Mystery, Mystique Surround R. Kelly's Former Mansion Up For Sale

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL — A mysterious suburban mansion that was left for dead after it went into foreclosure by a disgraced musician has a new lease on life — and nearly a $3.5 million price tag – after another famed vocalist poured millions of dollars into the sprawling estate.

The estate, listed on Thursday by Keller Williams One Chicago agent Alex Wolking , is a six-bedroom, 16-bath home that is described as one of the “most exclusive enclaves” in Chicago’s South Suburbs. The property was purchased in 2013 by the late Rudolph Isley of the Isley Brothers and his wife, Elaine, who "lovingly brought it back to life," Wolking wrote in the listing.

The mansion hit the market late Thursday afternoon and has already garnered plenty of attention, Wolking told Patch on Thursday. While its original owner is surely part of the home's story, the re-birth of the stunning home and grounds that backs up to Olympia Fields Country Club is the real headline, Wolking said.

"When you think of a mansion, it is truly the epitome of what you would think of as a mansion you'd find in Clue," Wolking told Patch.

He added: "There is such a mystery and a mystique about that house."

Built by R. Kelly in 1997, the home sits behind iron gates and boasts more than 6,400 square feet of main-floor living space that “has been home to and hosted” Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Songwriting Hall of Fame inductees, athletes and icons of business and politics, the listing reads.

The home boasts a movie theater, a pool hall, an incredible great room, and a six-car garage that Wolking describes as the "Garagemahal." It also features a dining room with seating for 20 and a custom-made chandelier that was constructed in Italy. All of the home's furnishings came from Italy as well, Wolking said.

The house fell into decay until 2013 after Kelly allowed it to go into foreclosure. The listing says that Isley put millions of dollars into restoring the home, which features soaring ceilings, designer flashes and bespoke details that reflect a commitment to unparalleled sophistication.

Wolking says that "every room was thought of" when the Isleys redid the home into what it is today. One of the rooms, an in-law's quarters, is themed to look like a log cabin, which gives the allure that the guest is living in the woods with views that look out onto Olympia Fields Country Club as well as the expansive backyard and landscaping.

“Its alluring and mysterious nature has spellbound suburbanites and city-dwellers, for over 25 years,” the listing says.

The home, which sits on more than three acres of land, includes a jungle-themed outdoor area complete with a swimming pool, waterfall, hot tub, grotto, clubhouse, and two-story treehouse. The outdoor area also features an al fresco dining area, which is just one of the few main features of a property that also includes a six-car garage.

All of those creations, Wolking said, are a credit to the current owners.

"(The Isleys) really came in and cleaned the house up and brought it back to life," he said Thursday. "The house was in ruin and they went in with fine detail and made the house into a gorgeous family home — that's what it is. It's an entertainer's dream, it's a family home. It has a great vibe to it."

He added: "They spared no expense."

Given the connections to the Isley Brothers and perhaps even to Kelly, the original owner who is now serving a 30-year prison term for various sex charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, Wolking believes that the next owner very well could emerge from the music world. Isley, who was one of the founding members of the famed musical brother act, died in October.

The home had a property tax bill of $253,959 last year, according to Cook County tax records, and according to the listing, has an estimated monthly mortgage of more than $38,000.

While Wolking said that the home could ultimately be purchased by someone with ties to the music industry or the neighboring country club, he said many times that unique homes like this one often end up in the hands of a neighbor who has admired the house for years.

Because of the privacy of the gated property, many potential homeowners who sought to be on their own during the COVID-19 pandemic may still be looking for an exclusive getaway to which to retreat.

"What sells that house is the privacy," Wolking said. "Where else do you find four acres completely gated in? You never find that.

"With the pandemic, everyone has wanted privacy, everyone wanted outdoor space, and this house has all of this."