NBA star LeBron James‘ extraordinary Beverly Hills compound will feature not one but two enormous megamansions that are currently being built on the site of a historic estate that the Los Angeles Lakers legend snapped up for $37 million in 2020—then promptly razed to the ground.
While it was originally reported that James, 40, was building one huge estate on the land, planning applications seen by Realtor.com® reveal that he has received permission to turn the original 2.72-acre parcel into two separate plots, each of which will be home to its own jaw-dropping mansion.
The two residences will share a communal driveway that will be secured by a private guard house stationed at the entryway—and each will be given a new address when completed.
According to planning documents, the larger of the two homes will span close to 16,000 square feet across two stories, but will also include a 7,700-square-foot basement garage. There will also be a two-level garage built on the ground level.
That larger dwelling will feature a pool in the backyard, as well as a spa, with images obtained exclusively by Realtor.com revealing that the home will offer spectacular views of the surrounding area courtesy of its hilltop perch.
Other extraordinary amenities being installed at the home include an outdoor kitchen and solar panels that will ensure the property can be powered even in the event of a grid outage.
Meanwhile the second dwelling will be a 6,550-square-foot single-story abode that will boast a basement movie theater, as well as an entertaining area, and a ground-level two-car garage.
That property will feature a sizable terrace that will enable residents to take full advantage of the awe-inspiring vistas.
Wellness has also been factored into the second dwelling, which will be equipped with hot and cold plunge pools, as well as a spacious courtyard in which multiple palm trees have already been planted.
The two homes, although located on separated “irregularly shaped” parcels, according to the planning documents, will share a common outdoor space that features a huge water feature at the center of a large motor court.
They will also be protected by one 209-square-foot guard house, which will be stationed at the start of the lengthy driveway—while an incredibly intricate alarm system and 10-foot-high perimeter fencing add to the extensive security measures being taken to protect the compound.
James has enlisted a team of industry experts to complete the project—including luxury planning pros Crest Real Estate and renowned architecture firm Walker Workshop, which has been responsible for designing some of Los Angeles’ most luxurious and cutting-edge residential properties.
“Critical to our mission is the awareness that thoughtfully executed space can elevate the body and mind of its inhabitants,” the firm states on its website.
“With the same level of care and consideration that goes into crafting a museum, place of worship, or sacred space, Walker Workshop aims to design and build one-of-a-kind works of art people can live in.
“This desire and ethos of creative ownership exists in all phases of our work, from initial concept to project completion, and permeates throughout our firm.”
New photos taken of the in-progress estate reveal that James still has a ways to go before he will be able to move into the dwelling. Significant progress has been made since 2020, when the NBA legend took over the estate, which was once home to a 1930s four-bedroom estate.
Although glamorous, that original dwelling wasn’t the right fit for the basketball star, so he razed the property, leaving behind a mountain of rubble.
Construction initially began on the two-dwelling compound in 2023 after planning permission for the ornate dwellings was secured.
While it was originally reported that the estate would serve as the primary residence for James, his wife, Savannah, and their children, it may well be that his decision to build a second home on the property means that he is planning to offer it to his eldest son, Bronny, who also plays for the Lakers.
James’ decision to construct such an epic compound comes amid furious speculation that he will retire within the next few years, having just kicked off his 23rd season in the NBA.
The basketball icon attempted to shut down all rumors of retirement during the NBA’s media days ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season, which began Oct. 21.
Speaking to the press at the event, the basketball legend conceded that the end of his career is likely coming “sooner than later,” but insisted that he does not know when it will officially draw to a close.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to play the game that I love for another season,” he said. “However the journey lays out this year, I’m super-invested because I don’t know when the end is. I know it’s a lot sooner than later.
“It’s pretty cool to know how many miles I’ve got and still be able to play at a high level. For me, age is kind of just a number, but it is reality, too.
“You look at the history of the game, there’s not been many guys at my age, especially going into Year 23, that have been able to play at a level like that. I just try not to take it for granted and just try to give the game as much as I can, inspire whoever I can.”
At 40 years old, James is currently the oldest active player in the NBA—however, he falls short of the record for the oldest player to ever play for an NBA team, which is held by Nat Hickey, who took part in his last game just hours shy of his 46th birthday back in 1948.
Despite his age, James is widely viewed as one of the most skilled players in the NBA, with ESPN ranking him as the eighth best in the league—albeit while asking whether this will be the “last we see of James in a Lakers uniform?”
At the end of the 2024-25 season, the basketball pro more than proved his worth when he became the first 40-year-old to achieve at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a playoff game during the Lakers’ matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 22.
It is not the first time that James has demolished a home to make way for a more suitable residence, having done the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale, at his home in Akron, OH, that he purchased for $2.1 million.
James bought the dwelling when he was just 18 years old, shortly after he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft.
Soon after, the existing home on that property was razed to make way for a new mansion that is now estimated to be worth well over $10 million.
Although his career has since taken him farther afield, James has hung on to the property, which eclipses his other homes in size.
It also boasts an array of impressive amenities sure to impress even the most discerning of homebuyers.
The sprawling residence tops 30,000 square feet and has six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and 6.5 baths. Baller amenities are said to include a bowling alley, recording studio, and barbershop.
In a nod to his love of fashion, James’ closet at the property is said to spread across two stories.
