Former NBA star Ben Wallace is offering his Virginia estate for $6.9 million, making it one of the most highly priced residential properties to come onto the market in the region this year. Wallace, known as “Big Ben”, spent the majority of his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons, where he established himself as one of the league's most dominant defensive players, before embarking on a career as a basketball executive.
Wallace and his family acquired the plot approximately 15 years ago for $790,000. They subsequently had the 22,308 square-foot European-inspired mansion custom-built, with its completion in 2015. The property is located in Manakin Sabot, Virginia, and spans 35.33 acres of land. It features six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and seven half-bathrooms. Special amenities include an indoor sports court, a climbing wall, an infinity pool, a two-storey master wardrobe, a games room, a fully equipped bar, a strength room, a lift, a pond, and over 13 garage spaces.
European Elegance Meets Luxury Living
The estate extends over 35 acres, distributed across three parcels, and presents an European-inspired facade that opens into an imposing two-storey foyer. Sweeping dual staircases lead to a floating bridge on the upper level. Travertine and cherry wood flooring, elaborate woodwork, and extensive cornices characterise the adjacent living areas. Directly behind the entrance is the main living room, which stretches beneath a 20-foot ceiling and is illuminated by a full-height, curved window frontage.
Through an oversized archway, the family room opens up, arranged around a gas fireplace and flanked by custom built-in cabinets with open shelving for vases and decorative items. Double French doors along the outer wall connect the room directly to the glazed veranda, extending the living space outdoors. The kitchen in the next room is arranged around two large islands, surrounded by custom cabinetry and appliances from Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Asko. Two large refrigerators and freezers provide ample storage, while a separate pantry offers additional, hidden cooking space. A curved built-in window seat invites casual dining, and a gas fireplace along with detailed crown moulding integrate traditional elements of the house into the room.
Exclusive Amenities and Sports Facilities
Upstairs, the main suite boasts its own lounge, featuring a curved window frontage, a retractable television, and separate wet and dry bars. The adjoining bathroom includes a large steam shower, a Jacuzzi bathtub, and dual vanity units. However, the most luxurious part of the suite is the two walk-in wardrobes, one of which is a two-storey dressing room with extensive built-ins, jewellery drawers, granite countertops, seating, a mirrored wall, and even a Dacor wine dispenser.
Wallace's basketball career is most clearly reflected in the walk-out basement. Here, an indoor sports court with a climbing wall and its own viewing platform can be found. A strength room, a games area, and a fully equipped bar are also on this leisure-oriented level, all easily accessible by lift. Outdoors, bluestone patios lead to a Gunite infinity pool with a sunbathing area and hot tub, offering views of the pond and the surrounding woodland. A glazed veranda also provides an outdoor living area with a gas fireplace, TV, ceiling fan, and retractable screens, making it an ideal place to relax all year round.
After Wallace and his family transformed the land acquired approximately 15 years ago into a 35-acre family estate, they are now seeking a successor for $6.9 million. A reason for the sale has not been publicly disclosed, but the listing comes just three months after Wallace sold Big Ben’s Home Court, his 22,000 square-foot indoor basketball facility, which hosted youth camps and professional-amateur games before its closure last year. Together, these two sales mark a significant change for the former NBA star, who has established roots in the Richmond area for years.
