Joel Embiid’s journey from a 16-year-old volleyball player in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to an NBA MVP and one of the highest-paid athletes in professional basketball is well documented. What receives considerably less attention, however, is the real estate portfolio he has quietly assembled along the way — and the Philadelphia penthouse that served as his primary home for nearly seven years is one of the more interesting properties in the entire NBA housing landscape.
Unlike the sprawling suburban mansions that most superstar athletes gravitate toward, Embiid chose a different path entirely: a bi-level, full-floor penthouse in Philadelphia’s historic Society Hill neighborhood, complete with a heated rooftop pool, panoramic skyline views, and a private elevator that opened directly into his living room. The property at 101 Walnut Street became his urban retreat during the most transformative years of his career, from his early battles with injuries through his 2023 MVP season and his marriage to Brazilian model Anne de Paula.
When he finally sold it in October 2025 after a dramatic two-year listing saga, the story of that penthouse — and what it reveals about Embiid’s approach to lifestyle and luxury — was worth telling in full.
TL;DR
Joel Embiid purchased a 3,549-square-foot bi-level penthouse at 101 Walnut Street in Philadelphia’s Society Hill neighborhood in 2018 for approximately $3.2 million. The full-floor unit featured a 1,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with a heated pool and hot tub, floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline views, a Calacatta quartz kitchen, private elevator entry, and three bedrooms with four bathrooms. He initially listed it for $5.5 million in January 2024, later relisted for $3.9 million in March 2025, and ultimately sold it for $3.6 million in October 2025. He has since moved to an undisclosed suburban Philadelphia property.
Quick Facts
| Property Address | 101 Walnut Street, Penthouse, Philadelphia, PA 19106 |
| Neighborhood | Society Hill (Old City / Historic Philadelphia) |
| Purchase Price | ~$3.2 million (2018) |
| Sale Price | $3.6 million (October 31, 2025) |
| Total Square Footage | 3,549 sq ft (bi-level, full-floor) |
| Rooftop Terrace | ~1,000 sq ft with heated pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen |
| Bedrooms / Bathrooms | 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms |
| Notable Features | Private elevator, floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views |
| Highest Listing Price | $5.5 million (January 2024) |
| Building Units | Only 10 units in the entire building |
The Property: A Full-Floor Penthouse in One of Philadelphia’s Most Exclusive Buildings
Society Hill’s Boutique Luxury Building
The building at 101 Walnut Street sits at the intersection of two of Philadelphia’s most storied neighborhoods — Society Hill and Old City — on a tree-lined street that overlooks the Delaware River waterfront. Originally developed as a boutique luxury condominium, the building contains only 10 residential units, making the penthouse a genuinely rare commodity in a city where high-rise luxury living is still a relatively small market compared to New York or Los Angeles.
Embiid’s unit occupied the entire top floor, accessible via a private elevator that opened directly into the main living space — a feature that provided the kind of privacy and security that elite athletes require. The building’s limited inventory and prime location gave the penthouse an exclusivity that even multi-million-dollar suburban estates struggle to match.
The Bi-Level Layout
The bi-level layout effectively doubled the usable living area by creating distinct zones within the same unit. The upper level housed the primary entertaining spaces and the chef-grade kitchen, while the lower level contained the bedrooms, bathrooms, and more private family areas. This separation allowed Embiid to maintain a clear boundary between his public-facing entertaining spaces and his personal retreat — a surprisingly thoughtful design choice for a single professional athlete.
The 1,000-Square-Foot Rooftop Terrace
What made the property truly special, however, wasn’t the interior square footage — it was what waited on the roof. A roughly 1,000-square-foot terrace wrapped around the top of the building, featuring a heated swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, and unobstructed views stretching from the Delaware River to the Center City skyline.
It was, by any standard, one of the most impressive private outdoor spaces in all of Philadelphia residential real estate. For context on what true rooftop luxury looks like in the broader celebrity world, properties like Kevin Hart’s Calabasas home offer a different scale entirely — but few penthouses anywhere can match the combination of urban convenience and private poolside living that Embiid enjoyed on Walnut Street.
Inside the Penthouse: Calacatta Quartz, Skyline Views, and Private Elevator Living
Open-Concept Living with Floor-to-Ceiling Glass
The interior of the penthouse reflected a design sensibility that prioritized clean lines, premium materials, and maximum natural light. The main living area featured floor-to-ceiling glass walls that framed the Philadelphia skyline like a continuously changing piece of art — the kind of view that makes a strong case for vertical urban living over the horizontal sprawl of suburban estates.
Hardwood floors ran throughout the primary living spaces, and the overall aesthetic leaned toward warm contemporary — sophisticated enough for entertaining but comfortable enough for daily family life with Embiid’s son, Arthur Elijah, who was born in 2020.
The Kitchen and Primary Suite
The open-concept kitchen was fitted with Calacatta polished quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, high-end stainless steel appliances, and a large island designed for both cooking and casual dining. The primary suite included a wall of glass that could be opened to connect directly to the rooftop pool area, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor living in a way that felt almost resort-like.
Multiple bathrooms featured premium fixtures, and the flexible floor plan allowed the third bedroom to function as either a guest room or a private home office — a necessity for a professional athlete balancing games, film study, and endorsement commitments.
Private Elevator and Security
The private elevator entry was perhaps the most practical luxury feature, allowing Embiid to come and go without navigating building lobbies or shared corridors. This detail became especially valuable as his fame grew following the 2023 MVP award and the subsequent $192.9 million contract extension he signed in September 2024.
The Sale Saga: From a $5.5 Million Dream to a $3.6 Million Reality
The $5.5 Million Dream
The story of how Embiid’s penthouse eventually sold is almost as interesting as the property itself. He first placed the unit on the market in January 2024 with an ambitious asking price of $5.5 million — a figure that would have represented a $2.3 million profit over his purchase price and reflected the broader appreciation in Philadelphia’s luxury condo market during his years of ownership.
The listing generated significant media attention, with outlets from the Philadelphia Inquirer to Architectural Digest covering the story, but the penthouse failed to attract a buyer at that price point.
Price Cuts and the Final Sale
The property was eventually pulled from the market, only to be relisted in March 2025 at a significantly reduced $3.9 million — a $1.6 million price cut that acknowledged the shifting dynamics of the luxury real estate market. After several more months on the market, the penthouse finally sold on October 31, 2025, for $3.6 million — still a modest $400,000 profit over his original purchase price, but far below the returns he had initially hoped for.
Why Embiid Moved to the Suburbs
The sale came at a pivotal moment in Embiid’s personal and professional life. He had married Anne de Paula in a ceremony in Southampton in July 2023, and the couple was reportedly seeking more space and privacy than the Society Hill penthouse could provide.
His decision to move to an undisclosed suburban property aligns with a broader trend among NBA veterans who prioritize space and family amenities over urban convenience — a path well trodden by players like LeBron James, whose own real estate journey from downtown Akron to a Beverly Hills estate demonstrates the same gravitational pull toward suburban luxury. The $192.9 million extension he signed in 2024 gives him more than enough financial flexibility to pursue virtually any real estate vision he chooses, and it would not be surprising to see his next property purchase make significantly bigger waves in the market.
How Embiid’s Real Estate Choices Compare to Other NBA Stars
The Suburban Mansion Standard
What makes Embiid’s Philadelphia real estate story particularly compelling is how it contrasts with the typical patterns of NBA superstar home buying. The overwhelming majority of elite players — especially those at Embiid’s income level — gravitate toward newly built suburban mansions in exclusive gated communities. LeBron James built a custom estate in Brentwood. Anthony Edwards bought a sprawling lakefront property on Lake Minnetonka. Jayson Tatum invested in a St. Louis area estate. Patrick Mahomes, while not an NBA player, similarly went the custom-build route in Kansas City with a property that redefines what a modern athlete’s home can look like.
Why a Penthouse Made Sense for a Franchise Player
Embiid, by contrast, spent the prime of his career in a 3,549-square-foot penthouse in a 10-unit boutique building — a choice that reflected not just personal taste but also a practical consideration. As the franchise player for the Philadelphia 76ers, he needed to be in the city year-round, close to the practice facility at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Wells Fargo Center. The penthouse gave him walkable access to some of Philadelphia’s best restaurants and cultural attractions, a quality of life that a suburban estate simply cannot replicate.
His former teammate Ben Simmons, for comparison, purchased a 10,477-square-foot mansion in Moorestown, New Jersey — a property that sold to Phillies star Nick Castellanos for $4.55 million. The different approaches illustrate how two players on the same team, earning similar salaries, can make wildly different real estate decisions based on personality, lifestyle priorities, and relationship to the city they play in.
What’s Next: The Suburban Estate Nobody Knows About
The Mystery Property
With the Society Hill penthouse now behind him, the question for Embiid watchers is simple: what comes next? His current suburban Philadelphia property remains entirely private — no public records, no listing photos, no paparazzi drone shots — which suggests either a recently constructed custom build or a very private off-market purchase.
Main Line Speculation
Given the scale of his contract extension and his growing family, a custom build on several acres in the Main Line suburbs would be a logical next step. Areas like Gladwyne, Penn Valley, and Villanova have long attracted Philadelphia’s wealthiest residents, and a handful of NBA players have owned properties in the area over the years.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who played college basketball at Villanova, maintains strong ties to the Philadelphia area and his own impressive property in Minnesota. If Embiid follows the typical arc of a franchise player who intends to spend his entire career in one city, his next home purchase will likely be designed as a long-term family compound rather than a transitional residence — something permanent, something bespoke, and something that finally gives him the square footage and privacy that his Society Hill penthouse, for all its rooftop splendor, ultimately could not provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Joel Embiid live now?
After selling his Society Hill penthouse in October 2025, Embiid moved to an undisclosed suburban Philadelphia property. The address, photos, and purchase details have not been made public, suggesting a private off-market transaction or custom build.
How much did Joel Embiid sell his penthouse for?
Embiid sold his 101 Walnut Street penthouse for $3.6 million on October 31, 2025. He originally purchased it for approximately $3.2 million in 2018, and had initially listed it for $5.5 million in January 2024 before reducing the price.
Did Joel Embiid’s penthouse have a pool?
Yes. The 1,000-square-foot rooftop terrace featured a heated swimming pool, a hot tub, and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline and the Delaware River.
How big was Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia penthouse?
The bi-level, full-floor penthouse at 101 Walnut Street was approximately 3,549 square feet with three bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus the 1,000-square-foot rooftop terrace. It was one of only 10 units in the building.
What is Joel Embiid’s net worth?
Embiid’s net worth is estimated at approximately $85 million. In September 2024, he signed a three-year, $192.9 million contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers, making it one of the richest contracts in NBA history.
