American consumers have funded the lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous founders of our favorite foods and drinks.
By just heading to the grocery store for things as mundane as cereal, soup, salt and mediocre beer, customers have put millions of dollars in the hands of food companies.
That money then went to fund their lavish mansions built across the United States.
The families that founded Kellogs cereal, Campbell’s soup and Morton’s salt built or renovated incredible estates with luxurious mansions, impressive swimming pools and exquisite gardens.
Photos show the exquisite architecture and pristine landscaping of some of the countries richest families.
Kellogg
WK Kellog built an estate in Tampa, Florida during the Roaring Twenties to be his winter home.
The 7,667-square-foot mansion contains secret passageways, wood coffered ceilings and custom stained glass windows, and sits on an acre of land that touches the ocean, according to Oregon Live.
The Mediterranean Revival-style house is currently on sale for $4.5million – listed under Karl Moeller of Coastal Properties Group.
WK Kellog built an estate in Tampa, Florida during the Roaring Twenties to be his winter home
The 7,667-square-foot mansion contains secret passageways, wood coffered ceilings and custom stained glass windows
The Mediterranean Revival-style house comes equipped with multiple terraces and exquisite landscaping, and sits on an acre of land that touches the ocean
Pabst Brewing Co
Harry Perlstein hired architect William Pererira to build him a mansion in Glencoe, Illinois.
Rich with post-prohibition money, the Pabst Brewing Co president commissioned the 14,300-square-foot Georgian Mansion in 1936.
It sits on two acres on Lake Michigan in the Chicago suburb, and includes a pool, spa, sport and coach house and four-car heated garage.
The home sold for $3,575,000 on October 27.
Harry Perlstein, president of Pabst Brewing Co, hired architect William Pererira to build him a mansion in 1936
It sits on two acres on Lake Michigan in the Chicago suburb, and includes a pool, spa, sport and coach house and four-car heated garage
The 14,300-square-foot Georgian Mansion in Glencoe, Illinois sold on October 27 for nearly $4million
Morton Salt
The daughter of the Morton Salt Company founder Joy Morton, Jean Morton Cudahy, had a mansion built in Lake Forrest, Illinois in 1914, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The 11,000 square-foot manor was designed by the famed Chicago architect David Adler and has 17 formal rooms with five living suites.
The two-acre property swimming pool, a tennis court and formal gardens. It sold in May for $2.75million.
The daughter of the Morton Salt Company founder Joy Morton, Jean Morton Cudahy, had a mansion built in Lake Forrest, Illinois in 1914
The 11,000 square-foot manor was designed by the famed Chicago architect David Adler and has 17 formal rooms with five living suites
Rooms in the estate feature beautiful antique furniture and gold-painted crown molding. It sold in May for $2.75million
Campbell’s Soup
John T Dorrance is famous for coming up with the idea to condense soup – founding the Campbell soup company in 1914.
His lavish home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania was dubbed Linden Hill and built between 1928 and 1931 by Edmund B Gilchrist.
The 14,467 square-foot home was owned by Dorrance’s family for more than 50 years. It sits on 50 acres.
On the property are caretakers quarters, a 10-car garage and park-like landscaping with two swimming pools, a tennis court and an aviary.
John T Dorrance had his home at Linden Hill built between 1928 and 1931 by the architect Edmund B Gilchrist
The 14,467 square-foot home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, was owned by the Campbell’s soup family for 50 years
On the property are caretakers quarters, a 10-car garage and park-like landscaping with two swimming pools, a tennis court and an aviary
Ghirardelli Chocolate
The Ghirardelli family has owned a mansion in Piedmont, California since the turn of the century. It was built by the Milwain brothers for the owners of the famous chocolate empire.
In 1911 heiress Ellen Ghirardelli Cushing, the widow of chocolatier Giseppe ‘Joseph’ Ghirardelli restyled the home in a year-long renovation.
The property features a 6,749 square-foot mansion with seven bedrooms and an expansive dining room and luscious rose garden.
In 2016 the home sold for $4.65million.
A 6,749 square-foot mansion in Piedmont, California was built for the Ghirardelli family at the turn of the century
In 1911 heiress Ellen Ghirardelli Cushing, the widow of chocolatier Giseppe ‘Joseph’ Ghirardelli restyled the home in a year-long renovation
The property features a 6,749 square-foot mansion with seven bedrooms and an expansive dining room and luscious rose garden
Oscar Mayer
Oscar Mayer’s son Oscar G Mayer Sr took over the sausage company in 1928 – just a year after buying his luxurious his luxurious brick mansion in Evanston, Illinois.
He lived there until 1965.
The home is 7,401 square feet with three stories and six bedrooms. It recently underwent a complete restoration.
It is currently on the market for $2.8million.
Oscar Mayer’s son Oscar G Mayer Sr took over the sausage company in 1928 – just a year after buying his luxurious his luxurious brick mansion in Evanston, Illinois
The home is 7,401 square feet with three stories and six bedrooms. It recently underwent a complete restoration
The home was owned by the Mayer family until 1965, and is currently on the market again for $2.8million