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Mike Tyson | Mike Tyson's former mansion | Source: Getty Images | Facbook/Johnny Joo
Mike Tyson | Mike Tyson's former mansion | Source: Getty Images | Facbook/Johnny Joo

Mike Tyson Kept Four Tigers at His Lavish Mansion – Years Later, It Was Transformed Into a Church: See the Home Before and After

Andrii Tykhyi
By Andrii Tykhyi
Aug 21, 2026 - 09:59 A.M.

The boxing legend's former Ohio estate changed dramatically in the years after he called it home, with spaces once designed for luxury eventually taking on new roles. Before-and-after photos showing its transformation into a church can be found at the end of the article.

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Long before Mike Tyson's former mansion became a place of worship, the sprawling Ohio property belonged to one of boxing's biggest stars.

Behind its gates was a home filled with the trappings of Tyson's success, from crystal chandeliers and an indoor pool to something considerably less conventional — cages housing four tigers.

The 25,000-square-foot house in Southington, Ohio, was built in 1979 and sat on a 60-acre property along State Route 534. It previously belonged to former Trumbull County Commissioner Ted Vannelli before a bank seized it.

Tyson entered the picture in 1989, when the then-undisputed heavyweight champion purchased the property for $300,000 at a sheriff's sale. Its location suited the boxer because he used the residence while training at promoter Don King's camp in Orwell.

Despite the imposing estate he returned to, Tyson also became acquainted with people living nearby. He chatted with neighbors while out jogging and played basketball with local youngsters.

When the church took control of the 60-acre estate in January 2015, years of neglect were immediately apparent.

Behind the gates, however, his home was built on a far grander scale. The five-bedroom mansion featured an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, basketball court, crystal chandeliers, and gold-plated fittings.

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Mirrors covered the walls and ceiling in parts of the property, while a four-bay garage offered yet another indication of the home's size.

Then there were the animals that became one of the estate's most memorable features. Tyson kept four tigers on the grounds in tall steel cages surrounded by high chain-link fencing.

However, his life changed considerably while he owned the property — the boxer was convicted of rape in 1992 and sentenced to six years in prison. After serving three years, he was released in 1995 and initially returned to his Southington residence.

By the end of the decade, however, Tyson was facing financial problems and parted with the estate. He had sought $2.2 million for the property but ultimately sold it to former infomercial businessman Paul Monea in 1999 for $1.3 million.

The mansion changed hands again in the years that followed. Ron Hemelgarn acquired it at a sheriff's sale in 2010 for a reported $600,000, but the property would eventually find an owner with plans that bore little resemblance to the life Tyson had once lived there.

Hemelgarn donated and transferred the land and house to Living Word Sanctuary Church. When the church took control of the 60-acre estate in January 2015, years of neglect were immediately apparent. Church pastor Nicholas DeJacimo recalled:

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"This property was untouched for ten years. You had so much grass you could have sold it for hay."

Trees had grown through the wrought iron fence around the property, while the mansion itself required extensive work. Yet the church saw an opportunity to turn Tyson's former home into the larger campus its growing congregation needed.

According to DeJacimo, acquiring such a substantial property required the church to cover real estate taxes and back taxes rather than purchase the estate at anything approaching its previous market value.

"Us getting this is a miracle. [...] So, for $50,000, we acquired the entire property," he said. "It was basically donated to us because the former owner needed to write it off. I tell the congregation God literally gave us this."

The transformation relied heavily on work from church volunteers. Overgrown trees were removed, the exterior was painted, and new landscaping began reshaping the neglected grounds.

Some remnants of Tyson's estate were retained and repurposed, while others disappeared entirely. The cages that had housed his four tigers were dismantled to create space for a pavilion. His basketball court remained, but it was improved so the church's youth ministry could use it.

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The contrast between the mansion the boxing legend knew and the property it later became can be seen in the before-and-after photos below.

Inside, some of the mansion's most recognizable spaces underwent even greater changes, with the former swimming pool area becoming the centerpiece of the conversion.

Plans called for the approximately 10,000-square-foot room to serve as the main sanctuary, complete with a pulpit, stage, seating, and an area for baptisms. An existing fireplace was also repurposed as an indoor waterfall.

The mansion's four-bay garage, meanwhile, was earmarked for youth classrooms and a nursery, while another part of the building was converted into a gymnasium.

Even Tyson's former upstairs bedroom and bathroom presented an opportunity for reinvention. DeJacimo remembered being struck by the rooms when he first explored the house, particularly their elaborate design.

"There was a Jacuzzi, two baths, mirrors on the ceiling and all the walls. We heard there were some crazy parties here," he said. Rather than preserve that space as it had been, the church planned to make it useful for weddings. The church pastor explained:

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"We will turn this into a room where women can get ready for a wedding. There will be a sitting area and place for their gowns."

Other rooms on the second floor were intended to become offices and meeting spaces. The extensive renovations were part of a broader plan to give Living Word Sanctuary Church more parking, larger classrooms, and a multipurpose room as its congregation expanded.

Co-pastor Mark Cohen said in 2018 that the goal was to have the property fully open by that December, with a grand opening celebration planned around the holiday season.

Decades after Mike Tyson purchased the Ohio estate at the height of his boxing career, its pool, garage, living spaces, and grounds had been given new functions under Living Word Sanctuary Church.

The contrast between the mansion the boxing legend knew and the property it later became can be seen in the before-and-after photos below.

Before

In a Facebook post dated April 7, 2026, snow blankets the grounds surrounding Mike Tyson's sprawling former Ohio residence, where a cylindrical stone tower, broad balcony, and towering chimney dominate the exterior. The imposing architecture hints at the scale of the 25,000-square-foot mansion, which sat on a 60-acre property and once served as Tyson's home while he trained at promoter Don King's nearby boxing camp. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

In a Facebook post dated April 7, 2026, snow blankets the grounds surrounding Mike Tyson's sprawling former Ohio residence, where a cylindrical stone tower, broad balcony, and towering chimney dominate the exterior. The imposing architecture hints at the scale of the 25,000-square-foot mansion, which sat on a 60-acre property and once served as Tyson's home while he trained at promoter Don King's nearby boxing camp. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

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In a Facebook post dated April 7, 2026, photographer Johnny Joo showed one of the striking interiors of Mike Tyson's former Ohio mansion. Dark patterned walls and ceilings surround an arched opening leading toward a marble-floored bathroom, offering a glimpse of the elaborate decorative choices that remained inside the property long after the boxer had moved away. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

In a Facebook post dated April 7, 2026, photographer Johnny Joo showed one of the striking interiors of Mike Tyson's former Ohio mansion. Dark patterned walls and ceilings surround an arched opening leading toward a marble-floored bathroom, offering a glimpse of the elaborate decorative choices that remained inside the property long after the boxer had moved away. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

An expansive room inside Mike Tyson's former estate stood largely empty, exposing arched doorways, patterned walls, and gold-toned railings along the upper level. Years after the heavyweight champion left, the stripped-back interior offered a clearer view of the mansion's unusual design and substantial proportions, even after many of the lavish fittings, crystal chandeliers, and other extravagant features had disappeared. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

An expansive room inside Mike Tyson's former estate stood largely empty, exposing arched doorways, patterned walls, and gold-toned railings along the upper level. Years after the heavyweight champion left, the stripped-back interior offered a clearer view of the mansion's unusual design and substantial proportions, even after many of the lavish fittings, crystal chandeliers, and other extravagant features had disappeared. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Wood paneling stretches from floor to ceiling inside one of the largest spaces at Mike Tyson's onetime Ohio mansion, with tall shuttered windows and a vaulted roof emphasizing its considerable height. Multiple lighting fixtures remain suspended overhead, while an upper section overlooks the open floor below, illustrating the grand scale that characterized the boxer's sprawling residence during his ownership. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Wood paneling stretches from floor to ceiling inside one of the largest spaces at Mike Tyson's onetime Ohio mansion, with tall shuttered windows and a vaulted roof emphasizing its considerable height. Multiple lighting fixtures remain suspended overhead, while an upper section overlooks the open floor below, illustrating the grand scale that characterized the boxer's sprawling residence during his ownership. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

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A sweeping staircase curves toward the upper floor of Mike Tyson's former mansion, bordered by decorative wrought-iron railings that continue around the overlooking balcony. Tall arched windows illuminate the otherwise bare interior, where removed furnishings left the home's architectural details exposed. The scene captured how the once-opulent property appeared after years without the luxurious possessions associated with Tyson's time there. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

A sweeping staircase curves toward the upper floor of Mike Tyson's former mansion, bordered by decorative wrought-iron railings that continue around the overlooking balcony. Tall arched windows illuminate the otherwise bare interior, where removed furnishings left the home's architectural details exposed. The scene captured how the once-opulent property appeared after years without the luxurious possessions associated with Tyson's time there. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Black marble surfaces, gold-colored fixtures, mirrored panels, and densely patterned walls remained inside a bathroom at Mike Tyson's former Ohio home. The elaborate space reflected the lavish aesthetic once found throughout the estate, where luxury extended beyond its five bedrooms to include a Jacuzzi and other extravagant amenities. By this stage, visible damage also revealed the property's years of neglect. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Black marble surfaces, gold-colored fixtures, mirrored panels, and densely patterned walls remained inside a bathroom at Mike Tyson's former Ohio home. The elaborate space reflected the lavish aesthetic once found throughout the estate, where luxury extended beyond its five bedrooms to include a Jacuzzi and other extravagant amenities. By this stage, visible damage also revealed the property's years of neglect. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the snowy grounds outside a dramatic bathing area in Mike Tyson's former residence, where mirrors cover much of the angular ceiling above a sunken tub. Gold accents contrast with dark marble across the room, illustrating the mansion's distinctive interior style and the level of luxury that remained evident even after the property had fallen into disrepair. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the snowy grounds outside a dramatic bathing area in Mike Tyson's former residence, where mirrors cover much of the angular ceiling above a sunken tub. Gold accents contrast with dark marble across the room, illustrating the mansion's distinctive interior style and the level of luxury that remained evident even after the property had fallen into disrepair. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

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Towering arched windows line a vast wood-paneled hall inside Mike Tyson's former Ohio estate, drawing attention to the property's cathedral-like proportions. Exposed beams span the vaulted ceiling above an otherwise vacant floor, while numerous light fixtures remain in place. The cavernous room was among the mansion's many oversized spaces, which would eventually be adapted for an entirely different purpose. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Towering arched windows line a vast wood-paneled hall inside Mike Tyson's former Ohio estate, drawing attention to the property's cathedral-like proportions. Exposed beams span the vaulted ceiling above an otherwise vacant floor, while numerous light fixtures remain in place. The cavernous room was among the mansion's many oversized spaces, which would eventually be adapted for an entirely different purpose. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Polished dark flooring leads into a soaring wood-lined room at Mike Tyson's old residence, while a rugged stone wall provides a sharp contrast along one side. Beyond the raised threshold, sunlight filters through tall shuttered windows beneath exposed wooden beams. The mixture of stone, timber, and marble-like finishes showed the varied materials incorporated throughout the heavyweight champion's enormous former home. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Polished dark flooring leads into a soaring wood-lined room at Mike Tyson's old residence, while a rugged stone wall provides a sharp contrast along one side. Beyond the raised threshold, sunlight filters through tall shuttered windows beneath exposed wooden beams. The mixture of stone, timber, and marble-like finishes showed the varied materials incorporated throughout the heavyweight champion's enormous former home. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

A neglected indoor swimming pool occupies the center of an enormous vaulted room inside Mike Tyson's former mansion, surrounded by tiled walkways and curved wooden beams overhead. Once part of the boxer's extensive collection of amenities, the deteriorating pool later became central to the property's transformation, with the church planning its main sanctuary within the approximately 10,000-square-foot space around it. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

A neglected indoor swimming pool occupies the center of an enormous vaulted room inside Mike Tyson's former mansion, surrounded by tiled walkways and curved wooden beams overhead. Once part of the boxer's extensive collection of amenities, the deteriorating pool later became central to the property's transformation, with the church planning its main sanctuary within the approximately 10,000-square-foot space around it. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

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Empty pools and aging tiled surfaces reveal another perspective of the indoor recreational area at Mike Tyson's former Ohio property. Tall shuttered windows run along the wood-paneled walls, allowing daylight into a space that had visibly deteriorated during the years it stood unused. Living Word Sanctuary Church later identified this substantial section of the mansion as the location for its sanctuary. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

Empty pools and aging tiled surfaces reveal another perspective of the indoor recreational area at Mike Tyson's former Ohio property. Tall shuttered windows run along the wood-paneled walls, allowing daylight into a space that had visibly deteriorated during the years it stood unused. Living Word Sanctuary Church later identified this substantial section of the mansion as the location for its sanctuary. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

A brick feature wall fitted with an old television, storage compartments, and arched recesses remained inside Mike Tyson's former mansion after the residence had lost much of its original grandeur. Open cabinetry and darkened surfaces reflected the property's neglected condition before its conversion, when rooms designed for the heavyweight champion's private life were awaiting new functions under Living Word Sanctuary Church. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

A brick feature wall fitted with an old television, storage compartments, and arched recesses remained inside Mike Tyson's former mansion after the residence had lost much of its original grandeur. Open cabinetry and darkened surfaces reflected the property's neglected condition before its conversion, when rooms designed for the heavyweight champion's private life were awaiting new functions under Living Word Sanctuary Church. | Source: Facebook/Johnny Joo

After

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In a video dated November 28, 2019, an aerial view revealed the transformed exterior of Mike Tyson's former Ohio mansion, with its distinctive stone tower and chimney still anchoring the sprawling structure. Renovated grounds, refreshed roofing, and a covered entrance reflected the work undertaken after Living Word Sanctuary Church acquired the once-neglected estate and began converting it into a permanent home for its congregation. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

In a video dated November 28, 2019, an aerial view revealed the transformed exterior of Mike Tyson's former Ohio mansion, with its distinctive stone tower and chimney still anchoring the sprawling structure. Renovated grounds, refreshed roofing, and a covered entrance reflected the work undertaken after Living Word Sanctuary Church acquired the once-neglected estate and began converting it into a permanent home for its congregation. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

The mansion's towering wood-paneled hall appeared renewed after the church's extensive renovations, with fresh carpeting covering the floor and seating arranged beneath its arched windows. A staircase and upper balcony remained as recognizable features from the property's earlier design, while understated furnishings gave the cavernous room a new function within the religious campus that replaced Mike Tyson's former private residence. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

The mansion's towering wood-paneled hall appeared renewed after the church's extensive renovations, with fresh carpeting covering the floor and seating arranged beneath its arched windows. A staircase and upper balcony remained as recognizable features from the property's earlier design, while understated furnishings gave the cavernous room a new function within the religious campus that replaced Mike Tyson's former private residence. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Rows of chairs faced a raised stage inside the completed sanctuary, demonstrating one of the most significant changes made to Mike Tyson's former estate. The vast gathering space incorporated screens, musical equipment, lighting, and stone accents as Living Word Sanctuary Church adapted the mansion for worship, turning an area associated with the property's extravagant past into a functional setting for its expanding congregation. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Rows of chairs faced a raised stage inside the completed sanctuary, demonstrating one of the most significant changes made to Mike Tyson's former estate. The vast gathering space incorporated screens, musical equipment, lighting, and stone accents as Living Word Sanctuary Church adapted the mansion for worship, turning an area associated with the property's extravagant past into a functional setting for its expanding congregation. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

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Another section of the renovated interior combined pale wood paneling with carpeting, modern seating, and newly constructed rooms beneath the mansion's high ceiling. Large glass doors connected this open gathering area with neighboring spaces, illustrating how Living Word Sanctuary Church divided portions of Mike Tyson's enormous former residence into practical areas capable of serving members beyond regular worship services and gatherings. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Another section of the renovated interior combined pale wood paneling with carpeting, modern seating, and newly constructed rooms beneath the mansion's high ceiling. Large glass doors connected this open gathering area with neighboring spaces, illustrating how Living Word Sanctuary Church divided portions of Mike Tyson's enormous former residence into practical areas capable of serving members beyond regular worship services and gatherings. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

A large brick feature inside Mike Tyson's former home took on a dramatically lighter appearance during the conversion, with its masonry painted in soft gray tones and decorative white vases positioned on either side. Arched recesses remained incorporated into the structure, preserving its unusual shape while the surrounding room adopted the restrained furnishings and neutral palette introduced throughout the church's renovated interior spaces. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

A large brick feature inside Mike Tyson's former home took on a dramatically lighter appearance during the conversion, with its masonry painted in soft gray tones and decorative white vases positioned on either side. Arched recesses remained incorporated into the structure, preserving its unusual shape while the surrounding room adopted the restrained furnishings and neutral palette introduced throughout the church's renovated interior spaces. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Glass doors and broad windows filled this renovated passageway with natural light, replacing the neglected atmosphere visible throughout Mike Tyson's former mansion before its transformation. Railings bordered the walkway as it opened toward another furnished section of the church, showing how existing architectural elements were incorporated into a brighter, more accessible interior designed to accommodate people moving throughout the expansive religious campus. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Glass doors and broad windows filled this renovated passageway with natural light, replacing the neglected atmosphere visible throughout Mike Tyson's former mansion before its transformation. Railings bordered the walkway as it opened toward another furnished section of the church, showing how existing architectural elements were incorporated into a brighter, more accessible interior designed to accommodate people moving throughout the expansive religious campus. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

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Modern couches and an area rug created a communal seating space beside the repainted brick feature inside the former Tyson estate. Once stripped down and deteriorating, this portion of the mansion was given polished flooring, neutral walls, decorative pieces, and contemporary furniture as Living Word Sanctuary Church reshaped private residential rooms into welcoming areas intended for members of its growing Ohio congregation to gather. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Modern couches and an area rug created a communal seating space beside the repainted brick feature inside the former Tyson estate. Once stripped down and deteriorating, this portion of the mansion was given polished flooring, neutral walls, decorative pieces, and contemporary furniture as Living Word Sanctuary Church reshaped private residential rooms into welcoming areas intended for members of its growing Ohio congregation to gather. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

The mansion's sweeping staircase survived its transition from Mike Tyson's private home to Living Word Sanctuary Church, but the surrounding space received a substantial update. Restored wooden steps rose between dark metal railings toward the second-floor balcony, while crisp white walls and clean flooring replaced the worn finishes seen before renovation, preserving a prominent architectural feature within the property's completely reworked interior design. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

The mansion's sweeping staircase survived its transition from Mike Tyson's private home to Living Word Sanctuary Church, but the surrounding space received a substantial update. Restored wooden steps rose between dark metal railings toward the second-floor balcony, while crisp white walls and clean flooring replaced the worn finishes seen before renovation, preserving a prominent architectural feature within the property's completely reworked interior design. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Church pastor Nicholas DeJacimo stood between orderly rows of chairs inside Living Word Sanctuary Church's completed worship space, with musical instruments, lecterns, screens, and a broad stage visible behind him. The finished room demonstrated how thoroughly Mike Tyson's former mansion had been repurposed, exchanging the signs of prolonged abandonment for an organized sanctuary designed around the needs and activities of the congregation now occupying the property. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

Church pastor Nicholas DeJacimo stood between orderly rows of chairs inside Living Word Sanctuary Church's completed worship space, with musical instruments, lecterns, screens, and a broad stage visible behind him. The finished room demonstrated how thoroughly Mike Tyson's former mansion had been repurposed, exchanging the signs of prolonged abandonment for an organized sanctuary designed around the needs and activities of the congregation now occupying the property. | Source: YouTube/WKYC Channel 3

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