Sidney Rice's Lake Sammamish Palace Just Sold For Millions Less Than It's Worth

Remember Sidney Rice? The former Seahawks wide receiver just offloaded his lakefront dream home in Lake Sammamish for just over $6 million on April 8. Here's the wild part: the place is assessed at around $8.2 million. That's a serious gap, and it tells you something about the luxury home market in the Seattle area right now.

The Home, the Injuries, the Legacy

Rice bought this 9,300-square-foot Spanish Colonial beauty back in 2013 for $2.65 million. Even with the recent sale price undercutting the assessed value, he's made serious money on the deal since luxury homes in the Seattle area have appreciated way faster than standard homes over the past decade. But luxury sales have cooled lately, which probably explains why he took a hit on the asking price.

The Seahawks drafted Rice as a second-round pick out of South Carolina in 2007 with the Vikings, then signed him to a five-year deal worth up to $41 million in 2011. He had talent, no question. His best season was 2012 when he played all 16 games and led the team with 50 receptions for 748 yards. But injuries derailed everything. He played just nine games in 2011 and eight in 2013. After the Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2014, the team cut him to free up $7.3 million in salary cap space. They re-signed him weeks later on a one-year, $1 million deal, hoping he'd bounce back. He didn't. Rice announced his retirement at 27 and moved on to the next chapter.

From Touchdowns to Wine and Good Works

That lakefront property with 112 feet of waterfront frontage, a private dock, five bedrooms, and an outdoor pool overlooking the water became his refuge. Rice was all over social media showing off those Lake Sammamish sunsets, even if they were heavily filtered (hey, it was 2016).

These days, Rice is focused on different pursuits. He opened Dossier Wine Collective with real estate broker Tim Lenihan in 2021, specializing in high-end Washington wines with tasting rooms in downtown Walla Walla and Woodinville. He's also invested in five Wingstop restaurants and launched a nonprofit called Doers of the Good that gives underserved youth access to STEM education and robotics. In September, the Seahawks named him their 2025 Legend of the Year, honoring his post-football work and community contributions.

It's a quieter life than suiting up in the mid-2010s, but it sounds like exactly what Rice needed.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.