LeBron James' $9 million Miami mansion. (Photo: Trulia.com)For now, the world’s best athletes are living on equal footing. All 17,000 competitors in the Summer Olympics will stay in the Athletes’ Village, sharing dorm-style rooms in newly built East London apartment buildings that lead out to communal courtyards. But when the medals are won and the Games close, how do the biggest stars live?
It depends on the sport. We sorted through property records and real estate listings from Realtor.com, Trulia.com and Zillow.com to uncover the addresses that America’s star Olympians call home or have sold in the past few years.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the most opulent abodes are owned by members of the USA basketball team. After joining the Miami Heat, LeBron James scooped up a waterfront mansion in December 2010 for $9 million.
For most Olympians, success is unlikely to bring them mansions. Take fencer Mariel Zagunis. When the two-time gold medalist in the sabre, 27, bought a home following her win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it was a mid-century ranch in her hometown of Beaverton, Ore., that cost $275,000. The 1,267-square-foot house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a one-car garage.
Read on for more about these and other Olympian abodes:
James' home includes an Infinity pool. (Photo: Trulia.com)LeBron James: Basketball
Location: Miami, Fla.
Purchase Price: $9 million in December 2010
James' 12,178-square-foot Coconut Grove waterfront mansion touts six bedrooms, 8 1/2 baths, a wine cellar, a home theater and a back yard with infinity pool and dockage for two 60-foot yachts.
The NBA's star forward scooped up this Coconut Grove mansion after joining the Miami Heat team in 2010. He's going for his third Olympic medal.
Phelps is listing his home at a loss. (Photo: Heidi Krauss)Michael Phelps: Swimming
Location: Baltimore, Md.
Purchase Price: $1.7 million in October 2007
Current List Price: $1.42 million (sale pending)
The swim star reportedly owns several pieces of prime real estate along the east coast, including this Fells Point condo that came to market earlier this year. The three-bedroom waterfront townhouse has floor-to-ceiling windows and a rooftop lounge. According to listing agent Heidi Krauss' site, a sale is already pending.
The 16-time Olympic medalist, who reportedly pulled in $40 million after his last round of wins in the 2008 Olympics, is selling his Baltimore condo for about 17% less than he paid for it. When not in London, he lives and trains in Baltimore.
Solo's Seattle-area home. (Photo: realtor.com)Hope Solo: Soccer
Location: Kirkland, Wash.
Purchase Price: $1.2 million in April 2012
The soccer goalie's new 5,330 square-foot home touts four bedrooms, four baths and a swimming pool. It's located 25 miles from Starfire Sports Complex, where she practices with the Seattle Sounders Women.
Solo was an alternate on the 2004 Olympic team but started in 2008 when the USA took home the gold. She is going for gold again as a starter on the 2012 team.
The Williams sisters added to their mansion in 2010. (Photo: Jeff Realty)Venus and Serena Williams: Tennis
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Purchase Price: $525,000 for the land in 1998
The star tennis players built and moved into this custom mansion in 2000, later tacking on an addition in 2010. It has two master wings that mirror each other in layout, with two-story glass-enclosed sitting rooms and walk-in closets.
The Williams' home sits in the gated BallenIsles Country Club community and while they didn't build a tennis court in the backyard, the posh club reportedly added one on its grounds just for them. The sisters have won s combined five gold medals.
Zagunis' starter home has 1,267 square feet. (Photo: Zillow.com)Mariel Zagunis: Fencing
Location: Beaverton, Ore.
Purchase Price: $275,000 in May 2010
The two-time gold medalist bought a starter home in the same town as her childhood home. The 1,267-square-foot Mid-Century Ranch has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a one-car garage.
Zagunis has been lauded as the best fencer to hail from America. She is one of two Americans to ever bring home a gold medal in the sport, the other doing so about a century ago. However, Zagunis was upset in the London semifinals this year.
Click here for more homes of America's Olympic stars.
