Last autumn, renowned Chicago philanthropist Ann Lurie listed her long-held retreat in Montecito, California, for just under $13 million. Recent records reveal that the property has discreetly changed hands in an all-cash transaction, with retired tennis legend Maria Sharapova as the high-spending buyer, acquiring the estate for $11.5 million.
Lurie, the widow of real estate magnate Robert H. Lurie and former co-owner of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls, purchased the opulent Montecito residence in the mid-2000s for approximately .3 million. The house, reportedly designed by architect Lockwood de Forest Jr. and completed around 1949, consists of a five-bedroom main residence surrounded by 3.3 acres of lush lawns and terraced gardens, enclosed by mature specimen trees. Situated in the foothills above downtown Montecito, the gated estate is positioned at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac and shares proximity with a larger compound owned by Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom.
Sharapova’s new home reflects an ultra-refined and elegant interpretation of a rustic cabin, with ample natural light streaming through expansive glass walls that seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces. The skylit-topped entry foyer leads to a living room featuring an expansive brick fireplace.
Recently renovated, the open kitchen boasts commercial-grade appliances and a rustic hardwood island. An additional fully equipped outdoor kitchen is situated under a loggia. The property’s master suite, upgraded with resort-like amenities, includes a fireplace, stainless steel-shelled soaking tub, and glass walls opening to a covered terrace with pool and ocean views. The property also features a visually dramatic pool, installed during Lurie’s ownership, a detached guesthouse with a full kitchen, a sunken fire-pit seating area, and a detached three-car garage.
While Sharapova maintains a $9 million compound in Summerland, Santa Barbara County, her primary residence for many years has been a highly customized contemporary home in the affluent city of Manhattan Beach.
