The Most Expensive Houses in the World

Who doesn’t want to daydream about some of the most expensive homes in the world? Glittering penthouses, luxurious mansions, and captivating vacation homes are incredibly fun to read about since many of us will never get to visit a place like that in real life. Though we can’t all live the lifestyles of the rich and the famous, we can fantasize about some of these amazing places and the posh features that they boast, to spark our future dreams. Who knows — maybe someday one of these will be yours.

Promised Land in California

Promised Land is the $90 million Georgian mansion of famed media mogul Oprah Winfrey. This 42-acre estate features six bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, 10 fireplaces, a library, a charming tea house in the garden, and a stunning lake filled with fish. Located in luxurious Montecito, Promised Land is reportedly Oprah’s favorite of her many homes. Her affection is due in part to the over 600 beautiful rose bushes that perfume its grounds.

Hala Ranch in Colorado

Mountain lovers, feast your eyes on Hala Ranch, a 95-acre estate located just north of Aspen. The most expensive home in Colorado is worth $135 million. Hala Ranch has 15 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and even its own water-treatment plant. Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan formerly resided at Hala Ranch, but it is currently the home of John Alfred Paulson, an American businessman.

Four Fairfield Pond in New York

Well-off New Englanders flock every year to The Hamptons for rest and relaxation in the lap of luxury. Four Fairfield Pond, a 63-acre oceanfront compound, has an estimated value of around $248.5 million. Billionaire investor Ira Rennert began building the estate in 1999. The luxurious home has 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, a 164-seat home theater, and even its own power plant.

Villa Leopolda in France

Belgian royalty makes a second appearance on this list with the 29,000-square-foot Villa Leopolda on the French Riviera. This estate, however, was named for King Leopold II, the son of Leopold I, after he acquired it in the late 19th century. The current owner of this 750 million dollar mansion is philanthropist Lila Safra, the widow of banker Edmond Safra. In addition to 11 bedrooms, 14 baths, and 20 acres of gardens, Villa Leopolda boasts some interesting history. It served as a military hospital during WWI and has been featured in movies such as The Red Shoes and Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief.

Tour Odéon Penthouse in Monaco

The elegant 49-story Tour Odéon in Monaco is the second-tallest building on the Mediterranean skyline. It also boasts a 35,500-square-foot penthouse that might be the most expensive condo in the world. Estimated to be worth around $400 million, the top floor suite features incredible views of the water and access to a stunning circular rooftop infinity pool. It even has its own water slide.

18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens in England

If you’d like to be the neighbor of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, check out 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens, home of Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. This posh London home, formerly owned by English businessman Bernie Ecclestone, is located on what is known as “Billionaire’s Row”. The 55,000-square foot home is estimated to be worth around $90 million. The estate has 12 bedrooms, a ballroom, a picture gallery, and a Turkish bath.

Xanadu 2.0 in Washington

It’s no surprise that Xanadu 2.0, the home of one of the world’s richest men, would make the list of the most expensive homes in the world. The home of Bill and Melinda Gates, this Washington estate is an innovative “earth-sheltered” home, meaning that it was built into its surroundings to use energy and regulate temperature more efficiently. It also boasts a 60-foot pool and a 2,100-square-foot library complete with an artful domed roof and intriguing secret bookcases that lead to hidden rooms.

Palazzo di Amore in California

California is home to many luxurious mansions, but one of the most expensive of them all is the romantically-named Palazzo di Amore, a Mediterranean-style villa owned by real estate entrepreneur Jeff Greene. This 53,000-square-foot estate in Beverly Hills, California boasts 12 bedrooms and 23 bathrooms, plus a theater, ballroom, and a garage with room for up to 27 cars. It is worth around $129 million, though it was previously listed for sale at $195 million. What a bargain, right?

The Villa Les Cèdres in France

The luxurious Villa Les Cèdres is situated on prime real estate on the French Riviera. Valued at an eye-popping $410 million, this mansion was once the home of an actual king, Leopold I of Belgium, who had the home built in 1830. The 18,000-square-foot home has 14 bedrooms, grand sitting rooms, and a romantic ballroom lit with stunning chandeliers. Horse-lovers will also appreciate the magnificent stables with room to house 30 horses.

Antilia in Mumbai, India

If you’ve ever wanted to know what a billion — yes, that’s billion with a B — dollar house looks like, take a glance at the 400,000-square-foot Antilia in Mumbai’s Cumballa Hills. Mukesh Ambani, often reported to be the richest person in India, owns this 27-floor skyscraper. Antilia is built to withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of eight on the Richter scale. It’s also a gearhead’s dream, with six floors dedicated solely to the storage of Ambani’s rare and luxurious car collection.