After several years of intermittent listings, a Los Angeles mansion custom-built and formerly owned by the late Lakers basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain has finally changed hands for just under $9.7 million. Despite being significantly lower than the nearly $19 million initially sought by current owner Dmitri Novikov, the sale price represents a $3 million increase over what the Russian-born investor paid TV writers George Meyer and Maria Semple for the property in early 2008.
The buyer, identified as crypto entrepreneur Erik Voorhees, acquired the distinctive brutalist-style residence in an off-market transaction. Known for founding BitInstant in 2011 and subsequently serving as CEO of ShapeShift, Voorhees oversees a cryptocurrency exchange boasting over 1 million users who can seamlessly swap between different cryptocurrencies without creating an account. His net worth, estimated at $30 million as of August 2023 by BitKan, underscores his influence in the digital currency sector.
Voorhees’s new residence, originally designed over five decades ago by Chamberlain and known as “Ursa Major,” underwent significant renovations in 2008 under Novikov’s ownership. The property, nestled on a gated, 2.5-acre hilltop once serving as a Nike anti-aircraft missile site during the Cold War, features a striking blend of redwood, glass, and stone. With five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and nearly 9,400 square feet of living space, it includes amenities such as a screening room, billiard room, and sauna-equipped gym, all complemented by expansive views of mountains, ocean, and reservoirs.
Guests arriving at the residence are greeted by a stone walkway crossing over a water feature leading to a substantial 2,000-pound front door. Inside, a soaring great room beneath a 40-foot cathedral ceiling features a sunken conversation pit warmed by a wood-burning fireplace with a stone chimney. A modern gourmet kitchen equipped with high-end stainless appliances completes the interior space.
A “floating” staircase ascends to the master retreat occupying the entire second floor, while outside, landscaped grounds surround a large pool that appears to “float in a lake,” as described in the listing. Additional amenities include numerous outdoor lounging areas, garages, a motorcourt accommodating over 10 vehicles, and a detached, climate-controlled storage building.
Chamberlain’s legacy with the L.A. Lakers, where he played for five seasons during the ’60s and ’70s, culminated in the iconic ’71-’72 team widely regarded as one of the NBA’s finest. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978 and later named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, Chamberlain passed away at his Bel Air home in 1999 at the age of 63. In addition to his recent acquisition, Voorhees also owns a 1-acre property in Dillon, Colorado, purchased for $260,000 in late 1985.
