The Most Expensive House in the World Belongs to a Woman
The Most Expensive House in the World Belongs to a Woman
Who owns the most expensive house in the world? Where is the most expensive house in the United States? What amenities—from garages that can hold double-digit numbers of cars to regulation-size basketball courts and multiple swimming pools—are considered standard these days for the most expensive mansions in the world? Discover the answer to those questions and so much more with this look at 16 billionaire palatial homes, from skyscrapers in India to hilltop mansions in California. After all, is there any better version of escapist fun than indulging your Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous fantasy?
1) Buckingham Palace, London
Estimated value: $2.9 billion
With 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 78 bathrooms, and 92 offices, the Queen's London home still holds the top ranking for the most expensive house in the world. Although the British royal family owns many castles and estates throughout the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace has been the monarchy's official residence since 1837. Queen Elizabeth II spends her annual summer holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland's Highlands.
2) Antilia Tower, Mumbai
Estimated value: $1-2 billion
Designed in consultation with Chicago-based architecture firm Perkins & Will and Santa Monica-based hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates for Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, this 400,000 square-foot residence in Mumbai's Cumballa Hill neighborhood is 27 stories high. The tower, which can sustain an earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale, features six floors devoted to car storage, a car service station, a temple, a 50-seat movie theater, and a nine high-speed elevators.
3) Villa La Leopolda, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
Estimated value: $750 million
Owned by Lily Safra, widow of Lebanese born Brazilian banker Edmond Safra, this 11-bedroom, 14-bathroom estate is perched on 50 acres in France's Alpes-Maritime department of its Cote d'Azur region. It features a commercial greenhouse, helipad, outdoor kitchen, and stunning pool, and was the setting for Alfred Hitchcock's 1955 film To Catch a Thief. Villa La Leopolda is named for its original owner: King Leopold II of Belgium gifted the estate to his mistress Blanche Zelia Josephine Delacroix in the early 20th century. The home was redesigned by American architect Ogden Codman Jr. in the 1920s.
4) Villa Les Cedres, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
Estimated Value: $410 million
Built in 1830 then purchased in 1904 by Belgium's King Leopold II, this mansion was considered to be the most expensive house in the world on the market, when it went up for sale in 2017 for $410 million by Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A of the Campari Group, the property's current owner. Set on 35 acres of manicured gardens and named for the cedar trees on the grounds, the 18,000 square-foot, 14-bedroom estate boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a large stable, and decadent interiors (think ginormous crystal chandeliers, intricate gilded woodwork, and 19th century oil paintings) fit for the opulence of the home's Belle Epoque heyday.
6) The Odeon Tower Penthouse, Monaco
Estimated Value: $330 million
The 35,000 square-foot apartment at the top of the Tour Odeon, developed by the Groupe Marzocco and designed by architect Alexandre Giraldi, spans several floors and comes with its own private elevator. The private luxury doesn't stop there: a water slide coming from an upper floor into an infinity pool with 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape makes this penthouse pretty spectacular.
7) Mesa Vista Ranch, Eastern Texas Panhandle
Estimated Value: $250 million
T. Boone Pickens' 65,ooo acre ranch boasts a lodge, a private airport, a pub, an 11,000 square-foot bird dog kennel with room to house 40 dogs, a chapel, golf fairways and greens, and nearly 20 man-made lakes. The oil tycoon moved his childhood home from Oklahoma to the ranch in 2008.
8) Four Fairfield Pond, Sagaponack, New York
Estimated Value: $248 million
Ira Renner's giant limestone Italian Renaissance-style home sits on 63 acres of beachfront property in the Hamptons. The 62,000 square foot mansion has 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, and an expansive 91-foot dining room. The property is also home to all kinds of luxury leisure spaces, such as a basketball court, a bowling alley, squash courts, tennis courts, three swimming pools, and a garage that can hold up to 100 cars.
9) 220 Central Park South Penthouse, New York
Estimated Value: $238 million
Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin made history when he purchased the 24,000 square-foot penthouse in this Robert A. M. Stern-designed skyscraper overlooking New York's Central Park for $238 million, making it the most expensive home sold in the U.S. The 79-story tower is distinctive due to its color: the building is sheathed Alabama Silver Shadow limestone. It's also known for its luxurious amenities, which include a spa, an athletic club, private dining and entertaining facilities, and a private motor court.
10) 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens, London
Estimated Value: $222 million
Owned by Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, the 55,000 square-foot 19th century mansion was originally built as two semi-detached homes. After housing the Egyptian and Russian embassies for many years, the buildings were purchased by developer David Khalili, who merged the two into one downright palatial residence.
11) Spelling Manor, Holmby Hills, California
Estimated Value: $160 million
Once the home of the late television producer Aaron Spelling, this 56,000 square-foot home boasts 14 bedrooms, 27 bathrooms, and was once the largest home in Los Angeles County. The over-the-top style starts right at the front door with a 40 foot-high foyer designed after the O’Hara Plantation, Tara, from Gone with the Wind. The estate counts a gym, a wine cellar and tasting room, a beauty salon with three stations, and massage and tanning rooms among its amenities.
12) 924 Bel Air Road, Bel Air, California
Estimated Value: $150 million
Developer Bruce Makowsky has thought of everything a billionaire might want at home at this 38,000 square-foot Bel Air mansion. In addition to the more traditional trappings of two master bedrooms, 10 guest suites, 21 bathrooms, three kitchens, five bars, and even a massage room/wellness spa, the estate boasts more outrageous amenities like: a helipad, an infinity pool, a candy wall, two wine cellars, a four-lane bowling alley, and a pop-up outdoor theater. Had it sold for its original listing price of $250 million, it would have been the most expensive home to sell in the United States.
13) Palazzo di Amore, Beverly Hills, California
Estimated value: $129 million
Owned by billionaire developer Jeffrey Greene, this Mediterranean-style estate has a whole lot to love about it, starting with spectacular views of Los Angeles and the surrounding canyons. Other sublime features: a vineyard set on the hillside, manicured gardens and a waterfall, a Turkish spa, a DJ booth with revolving dance floor and laser-light system, a 50-seat movie theater, and parking for 150 cars.
7) Washington
Median Household Income: $78,687
With major companies like Amazon calling the Evergreen State home, incomes have risen, and so has the cost of living. Washington is home to one of the most expensive houses in the world, and Zillow estimates the median home value there to be $582,732, up 36 percent from 2018.
15) The Playboy Mansion, Holmby Hills, California
Estimated value: $100 million
This 1927 Tudor Revival estate, once the residence of the late Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, features six bedrooms, six full baths, a tennis court and swimming pool, a four-bedroom guest house, and, of course, the legendary grotto. When the mansion was listed for $200 million in 2016, it was the most expensive house on the market in the U.S. at that time. It was originally designed by Arthur R. Kelly for Arthur J. Letts, Jr., son of Broadway department store founder Arthur Letts.
Scenic Splashes
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands, myrtle topiaries border bushes of Honey Dijon and Tuscan roses and lead the path to an antique fountain, creating a picturesque setting in Oprah Winfrey’s dreamy rose garden.
Check out her palatial digs plus 15 more mega-mansions for a fantasy-filled look at the lavish life.