A shark lagoon, a rooftop skate park, a movie theater, and a three-bedroom guesthouse with a professional recording studio are among the fantastic features of the Miami mansion of hip-hop star Lil Wayne.
But the prolific rapper is serious about selling the place and leaving South Florida in his rear-view mirror. In July he chopped the price by $2 million, to $12 million. The home originally hit the market for $18 million in April 2015.
"It's now one of the best deals on La Gorce Island, which is among the premier islands off Miami Beach," says listing agent Ty Forkner of the 15,101-square-foot home. The average price for homes on the island is $965 per square foot, he notes, and this mansion is currently listed for $795 per square foot. Lil Wayne bought the secluded and gated property in 2011 for $11.6 million after having rented it for a year.
TMZ reports a number of "swatting" incidents (where someone calls 911 to report an emergency that requires police intervention and SWAT team assistance) played a part in the rapper's escalated desire to sell.
"He's looking for something new, ready for a change," says Forkner. Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. and also goes by "Weezy," spends a good deal of time in Los Angeles and New Orleans.
"It's an ideal family home," says Forkner. A family owned the waterfront estate with nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms before Lil Wayne moved in, and the recording artist's four children enjoyed spending time in the modern three-story home.
The shark tank surrounding the glass elevator and the rooftop skate park don't appear family-friendly, but Forkner explains that gentle nurse sharks inhabit the lagoon, and most buyers considering the property say they would replace the skateboard ramps with a summer kitchen.
There are also giant iguanas that roam the posh island. What kid wouldn't be intrigued by that?