John Edwards has put his 100-acre North Carolina estate on the market for $6.9 million.
Edwards and his late wife, Elizabeth, reportedly purchased the land in 2004 for $1.32 million, and moved into the sprawling mansion in 2006.
An insider speculated of the sale, “John’s kids are almost all out of the house,” and “he and Elizabeth built it as their dream home . . . but there are some bad memories there.”
The estate is 26,500 square feet and includes a converted barn with a basketball court where President Obama‘s shot hoops with Edwards, he’s said. According to a listing, “a full-court basketball gymnasium complete with UNC Tar Heel logo is the centerpiece of the structure, which includes a handball court, sauna, fitness room as well as a covered swimming pool.”
The listing adds that in the main home are “warm, old-growth pine floors, dramatic vaulted ceilings with antique pine beams as well as gracious living areas that are ideally situated for entertaining. A unique concave stone fireplace accents one end of the central living area with an open, gourmet kitchen on the opposite side.” And “The property offers a secluded setting of 102 acres that is just a couple of miles from Chapel Hill … It has great spaces for entertaining both indoors and out. Much of the acreage is in pasture and would be ideal for equestrian uses. It would also be an ideal private or corporate retreat because of its convenience and on-site amenities.”
The home was visited by Oprah Winfrey for a revealing 2009 interview with Elizabeth, including questions about her husband’s now-infamous affair with Rielle Hunter — the videographer on his ill-fated 2008 presidential campaign. Winfrey asked Elizabeth whether Hunter’s baby was fathered by Edwards, but Elizabeth said at the time, “I’ve seen a picture of the baby. I have no idea. It doesn’t look like my children, but I don’t have any idea.”
Edwards publicly admitted in 2010 he was the father of the child — after admitting to the affair in 2008.
Elizabeth also died in 2010. (Coincidentally, Edwards listed the home for sale this week a day after the sixth anniversary of her passing, Dec. 7.)
Edwards also owns a beach house on exclusive Figure Eight Island, North Carolina — where he was once pictured frolicking with Hunter, with whom he is no longer together — but sources said it’s unclear where he’ll move once his Chapel Hill-area home’s sold.
The onetime senator and Democratic presidential hopeful was accused of misusing up to $1 million from his campaign funds for his 2008 presidential run to keep his affair with Hunter a secret. But that case ended in a mistrial and feds then dropped any remaining charges in 2012.
Hunter said earlier this year she’s still “very, very good friends” with Edwards, who practices as an attorney in North Carolina.
A rep for Edwards did not get back to us.