PHOTO: Maria Sharapova. MONEY
In the previous autumn, prominent Chicago philanthropist Ann Lurie listed her long-held vacation residence in the upscale Montecito neighborhood of California for just under $13 million. Recent records now disclose that the property discreetly changed hands in an all-cash transaction, fetching $11.5 million, with the high-spending buyer revealed to be retired tennis legend Maria Sharapova.
Lurie, the widow of real estate magnate Robert H. Lurie and former part owner of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls, purchased the opulent Montecito retreat in the mid-2000s for approximately $8.3 million. Evidently, the house and its expansive grounds have been meticulously maintained since then.
Believed to be designed by the renowned architect Lockwood de Forest Jr. and completed around 1949, the main five-bedroom residence is situated amidst 3.3 acres of lush lawns and terraced gardens, surrounded by mature specimen trees. Secured by walls and gates, the grand estate is perched high in the Montecito foothills, at the end of a secluded cul-de-sac. Notably, the property shares proximity with an even larger compound owned by Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom.
Maria Sharapova’s new home, a refined interpretation of a rustic cabin, exudes elegance and is flooded with natural light through expansive glass walls that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor spaces. The house, although modified and expanded over the years, retains its midcentury charm in its rustic, wood-trimmed interiors.
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The open kitchen, significantly revamped in recent years, boasts commercial-grade appliances and a sleek island crafted from rustic hardwood. An additional outdoor kitchen, complete with modern stainless appliances, is tucked under a loggia—an addition likely made during Lurie’s ownership.
Though it has been modified and expanded over the years, the home’s rustic, wood-trimmed interiors still hark back to its midcentury roots.VIRTOUR MEDIA
Noteworthy features of the property include a luxurious master suite with a fireplace, a stainless steel-shelled soaking tub, and retractable glass walls leading to a covered terrace offering pool and ocean views. The property’s distinctive sail-shaped pool, a visual marvel, was installed during Lurie’s ownership. The exterior also features a fully detached guesthouse with a full kitchen and lounge, a sunken fire pit seating area, and a separate three-car garage.
Despite the new acquisition, Sharapova, at 36, still maintains a $9 million compound in Summerland, Santa Barbara County. However, her primary residence for many years has been a highly customized contemporary home in the affluent city of Manhattan Beach.
SOURCE: ROB REPORT