Al Capone’s Florida house set for demolition; gangster’s jewels and gun up for auction

The new owners of the nine-bedroom, Miami Beach house plan to demolish it after buying it for US$10.75 million

Capone bought the house for US$40,000 in 1928. The gangster nicknamed ‘Scarface’ died at the home in 1947 from a heart attack

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The gate house entrance of the waterfront mansion once owned by gangster Al Capone in Miami Beach, Florida. Photo: AP

Published: 4:35am, 3 Sep 2021Updated: 4:35am, 3 Sep 2021

The South Florida house that gangster Al Capone owned for nearly two decades, and died in, is facing demolition.

The Miami Herald reported on Thursday that the new owners of the nine-bedroom, Miami Beach house plan to demolish it after buying it for US$10.75 million this summer.

One of the owners, developer Todd Glaser, told the Herald the home, which is about 3ft (one metre) below sea level, has flood damage and standing water underneath it. The new owners plan to build a two-storey modern home with 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a jacuzzi, spa and sauna.

A hand-painted print of a photo of Al Capone and his son, Sonny Capone is up for auction with the rest of Capone's estate. Photo: Witherell's / Chicago Tribune / TNS

“The house is a piece of crap,” Glaser said. “It’s a disgrace to Miami Beach.”

The other owner is Glaser’s business partner, Nelson Gonzalez, an investor and senior vice-president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM.