A property in Atherton, once custom-built for NFL legend Jerry Rice, is now on the market for $35 million. The estate offers a rare glimpse into the long-time home of one of football's most significant wide receivers. The Hall of Famer commissioned the construction of the 12,520 square foot residence in 2001, after leaving the San Francisco 49ers. He used it as his primary residence until he sold it to the current owners in 2013 for $9 million.
The 1.24-acre property is located in one of the country's most exclusive postcodes and combines French-inspired architecture with a variety of amenities originally tailored to Rice's lifestyle. The marketing is handled by Pierre & Alex Buljan of Compass and Ken DeLeon of DeLeon Realty.
Exclusive Features and Design
Access to Jerry Rice's former home is via a long stone driveway, flanked by bamboo and dense, Mediterranean-inspired landscaping. The driveway opens into a circular forecourt in front of the main entrance. From there, the property leads to a lower forecourt beneath the house, where an underground garage provides space for seven vehicles.
Inside, the foyer presents unique architectural details, including Versace limestone floors under high ceilings and Venetian plaster walls. A sweeping staircase ascends under intricate iron railings with Swarovski crystal accents, which extend throughout the rooms. The living room, located directly behind the foyer, impresses with a vaulted ceiling and an arched window overlooking the gardens. French doors and additional glass panels span the back wall, while a carved fireplace adorns the right side.
Living Areas and Private Retreats
A few steps away is the library, almost entirely fitted with custom mahogany woods, built-in shelving, panelled walls, and a coffered ceiling. A fireplace is set into the back wall between the bookshelves, and a small wet bar is in the corner. Opposite, accessible through a stone archway, is the formal dining room, where a long dining table is positioned under a hanging chandelier in line with the arched French door at the end.
The renovated kitchen, further into the house, features a more contemporary design, with rare eucalyptus cabinetry along one wall and lighter base units surrounding a curved central island. Stone surfaces cover the worktops and splashback, complemented by integrated designer appliances. At one end, the kitchen opens into a circular breakfast nook, where a round table is surrounded by large-format windows. A few steps below the kitchen, the floor plan opens to the family room. A breakfast bar extends along the kitchen side, while the main seating area expands towards the windows and glass doors overlooking the garden.
Upstairs, the main bedroom suite is designed as a private wing, with a long, open floor plan separating the bedroom from the suite's lounge and dressing rooms. In the bedroom, a coffered ceiling extends, and French doors at the end open to a balcony. Directly next to the bedroom, the suite continues into a separate lounge, which features a long, linear fireplace in a floor-to-ceiling textured wall and a beverage station. From the lounge, the dressing area divides into two separate walk-in wardrobes. One presents a simpler grey colour palette with open hanging elements, shelves, and integrated drawers. The second is brighter and more luxurious, with white cabinetry and marble worktops under glass-fronted wall units. The en-suite bathroom begins with a long double vanity under a mirrored wall. A second room features a chevron tile pattern on the walls of a glass shower enclosure and extends across the lower section of the room wall around a freestanding bathtub.
In the hallway, the ancillary suite is open-plan, accommodating the sleeping area, lounge, and wardrobe in the same room. The lounge is positioned at an arched glass door leading to a Juliet balcony overlooking the lawn. The bathroom of this suite continues the connection to the outdoors, with a second set of French doors opening to another Juliet balcony.
- —Price: $35 Million
- —Location: Atherton, California
- —Living Area: 12,520 Square Feet
- —Lot Size: 1.24 Acres
- —Bedrooms: 6
- —Bathrooms: 11
- —Special Features: Versace limestone floors, mahogany-panelled library, Art Deco home cinema, Jerry Rice's original gym, sauna and steam room, 1,000-bottle wine library, 25-yard lap pool, putting green, guesthouse, outdoor kitchen, underground garage for seven cars.
