Fancy an Alabama mansion with a guitar-shaped driveway?

There’s living large, and then there’s living, well, supersized.

For as little as $US4 million ($5.27 million) one lucky buyer could pick up 7 Montagel Way in Shoal Creek, Alabama – with its 15 bedrooms, 19 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces, 25-seat home theatre, 2000-bottle wine cellar, 12-car garage, pool with a waterfall and equestrian centre. And, from the air, a giant tree-lined driveway shaped like a guitar.

This mansion is known as Chateau Montagel, and it’s not its first time at the rodeo.

The property was reportedly put up for auction in 2003 but the $US3.95 million didn’t meet the reserve. It went up again in 2015 and – valued at $12 million at the time – went for a slightly higher price at $4 million, but that sale also failed to eventuate. 

So now it’s back, scheduled to go on the block in two weeks. It’s listed at $US9.9 million but “selling at or above $4 million”.  Third time lucky?

It was built in the mid-1990s by the then founder and CEO of medical care management company MedPartners, Larry House.

Financial difficulties combined with a tricky divorce is allegedly what prompted the later attempted sales. 

House has apparently spent $US27 million building the property, which includes so much gold leaf that it took one and a half years to apply it all. So even at its current listed price of $US9.9 million, it’s a pretty good deal for a potential buyer. And did we mention the driveway?

7 Montagel Way, Shoal Creek. Photo: Concierge Auctions

7 Montagel Way, Shoal Creek. Photo: Concierge Auctions

7 Montagel Way, Shoal Creek. Photo: Concierge Auctions