JR Simplot

Should Idaho Sell The French Fry King's Mansion?

Filed under: Estates

In 2005 french fry king J. R. Simplot donated his home to the state of Idaho with the hopes that the luxury home on a hill with a view of Boise, Idaho, and 40 acres of grounds could serve as the governor's mansion. But five years later, Simplot has shuffled off this mortal coil (he died in 2008) and no one has moved into the house. The NY Times reports that there is a possibility that the home could now be sold because as it is it remains a drain on the state budget, costing $125,000 last year to maintain with $72,000 of that to water the Kentucky bluegrass lawns. The home was not donated furnished. A $3 million fund-raising drive to renovate the house only raised around $400,000 which was enough to fancy up a few main rooms for public functions.

Why doesn't the current Governor, Butch Otter live in the house? Otter, who was elected in 2006, has opted to stay on his ranch in Star, Idaho around 20 miles away. Some speculate that the reason he has decided not to move in is because he is already a little too familiar with the house, he was once married to the Simplots daughter Gay. Others say that Butch Otter happens to be an outdoorsman who prefers his expansive ranch where he can ride horses. He received a $4,500 monthly housing stipend until last March when the Simplot house was decided to finally be inhabitable by the state's governor.

Tags: boise, french fry king, FrenchFryKing, idaho, JR Simplot, JrSimplot

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French Fry Billionaire Dead At 99

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

J.R. Simplot may have started his young journey with only four gold coins in his hand but he left this world with billions of dollars and fame for all but inventing the first commercially viable frozen french fry potato in the world. "Mr. Spud" was on the board of McDonalds (which began as a thriving relationship of fries and hashbrowns) and even donated his house to the state as the new Idaho Governor's Mansion. For seventy years Simplot was a potato farmer, businessman and political enthusiast who left his mark on the land. In 2006, the Simplot family ranked number 80 on Forbes magazine's list of richest Americans with an estimated wealth of $3.2 billion. Although Mr. Simplot has passed on, his legacy of french fries will most likely never see an end.

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Tags: french-fries, Idaho-potatoes, JR Simplot, JrSimplot, Simplot