Nelly, the St. Louis rapper who rose to fame with hits like Hot in Herre and Dilemma, once owned a grand mansion in Wildwood, Missouri. Purchased in 2002 with plans to renovate and flip it, the 10,799-square-foot property became a symbol of unrealized potential, ultimately left abandoned and in disrepair.

Compounding the issue was Nelly’s burgeoning career and commitments on the West Coast, including successful album releases and appearances on Dancing With the Stars. These distractions made it difficult for him to focus on the mansion, which ultimately became a casualty of his growing obligations.