The Evander Holyfield house is one of boxing’s most dramatic real estate stories — a 109-room Georgia mansion built at the height of his career, lost to foreclosure, and eventually bought by rapper Rick Ross for a fraction of what it cost to build. This guide covers what’s confirmed about the mansion’s history, drawing on reporting from WSB-TV Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bleacher Report, and Celebrity Net Worth.
Evander Holyfield House Quick Facts
| Full Name | Evander Holyfield |
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1962 — Atmore, Alabama |
| Profession | Retired Professional Boxer, 4-Time Heavyweight Champion |
| Net Worth (est. 2026) | Approximately $1 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth |
| Famous Former Property | A 109-room mansion in Fayetteville, Georgia, built 1994–1999 |
| Current Owner | Rapper Rick Ross, who purchased it in 2014 and renamed it “The Promise Land” |
| Current Residence | Not publicly documented as part of this guide’s research |
1. The Fayetteville Mansion — “Villa Vittoriosa”
Location: 794 Evander Holyfield Highway, Fayetteville, Fayette County, Georgia
Construction Cost: Reported at approximately $14 million, built between 1994 and 1999
Size: Reported between roughly 44,000 and 54,000 sq ft depending on source, with 109 total rooms including 12 bedrooms
Land: Originally 235 acres, though later reporting around the 2013 auction cited approximately 105 acres
Status: Sold — now owned by Rick Ross
Holyfield built this Fayetteville estate between 1994 and 1999 at the height of his career, funded in part by an estimated $34 million purse from his 1997 rematch with Mike Tyson, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He named it “Villa Vittoriosa,” Italian for “Victory,” and the surrounding road was renamed Evander Holyfield Highway in his honor. The estate became known as the largest single-family home in Georgia, and Holyfield told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution it cost him roughly $1 million a year to maintain, per Bleacher Report’s reporting.
Key Features
- 109 total rooms, including 12 bedrooms and multiple family rooms
- Two-lane bowling alley and a 135-seat private movie theater
- Indoor lap pool plus an outdoor pool reported among the largest residential pools in the US
- Formal dining room seating up to 100 guests
- Tennis court, softball field, and a private boxing gym
2. Foreclosure and Auction
First Foreclosure Notice: June 2008 — settled before auction
Foreclosure Auction / Transfer to Lender: March 2012 — property transferred to lender JPMorgan Chase for $7.5 million
Second Auction Attempt: November 2013 — failed to meet the bank’s reserve price
Debt Owed: More than $14 million, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Holyfield’s finances first showed cracks in June 2008, when Washington Mutual Bank filed a legal notice to auction the estate over a defaulted $10 million loan, according to CBC Sports; that auction was called off after a settlement. Despite an estimated $230 million in career prize money, his finances ultimately collapsed, and the mansion went into foreclosure again. WSB-TV Atlanta reported in July 2012 that the home had been sold in a foreclosure auction that March to lender JPMorgan Chase for $7.5 million, and that Holyfield owed more than $14 million on the property at the time, a figure also confirmed by Top Ten Real Estate Deals. Chase then tried to resell the estate on the open market, first listing it in April 2013 for $8.5 million and reducing the price several times before attempting a public auction in November 2013 with an opening bid of $2.5 million; the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the top bid at that auction fell short of the bank’s reserve price, so the sale did not go through at that time.
Key Features
- Owed more than $14 million at the time of the March 2012 foreclosure
- JPMorgan Chase took ownership via the foreclosure auction for $7.5 million
- A second public auction attempt in November 2013 failed to meet the bank’s reserve
- Listed price dropped from $8.5 million to under $7.9 million over several months in 2013
3. Sale to Rick Ross
Sale Price: Reported between $5.4 million and $5.9 million, depending on source
Sale Date: February 2014
New Owner: Rapper Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II)
Status: Active — still owned by Ross as of recent reporting
After the November 2013 auction failed to meet reserve, the estate was sold in February 2014 to rapper Rick Ross. Bleacher Report confirmed the sale at the time but noted the exact price paid was not disclosed; Celebrity Net Worth later reported the price at $5.4 million, while public property records reviewed for this guide show a recorded sale price of $5,879,000. Ross renamed the estate “The Promise Land” and continues to own the property, according to recent coverage.
Key Features
- Purchased for a small fraction of its original ~$14 million construction cost
- Renamed “The Promise Land” by Rick Ross
- Reportedly still owned by Ross as of recent reporting
- Some estimates cited by Ross himself value the property far higher today, though this guide could not independently confirm a current valuation
All Known Details — Complete Overview
| Event | Date | Price/Value | Status |
| Construction | 1994–1999 | ~$14M (reported cost) | Built by Holyfield |
| First foreclosure notice | June 2008 | Owed $10M loan | Settled before auction |
| Foreclosure auction | March 2012 | Transferred for $7.5M | Holyfield loses property |
| Public auction attempt | November 2013 | Opening bid $2.5M | Failed to meet reserve |
| Sale to Rick Ross | February 2014 | $5.4M–$5.9M (varies) | Sold |
What the Holyfield Mansion’s Story Reveals
A Trophy Asset That Became a Liability
The mansion was built as a visible symbol of Holyfield’s championship success, but its roughly $1 million annual carrying cost — reported consistently across multiple outlets — became one of the clearest examples of how an oversized asset can drain wealth rather than build it, especially once fight-purse income slowed after retirement.
A Second Life Under New Ownership
The property’s story didn’t end with foreclosure. Rick Ross’s purchase and rebranding of the estate as “The Promise Land” turned a cautionary tale about lost wealth into a second act for the property itself, one that continues to draw media coverage over a decade later.
Conclusion
The Evander Holyfield house remains one of the most talked-about examples of celebrity real estate excess — a 109-room mansion built for roughly $14 million, lost to foreclosure after Holyfield’s finances collapsed, and eventually sold to Rick Ross for a fraction of its construction cost. Confirmed details come from WSB-TV Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bleacher Report, and Celebrity Net Worth. GlamHomeGuide will update this page if Holyfield’s current residence or new property details are confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Evander Holyfield House
Does Evander Holyfield still own his famous mansion?
No. The Fayetteville, Georgia mansion was lost to foreclosure and sold at auction; rapper Rick Ross has owned the property since February 2014.
How big was Evander Holyfield’s mansion?
Reports vary by source, but the estate is commonly cited at around 44,000 to 54,000 sq ft with 109 total rooms, including 12 bedrooms, on land originally reported at 235 acres.
Why did Evander Holyfield lose his mansion?
Despite an estimated $230 million in career earnings, Holyfield’s finances declined, and he defaulted on the mortgage. He first faced a foreclosure notice in 2008 that was settled, but WSB-TV Atlanta reported he owed more than $14 million on the home by the time it went to auction in 2012.
Who owns Evander Holyfield’s old mansion now?
Rapper Rick Ross, who purchased the estate in February 2014 and renamed it “The Promise Land.”
What is Evander Holyfield’s net worth in 2026?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Holyfield’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1 million as of 2026.
Also Read — More Celebrity Homes
- Adam Sandler House: His Real Estate Portfolio (2026)
- Morgan Wallen House: Inside His Nashville Homes (2026)
- Will Smith House: The Story Behind His Calabasas Mansion (2026)
- John Cena House: Inside His Tampa & San Diego Homes
This article was researched and written by the GlamHomeGuide editorial team using publicly available information from verified sources, including WSB-TV Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bleacher Report, and Celebrity Net Worth. All property values are approximate and based on publicly reported figures, which vary by source. Where a detail — such as the exact sale price to Rick Ross or the property’s current valuation — could not be independently confirmed, this guide notes that explicitly rather than presenting it as fact. GlamHomeGuide is not affiliated with Evander Holyfield, Rick Ross, or any of their representatives.