LeBron James has finally begun building his dream Beverly Hills home, after demolishing the lavish $36.8million mansion he bought in September 2020.
After a two-year legal wrangle, the NBA legend has finally got the green light to begin work on the plot of land, with builders flocking to the site this week to get the delayed project up and running.
In exclusive images obtained by DailyMail.com, the sheer size of the build is laid bare, with mounds of dirt taking the place of the mansion where Katharine Hepburn lived in the prime of her career.
The 1930s property was first owned by Hollywood actor Charles Boyer, and then ultimately picked up by Howard Hughes, who leased it to Hepburn.
After Hepburn moved out, the home was owned by non-celebrities for many years, until 1986, when it was purchased for $2.9 million in 1986 by The Young And the Restless creators William Brent Bell and Lee Phillip Bell.
LeBron bought the property in September 2020, but it appears he had very different plans for the famous home, immediately getting permission to knock it to the ground a few years shy of its 100th birthday.
The land included multiple buildings on a massive 2.5 acre plot, on which James will now sculpt his dream property – showing his commitment to stay long-term in Los Angeles past the end of his playing career.
The property is also secured by one of the largest driveway gates in Los Angeles.
The NBA legend is currently weighing up what to do next after the Lakers were knocked out of the NBA playoffs by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets in May.
Immediately after the game, James teased the possibility of retirement at the age of 38, telling reporters: ‘I got a lot to think about. Just personally, with me moving forward in the game of basketball, I got a lot to think about.’
When he does eventually walk off the court for the final time, James has spoken openly about his desire to own an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas.
After playing in a preseason game in Sin City last year, he said of the location: ‘It’s wonderful. It’s the best fanbase in the world and I would love to bring a team here at some point. That would be amazing.
‘I know Adam [Silver] is in Abu Dhabi right now I believe with the Bucks and Atlanta, but he probably sees every single interview and transcript that comes through from NBA players so, I want the team here Adam, thank you.’
But regardless of whether that plan comes to fruition, James has certainly made a big commitment to the city of Los Angeles, with the purchase of the land and his plans to build his perfect home in Beverly Hills.
The next few years will also likely see his son Bronny – and potentially his second son Bryce – grace the NBA court as they continue their rise through the ranks.
Bronny recently signed with the University of Southern California, keeping him in the close vicinity of his dad’s new work-in-progress mansion.
USC is less than a 30 minute, 10-mile drive from the Beverly Hills home – another reason LeBron may be keen to stay in town for the foreseeable future.
