Now that the dust has settled on the 2012 London Olympics
Games, athletes from around the globe are making the trek back to their
respective homes. But what exactly does an “athlete’s home” look like? How much
do they pay for them? And just who has the coolest home in the U.S.? Let’s take
a look at what being one of the highest paid sports professional in the
business will land you…
Sugar Ray Leonard – Dana Point, California
Retired boxing champ and 1976 gold medalist Sugar Ray
Leonard recently listed his $2.175 million home located in the Ritz Pointe
gated community, located right next to the Monach Beach Golf Course and
Catalina Islands. The single family, Mediterranean home includes four bedrooms,
four full baths, and approximately 4,207 square feet of space. The home
includes everything you’d expect from the Boxing Hall of Fame inductee,
including a gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances, home theater, and
a huge pool with a cascading waterfall spa in the backyard. Although the price
tag might be a little steep, the pool and the views alone just might be worth
it.
Babe Ruth – Sudbury, Massachusetts
Although this home may not seem as extravagant as the other
houses listed here, make no mistake; you won’t find a bigger named athlete.
This Sudbury, Massachusetts property was once the home of baseball legend Babe
Ruth, and is currently listed at $1,650,000. The 5,124 square foot home sits on
a little over 2 acres, and includes a large barn zoned for both commercial and
residential use. Also included are 5 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths, and it’s
very own “Babe Ruth memorabilia room” located on the third floor. For baseball
fanatics eager to own a piece of sports history, this just might be their own
personal home run.
Michael Phelps – Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland
Aside from becoming the most decorated Olympic athlete in
the history of the games, swimming phenom Michael Phelps has also been busy
listing his 4,000 square foot condo in the harbor community of Fells Point, in
Baltimore, Maryland. Although the asking price hasn’t been disclosed publicly,
it has been estimated to be between $1.075M and $1.475M – much less than what
Phelps bought it for in 2007 ($1.699M). The condo boasts views of the nearby
marina and harbor from an upper-floor private balcony, and is a mostly brick,
steel, glass and hardwood construction with a thoroughly modern style. It is a
three bedroom, three full baths and 2 half baths unit, with an amazing Master
Suite and spa bath. Supposedly Phelps is
looking to relocated to a more spacious home in the suburbs near-by. It may not
come with a gold medal, but hey, it’s still a part of Olympic history!
Serena & Venus Williams – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
What’s a couple world renowned tennis players to do when
they need a top-notch training facility, but desire all the comforts of home?
They built a giant tropical complex, complete with tennis courts on site, of
course! That’s exactly what tennis
champs Serena & Venus Williams did in 2000, after buying property on the
BallenIsles Country Club grounds in 1998. The result was an 11,000 square foot
home with two separate master wings for each sister, complete with circular
foyer, breakfast room, dining room, library, and 2-story glass enclosed sitting
rooms off of the master suites. As if that wasn’t enough, both sisters’ suites
also possess double walk-in closets that are rumored to be “The size of a
studio apartment in New York.” The Country Club (that is basically situated in
their backyard) renovated their 22 courts for $26 million, even installing two
professional style courts for the Williams. Although the price tag is anyone’s
guess, Serena recently remodeled her bathroom in 2010 for $180,000; that’s got
to be a heck of a bathroom!
Tom Brady – Brentwood, Los Angeles
Talk about extravagance! Football hero and Patriots
quarterback Tom Brady recently finished construction on his $20 Million and
22,000 square foot mansion in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. Tom and his
supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen should have fun roaming this sprawling compound
with their son Benjamin; it is reported to include 8 bedrooms, a 6 car garage,
an elevator, a lagoon style swimming pool with spa, a weight room and wine
cellar. And before people begin wondering what the electric bill must look
like, the mansion has been installed with solar energy panels, energy efficient
appliances, and built with sustainable materials. Although this gem isn’t for
sale, Tom recently put his Boston penthouse on the market – for $9.2 Million.
