Having Lost Half a Billion Dollars to Fate, Wilt Chamberlain?s Iconic $18,999,000 Property Seems To Be Yet Another Let Down

Resolute at 7 ft 1 inch, Wilt Chamberlain was one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. During his time on the court, he made several unbreakable records – he averaged 22.9 rebounds, scoring 100 points in a single game (a record still standing to date), 55 rebounds also in a single game, more than 50 points 118 times, and more than 65 points 15 times.

The ‘Big Dipper’ holds 72 NBA records, out of which 68 were made by himself. With all these successes in life, Wilt suffered some potential downfalls.

Ursa Major – making a rebound

Making its way to the selling list, Wilt Chamberlain’s iconic mansion is up for grabs for $14.9 million, a lot less than it was previously listed, i.e. $19 million. According to Realtor.com, the mansion was built on a private highland with breathtaking views. It is a one-of-a-kind home that can never be designed in the same way again.

The place was built in the 1970s, taking inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic style architecture, reflecting the natural beauty of California. There are out-of-the-ordinary spaces like – the pool just next to the main house, and cathedral ceilings in a 5 story living room.

The primary suite has a rectangular mirrored ceiling above the bed along with a sunken bathtub at its foot. Moreover, it has a waterbed floor in the playroom, a floor spa in the dining room, and an extended swimming pool that stretches into the living room.

Chamberlain collaborated with distinguished architect David Rich after he chose the peaceful hilltop location for the mansion to be built. The place covers 9395 sq. ft. In 2008, the mansion was purchased by Dmitri Novikov, the current owner of the place. He bought it for $6,555,000 and is responsible for most of the renovations from 2008 to 2013.

READ MORE: Wilt Chamberlain Was Once Compelled to Visit a Psychiatrist to Work on Rare Weakness in His Game

Despite those changes, its avant-garde architectural features remain untouched. These include a 14-foot-high, 2,000-pound front door, and 200 tons of exquisite stonework.

Wilt Chamberlain – facing a twofold loss

This was a classic case of adversity that prevailed before things took shape. In 1963, Irv Kosloff and Ike Richman acquired the co-ownership of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Along with being just an owner of the team, Richman served another role in Chamberlain’s life as his personal attorney. This is the reason the two shared a close bond. Wilt affirmed Richman being a father figure to him, and he was close to the latter’s family members.

December 1965, just before collapsing at courtside before the Philadelphia-Boston game, Richman supposedly offered 25% ownership of the Philadelphia 76ers to Wilt Chamberlain. However, the deal didn’t go through. Moreover, Kosloff didn’t admire the agreement. As a result, after his contract expired, Chamberlain went to play for the L.A. Lakers.

Adding to the Big Dipper’s disappointment, there was a limitation in the deal that stated: ‘An active player is forbidden to own an NBA team.’ At the time of his demise, his net worth was around $10 million. Had the deal been pushed through, Wilt could have gotten a lot richer today. However, even without it, he still remained a multi-millionaire who lived the rest of his time in comfort.

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