# OBL's $5 Million "Mansion"-What a Dump! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2011, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663 "2011-05-04T05:51:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/21 "2011-05-04T13:57:34Z")
Give the guy a break. It was Sunday. The party on Saturday night got out of hand, and the cleaning crew wasn’t going to show up until Monday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/22 "2011-05-04T14:22:59Z")
Where did the $1 million figure come from? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/23 "2011-05-04T16:44:17Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Where did the $1 million figure come from? Here’s a whole bunch of news articles using the “million dollar” figure. Whether it’s even vaguely accurate, I don’t know. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=bil%2Bladen%2B%22million-dollar%2Bcompound%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=bin+laden+%22million-dollar+compound%22&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=mi0&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnsu&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=H4LBTZPaJILjiALV3siDAw&ved=0CDMQqAI&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=9ae34c4dfc701168)** ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/24 "2011-05-04T16:57:02Z")
They had 23 kids living there. I’ve seen the mess a family with 2 or 3 kids can make; with 23 I’m surprised the walls were still standing. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/25 "2011-05-04T17:01:41Z")
Sure it looks like a mess now, but they were going to be on an upcoming episode of Extremist Home Makeover. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/26 "2011-05-04T17:06:59Z")
I think a lot of money went into his other place, at Costellobad. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/27 "2011-05-04T17:16:28Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > The millions went to ISI safehouse. he was paying for protection. I’m thinking this is most likely. Here in Dallas proper, less than a million will get you this house: > **[18733 Wainsborough Ln, Dallas, TX 75287 | Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/18733-Wainsborough-Ln-Dallas-TX-75287/53101314_zpid/#hdp-photo-lightbox)** > > 18733 Wainsborough Ln, Dallas TX, is a Single Family home that contains 5431 sq ft and was built in 1997.It contains 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. > > The Zestimate for this Single Family is $1,631,800, which has decreased by $14,800 in the last 30... Not huge, but certainly a lot less crappy than that pit in Abbottabad. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/28 "2011-05-04T17:21:17Z")
I guess you missed the episode of House Hunters International where you got to see Osama Bin Laden tour three homes. He chose this one because of its view of the walls, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen - but most importantly, it had a “man cave” in the basement! (One of his wives liked the fact that the closet was big enough to put her one pair of shoes in it, along with the shoes of the other 34 wives…) ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/29 "2011-05-04T18:03:43Z")
It’s Pakistan. It was only a mansion by Pakistani standards. And the media made up that “mansion” moniker anyway. So if it doesn’t look like a mansion, and it doesn’t look like it’d cost $1 million, and it doesn’t quack like a lair, then… ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/30 "2011-05-04T18:42:05Z")
the seals didn’t have a lot of time to search, you dump, sift, and shove things aside as you look for hidden storage media. people may have noticed a delivery or 2 from best buys and pottery barn. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/31 "2011-05-04T19:11:33Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’m thinking this is most likely. > > Here in Dallas proper, less than a million will get you this house: > > [http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/18733-Wainsborough-Ln-Dallas-TX-75287/53101314\_zpid/#hdp-photo-lightbox](http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/18733-Wainsborough-Ln-Dallas-TX-75287/53101314_zpid/#hdp-photo-lightbox) > > Not huge, but certainly a lot less crappy than that pit in Abbottabad. Well, at least he had more space than you’d get for $1m round here. It’ll just about buy you a one-bedroom flat [above a shop](http://www.chestertonhumberts.com/details.dtx?propertyid=61C67493-4BD7-44D0-B2A3-BD8E899D2A0B). ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/32 "2011-05-04T19:11:43Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Concur. What’s with the relentless inflation and exaggeration of news items? After all the talk about John Edwards’ $400 haircut, I later saw references to an “$800” > haircut, as if $400 isn’t bad enough. > > CNN right now has a front page story referring to the “$1 million residence.” Where did you see $5 million? The local CBS station here was calling the dump a “$5 million mansion”. As I said, it looks like a slum building in an American inner city. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/33 "2011-05-04T19:25:28Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > The local CBS station here was calling the dump a “$5 million mansion”. > As I said, it looks like a slum building in an American inner city. I gather he wasn’t expecting guests that night. ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/34 "2011-05-04T19:47:17Z")
I’m not familiar with land economics in Pakistan, but given that Abbottabad is apparently an up scale neighbourhood, I suspect that the initial land sale probably makes up the majority of whatever is the true price tag. Construction and material costs probably would have been minimal. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/35 "2011-05-04T19:58:49Z")
Oh, I don’t know, with a lawn jockey and a couple of throw pillows… ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/36 "2011-05-04T19:59:37Z")
> [@tingbudong](#): > > Construction and material costs probably would have been minimal. I’m not so sure of that. Those walls were very high and thick–even if they look bad, they weren’t cheap. That compound was gigantic, so even if the materials were cheap, the sheer amount required would push the bill way up. But sure, the property is probably the most valuable part. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/37 "2011-05-04T20:08:33Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I think a lot of money went into his other place, at Costellobad. The fun thing is that the city was really named for someone named “Abbot” – not Bud Abbot, but Major James Abbot, a raj-era Brit. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/38 "2011-05-04T20:38:19Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > I’m not so sure of that. Those walls were very high and thick–even if they look bad, they weren’t cheap. That compound was gigantic, so even if the materials were cheap, the sheer amount required would push the bill way up. But sure, the property is probably the most valuable part. Does the Obama Administration realize that by burying OBL at sea, they’ve just moved his future shrine from his tomb to the the house he was killed in? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/39 "2011-05-04T20:40:58Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Does the Obama Administration realize that by burying OBL at sea, they’ve just moved his future shrine from his tomb to the the house he was killed in? Is this a bad thing? Anyway my guess is that the Pakistani government will destroy the house. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663/40 "2011-05-05T06:38:05Z")
An Abbottabad local says the compound was worth $250,000. > **[Osama bin Laden hideout 'worth far less than US claimed'](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/04/osama-bin-laden-hideout-worth?CMP=twt_fd)** > > Pakistan property experts say US government description of '$1m mansion' was way off the mark, as further exaggerations come to light [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obls-5-million-mansion-what-a-dump/580663.md?page=3)