—even if somebody has $1 billion to their name,” Sayed says, referring to the changes in municipal permitting that were enacted after the home’s construction in the 1970s. “The spaces, the placing of the pool right next to the main house, the height, the ceilings—nothing like this can be built today. It would be impossible to duplicate.”

The pool wraps around the house.

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Something else that couldn’t be replicated? The deal these sellers are offering. They’ll carry the loan at 4% for a “super qualified buyer.”

So if you’re unfamiliar with this exceptional, custom-built estate inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, let us fill you in. It’s jaw-dropping in its originality and elegance.

Chamberlain chose the secluded hilltop lot and worked with renowned architect David Rich to build the unique 9,395-square-foot mansion in 1971.

Front entry

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He paid a little more than $1 million to have the place built and christened it “Ursa Major.”

The home comes with a legendary reputation, too. In his 1991 autobiography, “A View From Above,” Chamberlain claimed to have bedded more than 20,000 women, many of them in this very home.

Swanky, 1970s-era highlights (that might have contributed to his salacious claim) include a primary suite with a mirrored, retractable ceiling above the bed—and a sunken bathtub at the foot of it. There was also a playroom with a water-bed floor, a dining room with an in-floor spa, and a swimming pool that extended into the living room.

While many of these high-drama features have gone the way of short shorts on the basketball court, a few of the home’s standout architectural elements remain—200 tons of stonework and a 14-foot-high, 2,000-pound front door, among others details.

The soaring, five-story living room features a cathedral ceiling, walls of windows, tree-like columns, and a few tons of Bouquet Canyon stone.

Great room

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The enormous swimming pool, which still winds its way into the living room, was also renovated. The pool wraps around the house and would be impossible to get permitted today.

Other luxury features include a media room, billiard room, gym, redwood sauna, a chef’s kitchen with stainless steel appliances, an outdoor kitchen, and a generous indoor/outdoor entertainment space. There are also garages and a motor court that can accommodate more than 10 vehicles.

Billiard room

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Kitchen

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Sunroom

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Current owner Dmitri Novikov purchased the property for $6,555,000 in 2008 and was responsible for many of the renovations. He reconfigured the downstairs area and removed that infamous tub at the foot of the bed in the primary suite.

Dining room

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Bedroom

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Bath

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Novikov’s had the place on and off the market since 2018, at prices as high as $18,999,000.

So the question is, how can the current owners let this unique property go at the current price?

“My clients own many properties, including this estate,” said Syed. “They have invested millions of dollars in remodeling this iconic home over the years and have enjoyed living here for over a dozen years. When sellers are serious about selling, they are serious about selling. And that’s what the listing price and terms reflect.”

Chamberlain was a dominant NBA star for 14 seasons, during which he averaged an astounding 30 points and 23 rebounds per game. The 7-foot-1 center scored 100 points in a single game in 1962—a record that stands today. He died of congestive heart failure in 1999 at the age of 63.

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