Larry Klairmont was an American entrepreneur, real estate developer, and passionate automobile collector whose life embodied a classic American success story. Rising from modest beginnings in Chicago, he built a powerful real estate empire and later gained national attention for assembling one of the largest and most eclectic private car collections in the United States.
His legacy goes far beyond business success. Through his museum, philanthropy, and lifelong enthusiasm for automobiles, Klairmont created a lasting cultural influence in Chicago and within the global collector car community.
Early Life and Background
Childhood and upbringing in Chicago
Larry Merton Klairmont was born on December 17, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Raised during the Great Depression, he experienced financial hardship early in life. As a young boy, he worked various small jobs including delivering food around Chicago to help support his family.
These early experiences helped shape his relentless work ethic. Klairmont often credited his childhood struggles for teaching him persistence, responsibility, and the value of opportunity.
Military service during World War II
At just 16 years old, Klairmont joined the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater and participated in major battles including Saipan and Iwo Jima.
During combat, he was wounded but survived the war and returned home with a renewed sense of purpose. His time in the military played an important role in shaping his leadership skills, discipline, and resilience.
Early work and education
After returning from the war, Klairmont pursued higher education and briefly studied law. However, his entrepreneurial instincts quickly drew him toward business opportunities.
One of his earliest successful jobs involved selling women’s shoes on commission. This role helped him develop strong sales and negotiation skills that later became essential to his success in business.
Building a Business Empire
Founding Imperial Cleaners
In the early 1950s, Klairmont founded Imperial Cleaners, a dry-cleaning company that quickly expanded throughout Chicago. Through aggressive growth and strategic location choices, the company eventually operated more than 100 locations.
The success of this business provided the financial foundation that allowed Klairmont to expand into new industries.
Transition into real estate
After selling the cleaning chain, Klairmont turned his attention to real estate. He founded Imperial Realty Company, focusing primarily on industrial buildings, warehouses, and commercial properties across the Chicago area.
Over time, the company grew into a major real estate operation managing millions of square feet of property and serving thousands of tenants. Klairmont became widely recognized as a savvy investor with a strong instinct for identifying undervalued properties.
Business philosophy
Klairmont believed strongly in investing in tangible assets. His strategy focused on long-term ownership of real estate rather than speculative investments.
Colleagues often described him as a direct negotiator and hands-on leader who remained deeply involved in every major decision within his company.
Larry Klairmont’s Passion for Cars
How his fascination with cars began
Klairmont developed a love for automobiles at an early age. While working various delivery jobs as a teenager, he spent countless hours observing the different cars driving through Chicago streets.
Over time, his curiosity turned into a serious interest in automotive design and history.
The first collectible vehicle
His collecting journey began with the purchase of a 1951 Rolls-Royce. What initially started as a personal indulgence soon evolved into a much larger passion. He began acquiring unusual vehicles, vintage classics, custom builds, and cars with unique historical stories.
Growing into a massive collection
Over several decades, Klairmont assembled a remarkable collection of nearly 600 vehicles. The collection ranged from early twentieth-century classics to rare luxury cars, movie vehicles, and highly customized automobiles. Each vehicle represented a unique chapter in automotive history, making the collection one of the most diverse private automotive archives in the United States.
The Creation of the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum
Turning a private collection into a museum
For many years, Klairmont’s cars were stored in warehouses across Chicago. Eventually, with encouragement from his partner Joyce Oberlander, he decided to organize the collection into a single exhibition space.
The result was the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum.
Opening to the public
The museum opened to the public in 2019 in Chicago. Housed in a massive industrial facility, the museum displayed hundreds of vehicles along with vintage signage, memorabilia, and automotive artifacts.
Visitors were able to walk through rows of restored classics and rare vehicles that showcased more than a century of automotive innovation.
Unique vehicles on display
Some of the most unusual vehicles included luxury classics, custom show cars, movie vehicles, and themed automobiles.
Among the popular displays were a replica Batmobile, the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, and numerous rare luxury models from early American automotive history.
Net Worth and Business Ventures
Larry Klairmont accumulated significant wealth through decades of successful real estate investments. Imperial Realty managed a large portfolio of commercial and industrial properties across the Chicago metropolitan area.
In addition to real estate holdings, his automobile collection itself became a valuable asset. The rarity and historical significance of many vehicles made the collection highly valuable among collectors.
His wealth allowed him to pursue philanthropic activities and invest in projects that celebrated automotive history and culture.
Personal Life and Family
Larry Klairmont was married to Elaine Klairmont for more than five decades until her passing in 2008.
Later in life, he shared a long-term relationship with Joyce Oberlander, who played an important role in establishing the Klairmont Kollections museum.
He had five children and a large extended family that included many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Despite his business success, those close to him often described him as energetic, charismatic, and deeply passionate about both business and automobiles.
Final Years and Legacy
Larry Klairmont passed away on July 18, 2021, at the age of 94.
By the time of his passing, he had already built a reputation as a respected real estate entrepreneur and one of the most passionate automobile collectors in the United States.
Following his death, parts of his famous car collection were auctioned, allowing collectors around the world to acquire pieces of his remarkable automotive legacy.
Even so, Klairmont’s influence remains strong in Chicago’s real estate community and among car enthusiasts who admired his dedication to preserving automotive history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Larry Klairmont?
Larry Klairmont was an American entrepreneur, real estate developer, and automobile collector best known for founding Imperial Realty and creating the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum.
What was Larry Klairmont’s net worth?
His exact net worth was never publicly confirmed, but his real estate holdings and valuable car collection were estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
When was Larry Klairmont born?
He was born on December 17, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
When did Larry Klairmont die?
Larry Klairmont died on July 18, 2021, at the age of 94.
How many cars were in Larry Klairmont’s collection?
At its peak, his automobile collection included nearly 600 vehicles.
What is the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum?
It is an automotive museum in Chicago created to display Larry Klairmont’s extensive collection of classic cars and automotive memorabilia.
Larry Klairmont Biography Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Larry Merton Klairmont |
| Birth Date | December 17, 1926 |
| Age at Death | 94 years |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Real Estate Developer, Car Collector |
| Education | College and partial law studies |
| Company | Founder of Imperial Realty Company |
| Relationship Status | Widower, later partner Joyce Oberlander |
| Children | Five |
| Net Worth | Estimated tens of millions |
| Nationality | American |
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Final Thoughts
Larry Klairmont’s life story is a remarkable example of perseverance and entrepreneurial success. From modest beginnings in Chicago to building a powerful real estate empire, he demonstrated how determination and vision can create lasting impact.
Yet what truly set him apart was his passion. His fascination with automobiles evolved into a museum that allowed thousands of visitors to experience automotive history in a unique and immersive way.
Today, even as many of his cars have been sold to collectors around the world, Larry Klairmont’s legacy continues through his business achievements, his contributions to automotive culture, and the inspiring story of a man who turned passion into a lifelong legacy.
Ahsan Ullah is an entertainment writer at WhoFame.com, covering celebrity biographies, career highlights, and verified public information. His work focuses on accuracy, clarity, and reader-friendly reporting of pop culture topics.
