When a career-changing knee injury ended Jerry Rice’s record-setting streak of 189 straight regular-season games in the late 1990s, the Hall of Famer turned his attention to the Bay Area. He commissioned Lencioni Construction to raise a French chateau-inspired residence on a 1.24-acre parcel in the ultra-exclusive community of Atherton. The project reached completion in 2001, the same year Rice departed the San Francisco 49ers after sixteen seasons to join the Oakland Raiders.
From gridiron glory to architectural ambition
The estate’s genesis mirrors the athlete’s own pursuit of excellence. After a decade of ownership, Rice placed the property on the market in 2007 with an asking price of $22 million. A substantial reduction—nearly $9 million—followed in 2008, yet the home lingered in limbo until 2011 when an $11 million deal collapsed at the final hour. A revised offer of $10.5 million appeared in late 2012, but it was the early-year transaction that finally closed, as philanthropists Peter Pau and Susanna Pau co-founders of Sand Hill Property Company, secured the mansion for $9 million.
Design, finishes, and entertainment-ready spaces
The 12,500-square-foot residence boasts six bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, each wrapped in Versace limestone flooring and adorned with Swarovski crystal accents. Walls are finished in Venetian plaster while soaring ceilings, French doors, and an elevator service all three levels. Upon entry, a double-height, skylit foyer presents an artisan iron-work staircase that guides visitors to formal living and dining rooms. Adjacent, a family room flows into an updated kitchen featuring eucalyptus cabinetry, premium appliances, and a glass-lined breakfast nook.
Recreation is a focal point. A $500,000, professional-grade gym still houses Rice’s original weights and training gear, complemented by a recovery suite with steam shower and sauna. An Art Deco movie theater dazzles with gold-flecked carpet and a concession stand, while a dedicated crafting room and a climatized wine alcove hold more than 1,000 bottles. The primary suite includes dual dressing rooms, a private fireside lounge, and a coffee-cocktail bar.
Landscaping, outbuildings, and current listing
The grounds, designed by the landscape architect responsible for San Jose’s Santana Row district, embrace succulent gardens, mature redwoods, and a 25-yard lap pool beside a putting green. An outdoor kitchen, stone fireplace, and alfresco dining area sit beneath a vine-covered pergola. Additional amenities include an indoor-outdoor dog run, a detached guesthouse with its own kitchen and bath, and a seven-car garage equipped with a Tesla charging station. Listed today by Pierre Buljan and Alex Buljan of Compass together with Ken DeLeon of DeLeon Realty the property re-entered the market with a $35 million price tag.
