Some of hip-hop’s biggest stars have left behind abandoned mansions that once symbolized their success. Rappers like Nelly, Diddy, Birdman, Kanye West, and 50 Cent have all walked away from luxurious homes that now stand as empty shells.
Nelly Nixed St. Louis Mansion
Nelly’s Wildwood, Missouri, mansion, purchased in 2002 for $1.9 million, was intended to be his dream home just outside of his St. Louis hometown, according to Realtor.
The property sprawled across 12 acres and featured a private basketball court and a three-car garage. The now-disregarded mansion has six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, encompassing nearly 11,000 square feet.
Built in 1998, it is situated on a hillside, offering what the report described as “some of the best views in Missouri.”
TikTokers who trespassed into the abandoned mansion found numerous unfinished rooms, signs of extensive mold, debris, and overall neglect throughout the estate.
In 2009, the property was reportedly burglarized, with video games and electronics stolen while Nelly was away. The current owners remain anonymous, and there are no visible plans to restore the Missouri mansion to the dream home it once was slated to be.
Before his hilltop mansion in Wildwood, Missouri, Nelly owned a lakefront residence in St. Louis, which was featured on a 2002 episode of “MTV Cribs” but was sold in 2010, according to a YouTube channel that specializes in St. Louis properties.
Nelly’s Wildwood mansion, which he purchased in 2002, was sold in May 2022 for $982,500 after being on the market for several years.
Lost Diddy Digs
As Finurah previously reported, disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs recently listed two of his luxury homes: a $35 million mansion in Miami and a $61.5 million estate in Beverly Hills.
However, many may forget that the Bad Boy mogul once owned a $7 million Hollywood Hills mansion, which was previously owned by Mary J. Blige.
The property was later purchased by John Powers Middleton for $4.75 million in 2012. Middleton, however, abandoned the property, which subsequently became a hotspot for squatters, according to Realtor.
Residents in the area have complained about this issue, prompting authorities to intervene periodically to remove unwanted graffiti artists. Graffiti, including the tag “Diddy was here,” has appeared on the roof.
With renewed attention surrounding Diddy due to his pending sex trafficking case and allegations of abuse, squatting at the property has intensified.
Birdman’s Mansion Hit By Hurricane Katrina
Birdman’s New Orleans mansion fell victim to the devastation of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina.
Purchased in 2004 for $740,000, the nearly 11,000-square-foot mansion featured marble flooring, elevators, a four-car garage, and a fully functional recording studio, according to The Sun.
The property also offered a prime view of the Mississippi River, making it one of the most sought-after homes in the city — at least during a time when waterfront properties seemed like a sound investment.
Birdman never returned to live in the mansion and has since relocated his Cash Money operation permanently to Miami.
He still owns the property, which was valued between $600,000 and $650,000 in 2021, according to The New York Post.
However, restoring the 20-year-old mansion may require a financial and emotional investment that exceeds its current market value.
Ironically, the Miami Beach property Birdman purchased in 2012 for $14.5 million, according to Realtor, faced similar financial issues and damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017.
He sold that mansion for $10.85 million to its next owners, who undertook renovations and put the property on the market for $33.9 million in August 2021.
The 20,000-square-foot estate features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and luxurious amenities like a movie theater, chef’s kitchen, and dual-master bathrooms. The grounds include two pools, guesthouses, a gym, and a dock with 100 feet of water frontage.
Kanye West’s Multiple Abandoned Mansions
Finurah has also reported that Kanye West, now known as Ye, has abandoned several of his properties, including his $2.2 million ranch in Calabasas, California, purchased in 2018, and a Malibu mansion acquired for $57 million in 2021.
Both properties require significant repairs or rebuilding.
The Calabasas ranch, encompassing 320 acres, served as the headquarters for his Sunday Service performances and Donda Academy but has been left vacant and deteriorating for more than a year.
Meanwhile, the Malibu mansion has been gutted and poorly maintained, leaving its exposed interiors vulnerable to the elements. It was recently sold for $21 million, far below the $57 million initial asking price.
Ye’s woes continue with another abandoned mansion — his third. He purchased a five-bedroom, four-bathroom house in Hidden Hills, California, for $4.5 million in December 2021.
The property is strategically located directly across from the home owned by his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. Ye has expressed that the separation complicates his relationship with their shared children.
Why 50 Cent Gave Up On Connecticut Estate
In 2003, 50 Cent bought a mansion from Mike Tyson located in Farmington, Connecticut, for $4.1 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.
It was the total package, featuring 51,657 square feet, 21 bedrooms, 25 bathrooms, an indoor pool and hot tub, a nightclub and recording studio, and multiple game rooms and basketball courts, CBS reported.
However, its massive size may have been its biggest downfall. The mansion was simply too large and grand for its own good.
50 Cent was spending around $70,000 per month on utilities, maintenance, and other expenses, according to Business Insider.
Additionally, plans for the mansion to serve future G-Unit operations never materialized, leaving the property increasingly abandoned and neglected.
Although 50 Cent invested an additional $6 million in renovations, he struggled to sell the property.
Initially listed at $18.5 million in 2007, the situation worsened when he became entangled in lawsuits that ultimately led to his Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2015, according to CBS.
After over a decade on and off the market, 50 finally sold the mansion for just $2.9 million in April 2019.
