Admit it: If you were suddenly catapulted into immeasurable wealth, one of your first purchases would be an opulent mansion, complete with several infinity pools and a charming butler. But, until the wealth is yours, you'll be happy sitting through episodes of shows like MTV Cribs, playing host to Aaron Carter's "Love Shack" and Richard Branson's 74-acre private island. And, while these more-than-comfortable amenities are true signifiers of excessive wealth, there is an entire secret society of the low-lying rich, whose chateaus and manors prove large enough to double as entire cities.
Yes, from 100-car garages (!) to dining halls cavernous enough to houses guests by the hundreds, herein are the largest homes in the entire world. And for more architectural envy, check out these 20 Stunning New Uses for Old Firehouses You Have to See.
1 | Biltmore Estate; Asheville, North Carolina
ShutterstockThe sprawling Biltmore Estate in Asheville was built by George Vanderbilt, beginning in 1889. Though the home still belongs to the family, the wealthy clan does still offer tours of their private residence, complete with multiple floors of opulence, a bachelors wing for male mayhem, expansive gardens, and a winery. And for more about the lifestyles of the rich and the famous, Meet the 25 Richest Families in the World.
2 | Witanhurst; London, England
After the Buckingham Palace, the Witanhurst is the biggest private residence in all of London. Previously put on the English Heritage's list of buildings "at risk," the mansion has been owned by many prominent foreign figures, including Somar al-Assad, a cousin of the then-president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad. Now owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, the 65 rooms (including 25 bedrooms), along with the dining room, Chinese room, billiards room, and the gallery hallway are all in good use.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
3 | Villa Leopolda; Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
The Villa Leopolda is a large villa on the French Riviera built from 1929 to 1931 by American architect, Ogden Codman, Jr. as a gift for his mistress. The estate is now owned by Lily Safra, who inherited it after her husband's death. The beautiful home sits just along the coast, complete with lush gardens, greenhouse, outdoor kitchen, pool, and helipad. And for more about your own home, check out these 13 Things Your Home Can Reveal About Your Personality.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
4 | Taohuayuan; Suzhou, China
In 2016, this newly-built home hit the market in China for an incredible $1 billion yuan—or $154 million in U.S. dollars—making it the most expensive home in China to date. The 32-bedroom, 32-bath, home translates to "Peach Blossom Land," as it sits on a private island on the south shore of Dushu Lake.
Image via Beijing Sotheby's International Realty
5 | Fair Field; Sagaponack, New York
Fair Field, located in the Hamptons, was built by billionaire investor Ira Rennert, beginning in 1999. Though, due to the large size of the estate, Rennert didn't move into the home until 2004, due to the outcry of the neighbors, who claimed that the 29-bedroom, 39-bathroom home, complete with a power plant, three swimming pools, a synagogue, two courtyards, an orangery, a 164-seat home theatre, basketball court and bowling alley would be entirely too much for the neighborhood to handle. And if you'd like a mansion of your own, check out The 50 Best Cities for Buying a Bigger House.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
6 | Antilia; Mumbai, India
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, owns his own skyscraper in Mumbai, requiring a staff of nearly 600 people to keep the home running 24 hours a day. This residence, containing 27 stories of grand bedrooms and entertainment, has faced harsh criticism in a nation largely suffering from poverty and hunger.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
7 | Versailles; Windermere, Florida
Inspired by the Palace of Versailles, Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel began constructing this 85,000 square-foot house in 2004. Despite legal trouble that stalled construction for a number of years, after its completion in 2019, it is set to be the largest single-family home in the United States. In part, the residence will feature 11 kitchens, 14 bedrooms, 32 bathrooms, a 30-car garage, a bowling alley, an indoor roller rink, three indoor pools, two outdoor pools, a video arcade, a grand ballroom, a two-story movie theater, a fitness center with a 10,000 square-foot spa, yoga studios, a wine cellar, an exotic-fish aquarium, two tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a formal outdoor garden, and an elevator in the master bedroom closet.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
8 | The One; Bel-Air, California
This $500 million-dollar Bel-Air home, when it's set to go on sale sometime this year, will be the most expensive home in America. Prospective homeowners can look forward to enjoying the four infinity pools, jellyfish rooms, nightclub, bowling alley, movie theater, and glass-encased library, among many other decadent features.
Image via 924belair
9 | Beverly House; Beverly Hills, California
Built by former newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, the Beverly House sits on 3.7 acres and boasts an incredible 19 bedrooms, 29 bathrooms, the longest private drive in Beverly Hills, and an opulent garden and elaborate fountain. When the property was available to rent in 2013, owners were asking for a mere $600,000 per month—making it the highest-priced residential rental in Los Angeles.
Image via Realty Today
10 | Fleur de Lys Mansion; Los Angeles, California
Texans David I. and Suzanne Saperstein built this estate in 2002, modeled after a French palace that includes "12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, two motor courts, a pool/spa complex, a tennis court, formal gardens, a ballroom for 500, a two-story library, a tennis court, a music room, a commercial kitchen, a cutlery room, a staff dining room, staff offices, security center, and a 3,000-square-foot wine cellar and tasting room." Despite its luxury, the palace became notoriously difficult to sell, though when it eventually did in 2014, it went for a record $102 million dollars.
Image via Trulia
11 | Fifteen Central Park West; New York, New York
Considered the most expensive real estate in all of Manhattan, Fifteen Central Park West also hosts some of the most spacious apartments and suites as well. The building, which includes luxurious amenities like a wine cellar and architecture steeped in history (and dollar bills), is manned by an impressive staff, the senior of which makes an estimated salary of $600,000 per year.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
12 | Oheka Castle; Huntington, New York
ShutterstockThis expansive Long Island estate was built by Otto Kahn between 1914 and 1919, and is considered to be the second largest home in the United States, comprising 127 rooms at over 109,000 square feet. Today, the mansion is a 32-room hotel and popular wedding venue.
13 | Mar-a-Lago; Palm Beach, Florida
This Florida palace and historic landmark was built in 1924 by cereal-company heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, though now owned by the Trump family and nicknamed the "Winter White House." Aside from being a winter home, the estate also features a highly exclusive eponymous club, the Mar-a-Lago Club, which operates as a resort and hotel—for members willing to pay the exorbitant initiation fee.
14 | The Pritzker Estate; Los Angeles, California
The enormous Pritsker Estate is the third largest private home in all of Los Angeles, built between 2005 and 2011 by billionaire and Hyatt Hotel heir Anthony Pritzker. The home features a game room, bowling alley, entertainment foyer with a bar, library, fitness room, gymnasium with an attached locker room, spa, beauty salon, and a restaurant-sized kitchen. Just outside, you'll spot the employee's housing, a courtyard, a 60-car garage, and a tennis court.
15 | Istana Nurul Iman; Brunei
Serving as the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, this magical kingdom is also used for all the state functions of the government of Brunei. Largely considered the biggest home in the entire world, Istana Nurul Iman contains 2,152,782 square feet of floor space, along with 1,788 rooms, a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a mosque accommodating 1,500 people, a 110-car garage, an air-conditioned stable for 200 polo ponies, and five swimming pools. No big deal.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
16 | Nottoway Plantation; White Castle, Louisiana
The Nottoway Plantation is the largest plantation still standing in America, located in the heart of the South. Built by John Hampden Randolph in 1859, the plantation produced sugarcane before the Civil War forced the family to reevaluate their living situation, which resulted in the family selling it in 1889. Now, Paul Ramsay owns the plantation, and it now also serves as an inn and popular tourist attraction.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
17 | Carolands Chateau; Hillsborough, California
Dreamt up by Harriett Pullman Carolan, daughter of industrialist George Pullman, the 19th-century American industrialist, this 98-room chateau has seen plenty of dramatic twists and turns since its inception—including murder and natural disasters. Decades later, the property belongs to the Carolands Foundation, which only conducts small group tours once a week.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
18 | Toprak Mansion; London, England
The Toprak Mansion sits on The Bishops Avenue in London, also known as the Billionaires' Row, as all of the homes in the neighborhood are owned by international billionaires. Since its purchase in 2008, owner Hourieh Peramaa, previously a penniless refugee, has given the mansion a makeover that includes the addition of a beauty salon, spa, helipad, cinema and squash court.
19 | Maison de L'Amitie; Palm Beach, Florida
Though this mansion is now on a track to be demolished, this once-opulent estate used to be the stomping grounds of none other than Palm Beach favorite, President Trump. Unfortunately, after multiple billionaires tried and failed to renovate the century-old Maison de L'Amitie, the gigantic property is now being sectioned into quarters and sold to the highest bidder(s).
Image via Wikimedia Commons
20 | The Manor; Los Angeles, California
Also known as the Spelling Manor, this enormous estate (and the largest home in Los Angeles County) was constructed in 1988 for television producer Aaron Spelling. Now, the home is owned by Petra Stunt, daughter of racing magnate Bernie Ecclestone. Included in the expansive state are a screening room, gym, bowling alley, four two-car garages, tennis court, and pool, 16 carports, and, just in case the occasion arises—three rooms for wrapping presents. And for more ways to your dream estate, check out The 50 Best Cities in the U.S. for Flipping a House.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
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