Gilbert Arenas' Great Falls Home Sells for $2.5 Million

Does basketball star Gilbert Arenas pattern his lifestyle after James Bond? His DC-area mansion that sold last week not only included a grotto with a hot tub and wet bar, but it used to feature a large shark tank.

The former NBA star has sold his 12,000-square foot Great Falls, Va. home in the DC suburbs for $2.5 million late last week, according to RedFin.

The price is a $1 million drop from the original asking price and some think getting rid of the home’s shark tank also helped move the pricey property.

Arenas bought the home, located at 10919 Georgetown Pike in the leafy suburbs, in 2003 for $2,875,000 while playing for the Washington Wizards. It was originally listed in June 2012 for $3.5M, though the price dropped several times as the home went on and off the market, according to a news release from RedFin.

“When the home hit the market for the first time in 2012 for $3.5M, it generated a lot of buzz – in part because the home featured a huge shark tank!” said Redfin agent Tonya Nelson.

Arenas, 32, used to spend $5,000 a month feeding his sharks, according to a story in The Washington Post.

“It looks like the tank was removed after the home sat on the market for a couple months,” Nelson said. “While a large aquarium appeals to certain tastes, the maintenance and upkeep can be a turnoff for some buyers.”

Sharks seem to be a theme in Arenas’ life too. He played for the Shanghai Sharks last year, for the Chinese Basketball Association.

Arenas played for the Sharks after stints with the Wizards, Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies.

He continues to collect a $22 million-a-year paycheck from the NBA even though he hasn’t played for the NBA since 2012, due to an amnesty clause, Business Insider points out.

According to Redfin data, 40 homes have sold in the Great Falls area over the past 90 days for a median sale price of $1.25M.