So here we are, folks. Luka Doncic, the basketball wizard who just signed a jaw-dropping $165 million extension with the Lakers, decided he needed a new place to call home. And not just any place—nope, he went ahead and bought Maria Sharapova’s custom-built Manhattan Beach mansion for a cool $25 million. Because apparently, when you’re making that kind of money, regular houses just won’t cut it.
Look, we’ve seen athletes make some wild purchases before, but this one’s got everything. Doncic didn’t just buy any old mansion—he snagged the former world No. 1’s “absolute favorite” place in the entire world. And honestly? Good for him. The 26-year-old Slovenian sensation clearly knows how to spend his money, even if it makes the rest of us question our life choices.
The deal went down in late August, right around the time Doncic was probably still pinching himself over that massive Lakers contract. Three years, $165 million, and now a $25 million house to match. It’s like he’s playing real-life Monopoly, except the properties are actual mansions and the money is very, very real.
Let’s break down what kind of paradise Doncic just walked into. This isn’t your average celebrity home—this is Sharapova‘s baby, a project she obsessed over for years. The tennis legend bought the land back in 2012 and worked with KAA Design to create something that would make architectural magazines weep with joy.
We’re talking about a modern three-story masterpiece with five bedrooms, because apparently four just wasn’t enough. But here’s where it gets interesting—there’s a two-lane bowling alley in the basement. Yes, you read that right. While most of us are struggling to afford rent, Doncic now owns a house with its own bowling alley. The audacity is almost admirable.
The centerpiece? An infinity pool that creates this grand indoor-outdoor space that probably costs more to maintain than most people’s annual salaries. But hey, when you’re dropping 25 million on a house, what’s a few extra thousand for pool maintenance?
Here’s the thing that makes this purchase even more wild—Sharapova wasn’t just some celebrity who threw money at designers and called it a day. This woman was genuinely obsessed with every detail of this house. She told Architectural Digest back in 2019 that she’d literally “jump off a plane from a tournament and go straight to the worksite.”
“This was my project, and I wasn’t going to delegate any part of it,” Sharapova said. And you know what? It shows. The Japanese-inspired minimalist design isn’t just some cookie-cutter rich person aesthetic—it’s actually thoughtful and unique.
But here’s where life gets a bit ironic. Sharapova, who once called this place her “absolute favorite” spot on Earth, decided to sell because she wanted to spend more time in Europe with her British fiancé, Alexander Gilkes, and their son, Theodore. So basically, love won out over the perfect house. Meanwhile, Doncic swooped in like, “Thanks for building my dream home!”
Let’s be real here—this isn’t just about Doncic wanting a fancy place to crash. This is about cementing his place in Los Angeles culture. The guy just made one of the biggest moves in recent NBA history, leaving Dallas for the bright lights of LA. Buying Sharapova’s mansion? That’s not just a real estate transaction, that’s a statement.
It’s like he’s telling everyone, “Yeah, I’m here to stay, and I’m going to do it in style.” And honestly, after watching him dominate on the court for years, seeing him make power moves off the court is pretty satisfying. The man’s got taste, money, and apparently zero interest in being subtle about either.
There’s something beautifully poetic about this whole situation. Sharapova, who dominated tennis courts around the world, built this sanctuary as her retreat from the chaos of professional sports. Now Doncic, who’s about to dominate basketball courts in LA, gets to call it home.
Both athletes know what it’s like to perform under immense pressure, to have millions of eyes watching their every move. Maybe that’s why this house transfer makes so much sense—it’s going from one champion to another, from someone who understands the weight of greatness to someone who’s carrying that same burden.
Look, we can sit here and roll our eyes at celebrities dropping more money on houses than most of us will see in a lifetime. But you know what? Good for Doncic. The guy’s worked his tail off to get where he is, and if he wants to live in a mansion with a bowling alley and an infinity pool, more power to him.
Plus, let’s be honest—if any of us had $25 million burning a hole in our pockets and the chance to buy Maria Sharapova’s custom dream house, we’d probably do the same thing. The only difference is most of us will never have to worry about that particular problem.
Doncic’s new digs are just another reminder that sometimes, being really, really good at basketball pays off in ways that go far beyond championships and trophies. Sometimes it pays off in two-lane bowling alleys and infinity pools overlooking Manhattan Beach.
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