Man explores 17,000-square-foot mega mansion that was once worth $12M but now lies mysteriously abandoned and frozen in time
Published on Jul 01, 2026 at 9:46 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 01, 2026 at 9:46 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This man paid a visit to a 17,000-square-foot mega mansion that was once worth $12 million.
Unfortunately, it had since been abandoned, succumbing to the ravages of age.
It was built back in 2005, but had been left uninhabited for years.
It’s a real shame too, as this was once an extraordinary property.
How did this mega mansion end up going to ruin?
YouTuber Stringer Media bases his content around abandoned places, so he’s undoubtedly seen some remarkable sights in his time on the internet.
But this mega mansion took things to another level.
Stretching out across 17,000-square-feet, this house was situated on 80 acres of land.
Originally valued at $12 million when it was built in 2005, it was the epitome of luxury living.
Its interior boasted eight bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a two-story garage that could fit 10 cars, a wine cellar, and a 500-gallon aquarium inside the staircase.
That all sounds really impressive, doesn’t it?
Well, it should, as the former owner was Larry Kladek, otherwise known as the ‘King of Diamonds’.
However, his good fortune didn’t last long, as he ended up going to jail in 2009 for filing a false tax return.
From there, the property went up for sale, before eventually being foreclosed on in 2016.
It would be sold on to housing developers the following year at a reduced price of $3.4 million.
However, nothing ever got going, and the mansion is now slated for demolition.
No time like the present to visit it then, huh?
What the mega mansion looks like now
The grounds contained forgotten assets, such as an overgrown tennis court, high-end security cameras, and even a barn.
There were also abandoned vehicles across the land.
It was a sad sight.
Inside the house, the interior was somewhere between a building site and a time capsule.
In the master suite, all the remnants of its former glory were there – a huge fireplace, a hot tub, a custom steam shower, and even a urinal.
Downstairs, other amenities were still in place, including an aquarium and a wine cellar.
Some rooms were holding up better than others.
The indoor pool had suffered in particular, with the ceiling covered in mold and collapsing.
“You can see the dust here, guys… There’s like mouse c**p everywhere,” he commented, as he moved through the house.
“Like, this is abandoned. There are so many dead bugs and dust all over the floor.”
YouTubers have been exploring deserted houses for a while now
Plenty of abandoned houses dot the landscape all over the world, but only a select few are visited by YouTube explorers and shared for the rest of us to see.
This derelict house contained a huge car collection on the grounds, while another one had an abandoned supercar out back.
In fact, it almost seems par for the course to find some cars in these abandoned mansions – take a look at this Porsche 911 Carrera 4 that was lurking in the bushes of one property.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
