Pete Sampras spent much of his career competing on the world’s biggest tennis courts, but away from the sport, his life took a quieter turn in the wooded hills of Los Angeles. In 2009, the former world No. 1 and his wife, actress and singer Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, bought a gated property in the Brentwood area. The house became their home for seven years, during which they renovated and enlarged it, adding to a residence that combined traditional architecture with extensive grounds. As reported by The Los Angeles Times, by January 2017, the couple had parted with the estate, securing $7.25 million for a property they had purchased for $5.9 million.
Inside Pete Sampras ’ Brentwood estate sold for $7.25 million in 2017
The estate occupied more than half an acre in one of Los Angeles’ established residential neighbourhoods. Set behind gates and surrounded by mature trees, the property offered privacy without being far removed from the city. Its traditional-style house had grown to around 6,900 square feet by the time it changed hands, following work carried out during the Samprases’ ownership.Reportedly, the couple had bought the home in 2009 for $5.9 million, according to public records cited by the Los Angeles Times. When they eventually put it on the market, the asking price stood at $7.9 million. The eventual sale came in $650,000 below that figure, at $7.25 million.
Pete Sampras’ former Los Angeles home featured a private theatre and wine cellar
The interior was designed around several distinct living and entertainment spaces. A library provided a place to read or work, while a dedicated theatre room and wine cellar catered to other interests. The six-bedroom layout included two main bedroom suites, one upstairs and another downstairs, alongside six full bathrooms and a further half-bathroom.The house also featured details that connected its rooms rather than separating them entirely. A double-sided fireplace, for instance, could be seen from both the family room and dining room. In the kitchen, skylights and broad windows brought daylight into the space and offered views of the landscaped grounds beyond.These features sat within a home that had been expanded and updated over the seven years the couple owned it. The available sale report did not itemise the cost of the renovations, but the work had increased the size of the residence and shaped its mix of traditional design and modern domestic amenities.
A wooded backdrop surrounds the pool and outdoor kitchen
Much of the property’s appeal extended beyond the walls of the house. Mature redwood trees formed a backdrop to the swimming pool, giving the outdoor area an established, wooded character. An outdoor kitchen added another space for entertaining, while water features and small streams were incorporated into the landscaping.Lighting was used to bring out parts of the garden after dark, with uplighting highlighting the grounds and their mature planting. Rather than relying on the pool alone as its main outdoor feature, the estate combined several elements across its grounds, creating a setting that could be enjoyed from different parts of the property.The gated entrance and extensive landscaping also helped distinguish the home from a conventional suburban house. Even with its entertainment rooms and sizeable interior, much of the estate’s character came from its trees, water features and outdoor spaces.
A tennis career that spanned two decades
Sampras had already retired from professional tennis long before the Brentwood sale. He officially ended his career in 2003, having won 14 Grand Slam singles titles during his time on the circuit. His achievements included six US Open crowns and seven Wimbledon singles titles, and he spent 286 weeks at the top of the world rankings. Retirement did not mean a complete departure from competition. Sampras continued to appear in exhibition matches and events involving other former professionals. He played Roger Federer in an exhibition encounter and also competed against John McEnroe and Patrick Rafter in senior tennis events.His record placed him among the defining players of his era, with a career built around a powerful serve and a strong record on grass courts. By the time the Brentwood property was sold, he had been away from the professional tour for more than a decade.
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras and her film career
Wilson-Sampras had established herself in film before and during the couple’s life together. Her credits included the 1995 comedy Billy Madison, the 1997 horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer and the romantic comedy The Wedding Planner, released in 2001.Her work in film and music brought a different public profile to the household, while Sampras was known internationally for his sporting achievements. The couple purchased the Brentwood home in 2009 and held it through a period of renovation before deciding to sell.
The $7.25 million sale in 2017
The transaction was reported by The Los Angeles Times on 5 January 2017. Jordan Cohen of RE/MAX Olson & Associates represented the sellers, while Joe Babajian of Rodeo Realty represented the buyer.The final price was $1.35 million above the amount Sampras and Wilson-Sampras had paid in 2009, although that difference does not account for renovation expenses, maintenance or transaction costs. The estate had been marketed for $7.9 million, but the reported sale price settled at $7.25 million.The deal marked the end of the couple’s seven-year ownership of the Brentwood residence. Its combination of a substantial traditional house, mature redwoods, a swimming pool and carefully landscaped grounds had made it a distinctive property within Los Angeles’ luxury housing market.