R. Kelly’s Olympia Fields mansion in suburban Chicago recently sold to an Isley Brother. Rev. Rudolph Isley, one of the founding members of The Isley Brothers, purchased the mansion for $587,500. According to The Chicago Tribune the home has 5-bedrooms, and 7-bathrooms. The mansion at one time was worth as much as $5.2 million after construction on the home was complete in 1999, but has since fallen into disrepair. The estate has been appraised at $3.8 million as recently as 2011. Earlier this year, the mansion, which sits on a 3.7-acre lot that comes complete with a private lake, was purchased by JP Morgan Chase for a price of $950,000 at a foreclosure auction.
After spending 35 years with the Isley Brothers, Isley departed the band in 1989 to pursue a career in ministry. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
The Isleys, who are longtime residents of Otisville, N.Y. outside New York City, “really liked the place” and knew it was coming on the market even before it was listed, said Lisa Alexander of Ziggy Realty, who represented them. Their offer was one of several for the property, she said.
“They wanted to move to Chicago because they have children and grandchildren here,” Alexander said. “We sent them multiple properties, and everyone was aware of R. Kelly’s mansion. They love the grounds and love the property, because it’s fenced in. They love the house and they’re going to rehab it.
