This June 24, 2013, photo shows the main room in Liberace's former home in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS - The British businessman who bought Liberace's 15,000-square-foot Las Vegas mansion says he plans to work on it relentlessly to restore it to its former glory.

Martyn Ravenhill told The Associated Press today that he's been a huge Liberace fan all his life as well as a lover of Las Vegas. He says he learned of the mansion being up for sale after finding a video about it on YouTube.

The mansion sold for $500,000 to Ravenhill, who seemed surprised by the international attention the purchase has brought. The mansion went for $29,000 below its list price and about $3 million less than it was sold for seven years ago.

Ravenhill says the mansion is a piece of American history that needs to be protected.