What the World’s 10 Most Expensive Houses Look Like
One of the perks of having a sky’s the limit budget is that you get to customize everything to your heart’s desire. For the ultra-rich, cookie cutter houses will definitely not do; when there’s enough money to burn, you have the freedom to customize every nook and cranny until each square inch looks exactly as you had envisioned.
Ready to see what ten of the most expensive houses in the world look like? Feast your eyes on these no expense spared abodes, owned by those who truly understand the language of luxury:
1. Antilia
This unusual home (technically a building) is owned by India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. Ambani has a net worth of $23.6 billion, so the $1 billion he spent on the Antilia is really just spare change for him. The house is a 27-story, 400,000-square-foot building, with six underground parking floors (with space for 168 cars), three helipads, several gardens, temple, guest suites, a health level, and a home theater with 50 seats. It requires a 600-person staff just to maintain it.
2. Xanadu 2.0
Ever wondered what the house of the world second richest man looks like? Here it is: the Xanadu 2.0. Anyone who adds “2.0” in naming their homes can only mean that they made their billions in the tech industry, and this house is no exemption: the owner is no other than Bill Gates. He spent seven years customizing this $125..5 million estate, a 66,000 square foot complex overlooking Lake Washington. How’s this for customization: residents and visitors wear electronic pins that trigger their personal preferences such as temperature, mood lighting of rooms, or the art that will appear on HD monitors around the property. It’s many amenities include a building with a 3,900 square foot swimming pool, 2,500 square foot gym, 2,100 square foot library, 2,300 square foot reception hall, 6,300 square foot underground garage.
3. Palazzo di Amore
This is a 53,000 square foot property with a spacious entertainment complex that has a ballroom with a revolving dance floor, with 12 bedroom, 23 bathrooms, a theater, tennis courts, swimming pools, reflecting pools, waterfalls, a garage with space for 27 cars, and a bowling alley. Want to buy this Mediterranean-style villa? You’re in luck: owner Jeff Green, a real estate mogul, recently listed this property for $195 million. If you have that much money to spare, why not make this villa your own? You can even produce your own wine and walk over glass walkways located on top of olive trees.
4. 7 Upper Phillimore Gardens
Located in London, this $128 million mansion is owned by the daughter of Ukraine’s second president, Olena Pinchuk. This former prep school has 10 bedrooms, and underground swimming pool, a sauna, gym, cinema, a panic room (remember that Jodie Foster movie?), interiorscovered in marble, gold, and priceless art.
5. Seven the Pinnacle
This $155 million property is the largest within the Yellowstone Club, a private ski and golf community of the super rich. It features heated floors, several pools, a gym, wine cellar and its very own ski lift. Located in Big Sky, Montana, its owners are Edra and Tim Blixseth, founder of the Yellowstone Club.
6. Hearst Castle
This San Simeon, California property was build by the first newspaper magnate in the United States, William Randolph Hearst. This $191 million, 27 bedroom castle has hosted the who’s who of Hollywood royalty, famous personalities and politicians such as John and Jackie Kennedy, Clark Gable and Winston Churchill. If it looks familiar, it’s because it was used in the movie The Godfather. It is now owned by William Randolph Hearst’s trustees, and is now a heritage site and tourist site.
7. 18–19 Kensington Palace Gardens
Who hasn’t heard of the Kensington address? This $222 million property is located on the Billionaires Row, with Prince William and Kate Middleton as neighbors. This 55,000 square foot mansion has 12 bedrooms, Turkish baths, an indoor pool, a gallery and ballroom. Owner Lakshmi Mittal calls it his “Taj Mittal”, owing to his Indian ancestry and the fact that the marble used to renovate the property was sourced from the same quarry of the actual Taj Mahal.
8. Ellison Estate
This 23 acre property has 10 buildings, a man-made lake, koi pond, tea house and bath house. Located in Woodside, California, it is valued at $200 million and owned by Larry Ellison, Oracle co-founder and third richest man in the world.
9. Fairfield Pond
Located in Sagaponack, New York, this 63 acre properly has 29 bedrooms, its own power plant, 39 bathrooms, a basketball court, bowling alley, squash courts, tennis courts, three pools, a 91 foot long dining table and a $150,000 hot tub, among its many amenities. Its owner, Ira Rennert, has a holding company called Renco Group, which has investments in auto manufacturing and smelting.
10. Buckingham Palace
This list won’t be complete without the most recognizable home of the most popular monarchy in the world: the British Sovereign’s Buckingham Palace in London. Queen Elizabeth II’s residence is valued at $1.55 billion, and has 775 rooms, with 19 state rooms, 52 bedrooms, 188 staff rooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
Originally published at homehello.com.au on February 12, 2015.
