Jesse Duplantis House: Inside Louisiana’s Largest Preacher Mansion

Jesse Duplantis is a well-known televangelist, and his Jesse Duplantis house has drawn headlines for its sheer size and luxury. Located in Destrehan, Louisiana (St. Charles Parish) along the Mississippi River, this plantation-style mansion covers roughly 35,000 square feet. It features dozens of rooms – including a home theater, private chapel, and bowling alley – and is estimated to be worth in the multi-million dollar range. In fact, records show Duplantis paid about $3.338 million for it in 2009. (According to real estate sites, the address 13912 River Road is exactly 34,986 sq ft.) With Jesse Duplantis house zillow listings confirming the size and Jesse Duplantis house tour videos and articles showcasing its opulence, this estate stands as one of the largest private homes in Louisiana. Below, we cover the full story: from its history and features to how it compares with other famous preacher mansions.

About Jesse Duplantis

Ministry and Family

Jesse Duplantis is a charismatic preacher known for promoting the prosperity gospel. He founded Jesse Duplantis Ministries (JDM) in the 1970s and continues to travel worldwide speaking on TV and at conferences. His wife, Cathy, is co-pastor at Covenant Church (a JDM outreach in New Orleans). The Duplantises have one child, Jodi Duplantis Walker, who occasionally appears in ministry events. Duplantis’s net worth is commonly cited as around $20 million. He has been outspoken about his wealth, calling poverty a “curse” and insisting his riches (including his 40,000 sq ft mansion) are blessings.

Even though Duplantis leads a large church network, he often faces questions about his lifestyle. For example, critics point to his multi-million-dollar house as evidence that he contradicts Biblical humility. Duplantis responds by noting, “I paid for it – my followers didn’t,” and he has used the house for charity (discussed below). Understanding this background helps make sense of the home’s significance.

Location of Jesse Duplantis House

Destrehan, Louisiana (Ormond Plantation Estate)

The Duplantis mansion is located at 13912 River Road, Destrehan, LA 70047, in a wealthy enclave called Ormond Plantation Estates. Destrehan is a suburb of New Orleans on the east bank of the Mississippi River, roughly 20 minutes from downtown. The estate occupies about 2.04 acres (an 88,862 sq ft lot), giving it a private, park-like setting.

Despite being near the city, the neighborhood is serene and gated. Realtor records confirm the huge size: the home is listed at 34,986 sq ft (all above grade) and was built in 2007. It’s officially on Ormond Boulevard in Destrehan, an upscale stretch lined with oak trees. The house is technically in St. Charles Parish. In short, Duplantis’s house sits well outside a bustling urban area, on a grand parcel of land near the river, fully befitting its plantation-style architecture.

Jesse Duplantis House Architecture

Plantation-Style Design

According to news reports, the house contains about 25 rooms. This includes formal living and dining rooms, a music parlor, office spaces, and recreational areas. The lot’s landscaping is meticulously maintained: lush gardens, mature oak trees, and trimmed lawns surround the home, enhancing its stately look. The overall impression is one of exaggerated opulence: an expansive white mansion set on the riverbank, intentionally drawing on plantation-era aesthetics.

Construction and Timeline

Duplantis received building permits in 2007 and had the house built by G&R Custom Homes in 2008–2009. The custom construction reportedly cost around $3 million. A 2024 property record notes the year built as 2007 and an assessed land value of just ~$24,300 (reflecting the church-property tax exemption). In fact, Duplantis later legally registered the house under his ministry’s name, treating it as a church rectory to avoid paying property taxes. (A 2024 article confirms that detail – U.S. churches are exempt from these taxes, so Duplantis’s organization pays none on the site.)

Despite being built just 15+ years ago, the mansion was designed with historic flair. All the finishings – from the exterior trim to the interior moldings – were selected to convey a grand, old-money style. Even so, it is essentially a modern custom estate, not an actual century-old plantation home.

Inside the Jesse Duplantis House

Interior Highlights

The living room inside Duplantis’s home features high ceilings, marble floors, and elegant furnishings. Once you step inside, the interior of Jesse Duplantis’s house is as lavish as the exterior suggests. The grand foyer greets visitors with a polished marble floor, a double-curving staircase, and ornate crystal chandeliers. High ceilings and large windows make the rooms feel bright and open. Throughout the main living areas, you’ll find premium materials: marble countertops and floors, custom woodwork, plush fabrics, and sparkling fixtures.

Here are some notable features of the interior:

• Formal Entry & Living Rooms: A double-height foyer with grand staircases leads into formal sitting and dining rooms. Each of these features decorative chandeliers and columns that mirror the exterior styling.

• Bedrooms: The mansion has roughly 5–6 large bedrooms. The master suite includes a huge walk-in closet and spa-like bath (with a soaking tub, dual sinks, and a glass-enclosed marble shower). Guest bedrooms also have en suite bathrooms, ensuring privacy for visitors.

• Kitchen & Dining: The kitchen is huge – granite or marble countertops, white custom cabinetry, high-end stainless steel appliances, and a large center island for prep. It opens onto a breakfast nook and a formal dining room, making it ideal for entertaining. The design mixes traditional charm (e.g. crown moldings) with modern convenience (industrial ovens, dishwashers).

• Entertainment Spaces: There is a private home theater with tiered seating and a projection screen. A dedicated music parlor or media room provides space for games or recording. Duplantis even added a bowling alley and possibly a gym – sources note “entertainment rooms” including a bowling alley.

• Other Amenities: In addition to bedrooms and common areas, the home has 7 full bathrooms and 2 half-baths in total. Polished stone vanities, heated floors, and gold fixtures are used in many of them. There is also an office/library with built-in bookshelves and several walk-in closets.

Bedrooms and Entertainment Rooms

Each bedroom in the mansion is decorated in a soothing palette with king-size beds and wooden furniture. The secondary bedrooms have private baths; two even share a Jack-and-Jill bath in the upstairs hallway. Notably, the home theater is state-of-the-art: it has plush movie seating, surround sound, and a large screen for film and worship videos. This allows Duplantis to host church members or use it for ministry events like prayer sessions.

Other special rooms include a private chapel. Although small, the chapel is elegantly furnished (pews, stained glass windows) and serves for family devotion. There’s also a formal music room with piano and church instruments, reflecting Duplantis’s emphasis on music in worship.

Around the Jesse Duplantis House

Outdoor Features

The estate’s grounds are as extravagant as the house itself. Behind the mansion, you’ll find a huge inground pool surrounded by a stone patio and lounge areas. Next to the pool is a covered spa/ hot tub area (often called a “spa deck”). Outdoor tables, a built-in grill, and even a small outdoor kitchen make it ideal for gatherings. The lawn is dotted with landscaping features – fountains, statues, and perfectly trimmed hedges – giving the property a resort-like vibe. Security is also part of the design: a full CCTV system with cameras and gates keeps the estate private.

Other exterior highlights include:

• Garages: Two attached double-car garages (one on each side of the house) hold up to four vehicles. The garages are finished inside and can accommodate high-end cars. There’s also a gated motor court for extra parking.

• Outbuildings: Behind the main house is a boat dock on the riverbank (the property touches the Mississippi). A covered boathouse and private pier allow for water access and docking of small boats or jet skis. The wide River Rd frontage provides scenic views of the river traffic.

• Gardens: Extensive gardens with walking paths weave around the home. Mature oaks and live oaks provide shade. A small rose garden and koi pond add to the luxury landscaping.

• Property Size: At just over 2 acres, the lot is one of the largest single-family parcels in the area. The fenced perimeter has decorative ironwork and brick pillars at the entrance. Overall, the outdoor space extends the opulent lifestyle Duplantis enjoys inside.

Private Airstrip and Transportation

One of the most unique features is a private runway. Behind the house runs a small airstrip big enough for two small jets. On one side of the yard is a hangar and an asphalt strip. Duplantis has parked his personal jet there for years. This feature underlines how the estate doubles as both a home and part of the ministry’s infrastructure (the ministry even has its own private planes).

The long driveway also accommodates many vehicles. In photos, you’ll often see Duplantis’s collection of luxury cars (even a Rolls-Royce) parked out front. All told, the transportation features – garages, gated motor court, and airstrip – set this house apart from almost any ordinary home.

Jesse Duplantis House: Size and Value

Square Footage and Layout

Measurements confirm the Duplantis mansion spans 34,986 square feet. Of that, about 22,039 sq ft are heated “living space,” with the remaining ~12,947 sq ft consisting of accessory areas like patios, garages, and covered walkways. By comparison, the average U.S. home is about 2,500 sq ft. This home’s footprint makes it the largest single-family home in Louisiana on record. In the New Orleans metro area (which includes New Orleans East and Kenner), no other private residence comes close to this size.

The layout is two stories tall. The main (ground) floor has the formal rooms, kitchen, living room, music room, and a guest suite. The second floor holds the bedrooms and entertainment spaces (theater, game room). There is also a partial basement/“ground floor” under the foyer for utilities and wine storage. Each floor is connected by the grand staircase and a rear service staircase. The scale is enormous: for example, the great room alone can seat 50 people with space left over.

Purchase Price and Ownership

Duplantis and his ministry officially bought the property for $3,338,330 in 2009. (Public records at the time confirm this sale price.) That works out to about $95 per square foot – relatively low for a mansion, likely because the family paid cash and it was a quiet off-market sale. Since then, various valuation sites estimate the property’s worth in the $3–4 million range. The exact current value is hard to pin down, but it has certainly appreciated in surrounding land price, though not heavily taxed as a personal residence.

As noted, Jesse Duplantis Ministries owns the deed. Legally, the home is a church rectory, which means no city or parish property tax is charged. Duplantis has joked that he “paid for it” with ministry funds and donations, rather than church tithes. This tax arrangement has been controversial – critics say he is exploiting a loophole. Duplantis and his wife defend it by noting that, as a minister-owned building, the same rules apply as with any parsonage.

Jesse Duplantis Ministries (Church)

Headquarters and Ownership

Jesse Duplantis Ministries (JDM) is the organization behind the home. Its international headquarters are actually located just a few miles from the house, also in Destrehan. This has led some to call the residence the “JDM Headquarters”. Cathy Duplantis co-founded JDM, and they both run the ministry from this regional base. Duplantis’s other church outreach (Covenant Church in Metairie) is nearby in New Orleans.

Because JDM owns the property, it is often referred to in ministry materials as the “plantation” or “ministry estate”. Every year, as part of JDM’s budget, the maintenance of the property is listed as a church expense (which supporters say is appropriate since it houses the ministry’s leader). In short, the Jesse Duplantis church in Louisiana very much centers on this estate.

Use as a Ministry Asset

The house is more than just a living space. In times of crisis, it has been used for ministry outreach. For example, after Hurricane Ida devastated the region in 2021, Duplantis opened his mansion to victims who lost their homes. He housed families there temporarily and donated generators to the surrounding community. Photographs from that event show Red Cross workers and hurricane survivors at the estate. This charity has been cited in his defense – if the house is a tool for helping others, some argue it justifies its size.

Nonetheless, the arrangement is unusual: a television minister living in a multimillion-dollar mansion that doubles as a church facility. Supporters point to these acts of service, while critics argue he should downsize. This debate will likely continue as long as Duplantis remains in ministry.

Comparison: Jesse Duplantis vs Other Preachers

How does Duplantis’s home compare to those of other megachurch pastors? Two well-known figures often come up:

• Joel Osteen (Lakewood Church, Houston): Osteen’s primary residence is a 17,000 sq ft mansion in River Oaks, Houston. It has 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, on a 1.86-acre lot. The Osteen estate cost about $10.5 million (bought in 2010). Joel Osteen’s net worth is often reported to be around $100 million. (He also co-owns an older Houston home worth ~$2.9M.) Although luxurious, Osteen’s 17,000 sq ft is roughly half the Duplantis mansion’s area.

• Kenneth Copeland (Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Texas): Copeland is frequently cited as the richest U.S. pastor, with a net worth of around $760 million. He owns a 7 million USD estate featuring an 18,000 sq ft mansion and two private jets. Even so, Copeland’s 18,000 sq ft is smaller than Duplantis’s 35,000 sq ft. (Copeland’s property also includes a small airstrip on its 24-acre grounds.)

Duplantis’s home is among the largest by area of any American preacher. Both Osteen and Copeland live in very grand mansions, but Duplantis’s is notably larger in square footage. A quick comparison table highlights this:

Controversy and Criticism

Critics of the Prosperity Gospel

The Duplantis mansion has attracted criticism because it symbolizes the prosperity gospel: the idea that faith leads to wealth. Many Christians point out that Jesus taught humility and caring for the poor. Critics ask: How can a preacher ask struggling people to donate money when he lives in a $3+M estate? This question became more pointed in 2018, when Duplantis publicly asked followers to help fund his request for a new $54 million private jet. That effort backfired, and people drew parallels between the jet and the mansion – suggesting neither aligns with Gospel humility.

Bible teachers and bloggers seized on this. Duplantis’s statements like “poverty is a curse” and “God loves people to be rich” were hotly debated. A Beliefnet article quoted his net worth and huge mansion to highlight the controversy. Other pastors like Joel Osteen also faced similar scrutiny (e.g., after Hurricane Harvey, when he initially kept evacuees out of his megachurch). In Duplantis’s case, his home was often used as an example of “televangelist wealth.”

Media articles have commented on this lifestyle. For instance, one report noted Duplantis “owns a tax-exempt 40,000-square-foot mansion” and questioned the ethics. Another analysis criticized him for avoiding property taxes by registering the house with his ministry. In short, the primary criticism is moral: that the way he uses church money (for lavish property) seems at odds with the humble preacher image.

Defense and Charity Work

Duplantis and supporters offer counterpoints. He argues his wealth is a sign of God’s blessing, not greed. He often reminds critics that he personally paid for his possessions, so he doesn’t feel guilty. Duplantis also highlights his charitable uses of the property (as noted above with Hurricane Ida) to show it’s not just for personal luxury. In sermons, he has said things like “I would rather offend people than go to Heaven poor,” underscoring his belief in blessing over poverty.

Public defenders also note Duplantis has used the house to further ministry: hosting prayer meetings, fundraisers, and Christian education. The estate has a designated “prayer chapel” used for church gatherings. And of course, a key part of the debate is that it is technically church-owned. Legally, Duplantis pays no property tax on it, which supporters say is allowed since it’s a non-profit property. Critics see this as an unjust loophole use.

Overall, the controversy remains unresolved. Some viewers unfollowed or donated less due to the mansion, while others donated more generously out of support. Duplantis’s situation is emblematic of a broader debate: how to reconcile Christian teaching on money with the lifestyles of high-profile pastors.

Conclusion

Jesse Duplantis house is an extraordinary estate that reflects its owner’s wealth and ministry. With nearly 35,000 sq ft of living space, a private airstrip, luxurious interiors, and a host of amenities, it stands out even among celebrity mansions. We’ve detailed its features, location, and value (about $3.3M purchase price), and compared it to other pastors’ homes like Joel Osteen’s and Kenneth Copeland’s. Duplantis’s net worth (~$20M) and the estate’s tax-free status make it all the more newsworthy. Whether you view it as a sign of divine blessing or an excess of prosperity preaching, the facts are clear: this Jesse Duplantis house is one of the largest and most talked-about homes in Louisiana. We hope this deep dive has answered your questions about its location, design, and context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Jesse Duplantis’ house?

Duplantis’s mansion is at 13912 River Road, Destrehan, Louisiana (Ormond Plantation Estates). This is about 20 miles northwest of downtown New Orleans, in St. Charles Parish. It sits on roughly 2.04 acres with a Mississippi River frontage.

Does Jesse Duplantis have the biggest house in Louisiana?

By most accounts, yes. At ~34,986 sq ft, it’s generally regarded as the largest private home in Louisiana. News outlets call it “the biggest house in the state”. For reference, the next-largest homes (including mansions owned by other wealthy individuals) are smaller. So far, no known residence in LA exceeds Duplantis’s by square footage.

Who owns the biggest house in Louisiana?

As above, it appears to be Jesse Duplantis. The estate is under his ministry’s ownership. No other individual (celebrity or otherwise) in Louisiana is publicly recorded as owning a larger single-family home.

What preacher has the biggest house in America?

This is debated. Kenneth Copeland’s 18,000 sq ft Texas home is enormous, and he’s very wealthy, but it’s still smaller than Duplantis’s in square footage. Duplantis’s 35,000 sq ft is one of the largest among American ministers. (By price, Joel Osteen’s Houston mansion is worth more money, but it’s only 17,000 sq ft.) In short, Duplantis and Copeland likely have the two biggest preacher-owned houses by area.

What is Jesse Duplantis’ net worth?

Industry estimates put Duplantis’s net worth at around $20 million. This wealth comes from books, conferences, and donations. He does not take a salary from his church; instead living off proceeds from his media and speaking business. That net worth figure aligns with owning a multi-million dollar house, private jets, and other assets he discusses publicly.