It’s always fun when we get to see how the other half live … with their massive mansions, sprawling gardens and lavish swimming pools.
But things aren’t always what they seem, because some celebrities that previously went into financial ruin or had projects fall through, were left with crumbling homes that were difficult to flog.
We take a look at some of the mansions abandoned by celebrities when times got tough.
Mike Tyson’s crumbling Ohio mansion
In 2020, it was revealed Mike Tyson’s $US1.08 million ($AU1.65 million) Ohio mansion – which featured tiger cages and a basketball court – had been converted into a church.
The former heavyweight champ abandoned the property after his rape conviction in 1992, and it was untouched for 10 years before being bought and renovated by the Living World Sanctuary Church, The Sun reports.
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Mike Tyson’s Ohio home was a crumbling mess before a church bought it. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix
The home is situated in Ohio. Picture: imgur/illicitohio
Living Word pastor Nicholas DeJacimo told the Warren Tribune-Chronicle: “The property had been untouched for 10 years. You had so much grass you could have sold it for hay.”
The dilapidated pool has since been turned into a sanctuary while the living room is now a gathering place.
But remnants of the now-59-year-old’s time at the residence remain with the basketball court still intact.
The old fireplace has since been turned into an indoor waterfall, while the four-bay garage is now classrooms and a nursery.
The tall steel cages where Tyson kept his famous four tigers have been dismantled for a pavilion.
Iron Make once had gates erected bearing his name. Picture: imgur/illicitohio
It was left crumbling and abandoned.
Courtney Love’s graffiti-covered cottage
Courtney Love’s home in Olympia, Washington was once a stunning abode, but was abandoned seven years ago.
The three-bed two bathroom cottage, which sits on seven acres of land, was bought for $US447,000 ($A669.000) by the singer in 1995, a year after the death of husband Kurt Cobain.
But in recent years it has been abandoned and, in 2019, she put it up for sale for $US319,000 ($A477,000), making a loss of $US130,000 ($A195,000).
The real estate blurb described the property as a “major fixer” that required “a ton of work”, adding that it needed “everything” done – and that’s no exaggeration.
Courtney Love. Picture: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Courtney Love put her grungy country retreat on the market in 2019. Picture: Virgil Adams Real Estate via The Sun
The property is comprised of a main house and several outbuildings including a guest cottage, which has obvious fire damage.
The eight-stall stables are covered in graffiti, with bricks on the floor, and the interior of the main house is totally neglected.
It is not known if the property was ever sold.
It was abandoned and left in ruin. Picture: Virgil Adams Real Estate via The Sun
The abode looked empty and unloved. Picture: Virgil Adams Real Estate via The Sun
Mohamed Hadid’s abandoned mega-mansion project
Property tycoon Mohamed Hadid, the father of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid, was forced to abandon his mansion in LA back in 2021.
The real estate developer, 77, bought the property in 2011 and planned to build a 30,000 sq ft home on a 1.22-acre lot.
His plans for the land and the home he wanted to build had dimensions that were much larger and taller than city rules permitted.
He was only given permission to build a 15,000 sq ft property, but went ahead with double.
Property tycoon Mohamed Hadid with his supermodel daughters Gigi and Bella Hadid. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
In the mega mansion, Hadid wanted a 70-seat IMAX theatre and a huge wine cellar.
As he worked on the project, he was plagued with legal issues throughout the construction.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2022, the tycoon said he was not sad to see the project fall through.
He said at the time: “I’ve moved on with my life – that’s all behind me now.
“I wish the people who bought it well and I wish them well with whatever they build there in its place.
“I have other projects I am involved with now.”
The estate was eventually razed to the ground in 2023.
The property was abandoned amid legal issues before it was sold and then demolished. Picture: Google Maps
Liza Minnelli’s Beverly Hills childhood home
When film director Vincent Minnelli died in 1986, he left his estate – including his LA mansion – to his superstar daughter Liza.
As a child, the singer and actress spent six months a year living at the 19-room house, following her father’s divorce from her mother Judy Garland.
But a clause in the will stated fourth wife Lee Minnelli would have use of the house as long as she was alive.
Liza Minnelli’s abandoned mansion was where she grew up. Picture: YouTube/AdamTheWoo
The home was left abandoned. Picture: YouTube/AdamTheWoo
Liza grew up in the mansion. Picture: YouTube/AdamTheWoo
In 2000, however, Liza decided to sell the house and offered her 94-year-old stepmother an apartment.
When she found a buyer in 2002, Lee refused to move out and Cabaret star Liza stopped paying the electricity bills and the staff — who continued to work for free.
In return, Lee took Liza to court for breach of contract, elder abuse, and infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit was dropped in 2002 and Liza reached an agreement with the new buyers – who shelled out $US2.4 million ($A3.6 million) – that she would pay rent for Lee to stay there.
Lee died in 2009, but the home still stands abandoned and is in serious need of renovation.
It is situated in Beverly Hills. Picture: Getty
Liza sold the house in 2002. Picture: Getty
‘The house that Steve Jobs hated’
Steve Jobs bought the Jackling House in Woodside, California, in 1984.
The 14-bedroom mansion, built in 1925 for copper mining magnate Daniel Cowan Jackling, boasted spacious balconies, a games room, marble bathrooms and elaborate chandeliers.
But the Apple co-founder quickly fell out of love with the property after marrying Lauren Powell, in 1991, and welcoming their first son Reed.
The family relocated to a home in San Francisco Bay in 1994, and Jobs applied to have the mansion demolished and replaced with a smaller house.
But locals – who dubbed the mansion ‘The house that Steve Jobs hated’ – were up in arms and years of legal wrangles followed.
Steve Jobs hated his home in California. Picture: Jonathan Haeber via NY Post
He purchased the property in 1984. Picture: Jonathan Haeber/Flickr via The Sun
The former grandeur of the Spanish style property began to rot away, with paint peeling, plaster crumbling from the walls and vines growing inside the rooms.
Jobs eventually won his case and the bulldozers moved in 2011, but not before locals removed chandeliers, door handles and a huge pipe organ with 3300 pipes.
In a cruel twist of fate, the former Apple CEO lost his fight against pancreatic cancer and died eight months later.
The home was left abandoned when Steve relocated. Picture: Jonathan Haeber/Flickr via The Sun
Steve Jobs was the CEO of Apple.
Dave Gilmour’s haunted stately home
Hook End, in Oxfordshire, was built in 1580 for the Bishop of Reading and once served as a mental hospital.
But the eerie property was bought by Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour in 1980.
Two of the band’s albums were recorded in the studio at the house, which was sold on to music producer Trevor Horn in 1986.
This came amid rumours that Gilmour’s wife Ginger believed the house was haunted.
The Smiths singer Morrissey, who stayed at the house in the 1980s, claimed he saw the ghost of a monk who appeared in the early hours to summon residents to prayer.
David Gilmour’s former manor is situated in Oxfordshire.
Horn used the property as a studio, with acts including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Rod Stewart and the Manic Street Preachers recording there.
But in 2006, Horn’s wife, Jill Sinclair, was shot accidentally shot in the neck with an air rifle by their son, Aaron, and fell into a deep coma.
She never fully recovered and she died in 2014.
Following the tragic accident, Horn sold the property to producer Mark White for £12 million ($A24 million) and, while he invested in the studio, the house fell into disrepair.
Hook End now has new owners and has been renovated.
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour previously owned Hook End. Picture: Getty
Michael Jackson’s Neverland
Michael Jackson bought Sycamore Valley Ranch in California for $US35 million ($A53 million) in 1988, five years after staying there with Paul McCartney to record their hit Say, Say, Say.
The Thriller star renamed the property Neverland, after the magical land in Peter Pan, and set up a fairground in the grounds, with two railways and a station, a petting zoo, a ferris wheel, pirate ship and carousel.
The 2698 acre also included three guesthouses, a pool house, waterfall, tennis court and a 5500-square-foot cinema and stage.
The Neverland Ranch was once a place full of life. Picture: Jason Kirk/Getty Images
The singer stayed away until his death in 2009, and the ranch fell into disrepair. Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
Jackson resided at Neverland until 2005. After he was acquitted of child sex charges, he relocated to Bahrain and abandoned the mansion.
Struggling with a $US270 million ($A411 million) bank loan, he closed the house as a cost cutting measure, owing staff $US327,000 ($A490,000) in back payments.
The singer stayed away until his death in 2009, and the ranch fell into disrepair. The fairground rides were removed and the stunning grounds, with formal gardens, a stone bridge and four lakes, became overgrown.
The ranch was sold in December 2020 to billionaire investor Ron Burkle for $US22 million ($A28 million), a fraction of its original $US100 million ($A128 million) asking price.
The ranch was sold in 2020. Picture: Jason Kirk / Getty Images
Boris Becker’s Spanish villa turned adult movie set
Boris Becker bought the stunning villa the Finca de Son Coll, on the island of Majorca, for £422,000 ($A848,000) in 1997.
The former Wimbledon champ spent a fortune adding a pool, a Moroccan-style pool house, a guesthouse and a basketball court.
But in 2004 he was served a £190,000 ($A382,000) fine for work that was not approved by the authorities and ordered to tear them down.
Three years later he attempted to sell it for £12 million ($A24 million) but no buyer was found.
Facing financial ruin, after his £11 million ($A22 million) divorce from first wife Barbara in 2001, Becker struggled to keep up the maintenance and in 2011 he was sued by his gardener for £246,000 ($A495,000) owed in salary.
Boris Becker’s villa was left to rot. Picture: Facebook/Georg Berres
The German tennis ace managed to get the property back, but lost it again when he was declared bankrupt in 2017. Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
The property was confiscated until the money was paid and, in 2014, it was confiscated again over £312,000 ($A627,000) outstanding for building work.
The German ace managed to get the property back, but lost it again when he was declared bankrupt in 2017.
After that, squatters who called themselves the Intergalactic Auxiliary and Rescue Command, moved in.
Since their eviction by court order in January the house, which is still owned by the state, has reportedly been used as a set for an adult movie.
Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.
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