Evander Holyfield is a former professional boxer from the United States. On October 19, 1962, he was born in Atmore, Alabama. In the late 1980s, he was the undisputed cruiserweight champion. In the early 1990s, he also quit as the undisputed heavyweight champion. In the three-belt period, Holyfield is the only boxer in history to have won the undisputed championship in two weight classes. He appears as himself in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Christmas Air’s special. He has appeared in films including Summer of Sam, Necessary Roughness, and Blood Salvage. However, there is so much more to this Estate! 

The Grand Entrance

Evander Holyfield House: 10 Facts through Architect's Lens - Sheet1
A front view of Rick Ross’s mansion in Atlanta, Georgia_©Photo by Quantrell D. Colbert

The Georgian-style house with an entrance framing the Estate together is so huge that the road it sits on is named Evander Holyfield Highway. The mansion is 44,234 square feet in size and features 109 rooms, including a 135-seat theatre, a bowling alley, and a dining room for 100 people. The even grander entrance flaunts the style of home sports. Hip Hop Mogul Rick Ross has held the now Villa Vittoriosa (or “Victory”), Evander Holyfield’s former Estate, since 2014. It has 109 rooms, a bowling alley, and a theatre that can seat 135 people, as well as a 350,000-gallon pool.

A three-tiered fountain welcomes visitors to the backyard, which includes a 350,000-gallon swimming pool, which according to Zillow, is “one of the largest private swimming pools in the United States.”

The Foyer

Evander Holyfield House: 10 Facts through Architect's Lens - Sheet2
image of the foyer_©J P morgan chase

The mansion is rich in ancient design, with Corinthian columns adorning the ballroom and the dining room, which can accommodate 100 people. The in-floor bath and hot tub in the master bathroom are similarly surrounded by black marble columns. 

The walls are covered in enormous images of Rick Ross and gold records in a “rapper-esque” style. The dining room table was beautifully set with gorgeous plates and cutlery. It was all quite pricey. The entrance is adorned with a massive stairwell that descends on both sides, and marble surfaces surround the pure white staircase.

The Interior through Movies

Evander Holyfield House: 10 Facts through Architect's Lens - Sheet3
An interior shot of Rick Ross’s home. ©Quantrell D. Colbert

Gilded in gold, and adorned with white marble everywhere, the home became the set of 2018’s Director X: Superfly and the 2021 romantic comedy Coming 2 America starring Eddie Murphy. Many rooms in the home were changed to provide a suitable backdrop for the latter film, which was released as a sequel. The production team altered the decor in his dining room and even built a dining table that could seat 50 people, which Ross chose to preserve.

The Pools and the Landscape

Evander Holyfield House: 10 Facts through Architect's Lens - Sheet4
pond and landscape_©JP Morgan Chase

While the mansion boasts enormous bedrooms, the recreational rooms around the Estate genuinely set it apart. According to the Bleacher Report, the Estate boasts a 100-person dining room, a movie theatre, and even a bowling alley. The house also features three pools: an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and a hot tub. The large outdoor pool is ideal for hosting pool parties. Filling its area requires 350,000 gallons of water. The electrical costs for the enormous home are estimated to be over $17,000.

The Rooms and the Interiors

Evander Holyfield House: 10 Facts through Architect's Lens - Sheet5
the grand dining room_©J P morgan chase

The Estate costs $1 million per year to maintain in its former splendour, where almost everything in the house was created on a large scale. The entry hall is opulent in its own right, with a two-winged staircase flanked by a massive sundial mosaic on the marble floor. It is the grand entrance, the majestic rooms with 18-feet ceilings, the dining room mentioned above that can accommodate up to 100 guests, and the main bedroom, which is glamorous enough to be featured in sets requiring “fictional worlds.”

The Skylit Grandeur

Evander Holyfield House: 10 Facts through Architect's Lens - Sheet6
The staircase inside Rick Ross’s mansion in Atlanta_©Quantrell D. Colbert

Other than its magnificent suites, the establishment is also jam-packed with internal activities to keep guests entertained. A 135-seat theatre, a bowling alley, a boxing gym, an indoor pool, and a fully equipped recording studio are all available. Outside, there is a detached guest house and a large pool that apparently stores over 350,000 gallons of water. As if that was not enough, there is also a basketball, tennis, and softball field.

The Grandeur of Nature 

Evander Holyfield House: 10 Facts through Architect's Lens - Sheet7
The amenities of the glamorous estate_©https://globalfilmlocations.net/2020/09/16/rick-ross-beautiful-georgia-mansion/

The abundance of amenities is only half what makes this luxurious Estate a one-of-a-kind home. Ross planned to establish his own private zoo to fill part of the vacant property. His vast fenced-in zoo is home to horses, buffalos, and cows. It was announced a few months ago that two lions would be added to Ross’ animal collection. Ross shared a video of the wild kitties on Instagram to break the news. According to their keeper, the two lions — one male and one female — from Senegal are ready to be transferred to the Promised Land.

The Estate

The Estate_©https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellehofmann/2021/06/14/rapper-rick-ross-on-real-estate-hot-wings-and-the-benefits-of-mowing-your-lawn/?sh=52ff83ca5e55

The bedroom and dining room were transformed for the film, and they later remained. Ross’ main bedroom was also transformed from a pleasant white to a more exotic colour scheme of blues and silvers. The dining room has also been upgraded. Its wallpaper was modified, and the crew built a massive dining table for Ross as a gift after filming. “The Promise Land” is an incredible beast of a mansion with a history as astounding as its vast size and gorgeous design. This property will only get more beautiful as Ross continues to expand his private zoo.

References:

The Up And Down History Of Evander Holyfield’s Unbelievable Former Mansion  [online]. (Last updated 2015). https://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/celebrity-homes/rick-ross-can-living-large-evander-holyfields-old-mansion-snagging-huge-discount/?utm_campaign=socialpost&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social  [Accessed 31st October 2022].

Tour Evander Holyfield’s Former Mansion (Last updated 2020) https://www.hgtv.com/design/home-tours/tour-evander-holyfields-former-mansion-pictures  [Accessed 30th October 2022].

Evander Holyfield House: Fayetteville Mega-Mansion (Last updated 2022) https://www.urbansplatter.com/2022/01/evander-holyfield-house-fayetteville-mega-mansion/   [Accessed 30th October 2022].

See How Rick Ross’s Atlanta Home Was Transformed for the Set of 2018’s Superfly

 (Last updated 2018) https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/see-how-rick-rosss-atlanta-home-was-transformed-for-the-set-of-2018s-superfly   [Accessed 30th October 2022].

Author

Ayadi is an architect at NUDES, and the Policy Lead for YOUNGO’s Nature WG. Her most notable role is with the EAY as an Advocate, and as a UN negotiator at SPP, OEWG 1.1, Standing Committee of Finance, UNFCCC Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, UNFCCC Global Stocktake SB56, the Stockholm+50 Youth TF with UN MGCY, and PolicyConsultations towards the UNEA 5.2 & UNEP@50.