Take a Peek at 25 of the Most Expensive Houses in the World (2024)

Take a Peek at 25 of the Most Expensive Houses in the World (1)

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-sized basketball courts and multiple swimming pools, are considered standard these days? Discover the answers to these questions and so much more—including a look at some of the properties Amazon founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos picked up during his real estate spree over the last few years—with this look at 25 palatial homes, from a skyscraper in India to hilltop mansions in California.

Although rising interest rates may cool housing prices later this year, the luxury housing market remains hot for now. And as residential real estate prices continue to climb, design details such as walk-in showers that open to the outdoors or back kitchens (also known as butlers' pantries) that hide the mess are becoming more and more commonplace in the luxury sector. Furthermore, so much time spent at home over the last two years has truly changed how we want to live in our homes, with the pandemic accelerating the move away from open floor plans and allowing architects, interior designers, and landscape architects to dream big when it comes to determining what the future of the American house will look like.

You may find inspiration for your garden or pool from "The One," the Bel Air manse that features five swimming pools and is one of the most expensive homes in the United States, or Oprah's rose garden in Montecito, California. After all, there is perhaps no better version of escapist fun than indulging your Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous fantasy. Happy dreaming!

1

Michael Jordan’s Illinois Estate

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Estimated value: $15 million

The basketball star’s Highland Park, Illinois, home, which has been on the market since 2012, recently saw its listing price drop to $14.9 million—roughly half of its original $29 million asking price. The Last Dance, the 2020 docuseries coproduced by ESPN and Netflix about Jordan and his career with the Chicago Bulls, may drum up new interest in the estate, which features more than 50,000 square feet of living space, a regulation-sized basketball gym, a 14-car garage, and seven acres of land.

2

The Former Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.

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Estimated value: $23 million

In October 2016, Jeff Bezos bought the former Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., for $23 million in cash, which was $1 million over asking price, according to the Washington Post. Bezos's property in the Kalorama neighborhood spans two homes, for a combined total of 27,000 square feet. This property housed the Textile Museum for nearly 90 years until it moved to George Washington University in 2013. The two mansions, both of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, were previously sold together in 2015 for $19 million.

3

The Penthouse at the Getty Residences in New York City

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Estimated value: $59 million

Once the site of a Getty Oil gas station, this corner in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood is now home to a luxury condominium building designed by architect Peter Marino. The penthouse, which includes about 10,000 square feet across the top three floors of the building, was purchased by billionaire investor Robert F. Smith for $59 million in 2018.

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4

The Hidden Hills, California, Home of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Estimated value: $60 million

This estate, once the home of Lisa Marie Presley, was reportedly purchased by Kardashian and West for $20 million in 2014. The couple then worked with Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt to transform the massive home into a "futuristic Belgian monastery," as West described it to Architectural Digest. The nearly all-white estate reflected the pair's minimal style and housed their art collection, which included pieces by Isabel Rower.

5

Oprah Winfrey's Promised Land in Montecito, California

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Estimated value: $88 million

Known for her privacy, Oprah doesn't divulge many details about her sanctuary on the California coast, but she has shared with VERANDA the extensive rose garden she designed with master rosarian Dan Bifano. Oprah also worked with legendary designer Rose Tarlow to redecorate the 23,000-square-foot Georgian mansion.

6

The Bel Air Home of Jay-Z and Beyoncé

Estimated value: $88 million

With about 30,000 square feet of living space and an extra 10,000 square feet of outdoor living space (complete with four outdoor swimming pools and a full basketball court), the Bel Air residence of Beyoncé and Jay-Z is as fully loaded as they come. When the couple purchased the home for $88 million in 2017, it set a record for the most expensive home sale in Bel Air.

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7

The Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles's Holmby Hills Neighborhood

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Estimated value: $100 million

This 1927 Gothic 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 guesthouse, 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 The Broadway department store founder Arthur Letts.

8

Palazzo di Amore in Beverly Hills

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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 include a hillside vineyard, manicured gardens and a waterfall, a Turkish spa, a DJ booth with a revolving dance floor and laser-light system, a 50-seat movie theater, and parking for 150 cars.

9

Bill Gates's Xanadu 2.0 in Medina, Washington

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Estimated value: $131 million

It took Gates seven years—and $63 million—to build his 66,000-square-foot waterfront estate in the Seattle suburb of Medina. Not surprisingly, the home is packed with high-tech amenities, including a sensor system that regulates temperature and lighting, an underwater music system in the pool, and computer-screen-displayed artwork that can be changed with the click of a button. The mansion reportedly also boasts six kitchens and 24 bathrooms.

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10

924 Bel Air Road in Bel Air

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Estimated value: $150 million

Developer Bruce Makowsky thought of everything a billionaire might want at home with this 38,000-square-foot Bel Air mansion. In addition to the more traditional trappings of two primary bedrooms, 10 guest suites, 21 bathrooms, three kitchens, five bars, and even a massage room and wellness spa, the estate boasts more outrageous amenities like a helipad, infinity pool, candy wall, two wine cellars, four-lane bowling alley, and 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 U.S.

11

Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach

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Estimated value: $160 million

It's not easy to place a value on Trump's resort-turned-residence in Palm Beach, but Forbes estimated its worth at $160 million in 2018. Trump purchased the estate, which was built by Marjorie Merriweather Post in the 1920s, for about $10 million in 1985. When Post died in 1973, she left the residence to the federal government to be used as a presidential and diplomatic retreat. Upkeep for the house proved expensive, however, and the government returned the property to the Marjorie Merriweather Post Foundation in 1981; it sold Mar-a-Lago to Trump just four years later. Trump used it as a private residence until 1995 when he converted it into a private club. He has once again taken up residence there following his departure from the White House.

12

Spelling Manor in Holmby Hills

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Estimated value: $165 million

Once the home of the late television producer Aaron Spelling, this 56,000-square-foot home boasts 14 bedrooms and 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.

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13

The Jack Warner Estate in Beverly Hills

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Estimated value: $175 million

In 2020, Jeff Bezos purchased the Jack Warner Estate in Beverly Hills for $165 million from David Geffen, who bought the home in 1990 for a then-record purchase price of $47.5 million. The Georgian-style mansion was built in 1936 by Jack Warner, the head of Warner Brothers Studios, who lived there until his death in 1978. The purchase adds to the growing real estate portfolio of Bezos, who is considered to be the 24th largest landowner in the country.

14

18–19 Kensington Palace Gardens in London

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Estimated value: $222 million

Owned by Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, the 55,000-square-foot, 19th-century mansion was originally built as two semidetached 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.

15

220 Central Park South Penthouse in New York City

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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 Architects–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 because of its color: The building is sheathed in Alabama Silver Shadow limestone. It's also known for an array of luxurious amenities, which include a spa, an athletic club, private dining and entertaining facilities, and a private motor court.

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16

Four Fairfield Pond in Sagaponack, New York

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Estimated value: $248 million

Ira Rennert'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.

17

Mesa Vista Ranch in the Eastern Texas Panhandle

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Estimated value: $250 million

The late T. Boone Pickens's 65,000-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 manmade lakes. The oil tycoon moved his childhood home from Oklahoma to the ranch in 2008.

18

The Odeon Tower Penthouse in Monaco

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Estimated value: $335 million

The 35,000-square-foot apartment at the top of the Tour Odéon, developed by Groupe Marzocco and designed by architect Alexandre Giraldi, spans several floors and comes with its own elevator. The private luxury doesn't stop there: A waterslide from an upper floor into an infinity pool with 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape makes this penthouse pretty spectacular.

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19

Villa Les Cèdres in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France

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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 on the market in the world when it went up for sale in 2017 for $410 million by Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A of the Campari Group. 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.

20

Le Palais Bulles in Théoule-sur-Mer, France

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Estimated value: $420 million

Designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag and built between 1975 and 1989, the Bubble Palace features a series of round rooms that spills down a rocky cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. While Lovag was reportedly inspired by man's earliest dwellings in caves, the seaside estate is not short on modern comforts, featuring three swimming pools, several gardens, and a 500-seat amphitheater on the hillside grounds. The Bubble Palace was last owned by the late French fashion designer Pierre Cardin as a holiday home and has been the setting for many a swanky event: In 2015, Dior showed its cruise collection at an indoor/outdoor fashion show at the sprawling estate.

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Steele Marcoux

Editor in Chief, VERANDA

Steele Marcoux is the Editor in Chief at VERANDA, covering design trends, architecture, and travel for the brand.

Take a Peek at 25 of the Most Expensive Houses in the World (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 most expensive house? ›

1. Buckingham Palace. Coming in hot for #1, Buckingham Palace is the most expensive house in the world today. Occupied by the royal family, there are a total of 775 rooms including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.

Which person has the most expensive house in the world? ›

Antilia, owned by India's wealthiest individual Mukesh Ambani, stands as the world's priciest private residence (around 2 billion dollars), emulating a blend of opulence and seismic resilience with 27 floors and a luxurious array of amenities.

Who owns the most expensive home in the US? ›

The property is currently owned by John F. Donahue, a philanthropist who has lived there since the 80s.

Where is the most expensive housing in the world? ›

Monaco remains the most expensive residential real estate market worldwide, with the average price per square meter at $48,150. Hong Kong has some of the most expensive real estate markets in the world, an average residential property in Hong Kong costs about $1.2 million.

Who owns the biggest house in America? ›

A Marvel of Elegance and Charm. Experience America's Largest Home®, as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago. Your self-guided house visit spans three floors and the basem*nt of the luxurious family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt.

Who owns the biggest house in the world? ›

The home belongs to the Sultan of Brunei, and its name translates as "Palace of the Light of Faith." It apparently has 1,788 bedrooms, five swimming pools, and an air-conditioned stable that can hold as many as 200 horses.

Which celebrity owns the biggest mansion? ›

Bill Gates. It took seven years and $63 million to build Bill Gates' 66,000-square-foot Medina, Washington, estate, named Xanadu 2.0. Now, it's estimated to be worth more than $130 million.

Which celebrity has the nicest house? ›

Bill Gates' mega-mansion "Xanadu 2.0," which took seven years to build, tops the list at a staggering $125 million. This house was built with no expense spared; it features imported golden sand from a Caribbean island, famous artwork, a salmon-filled man-made stream, and a trampoline room.

What is the cheapest house in the world? ›

The home was previously sold for $4,092 in 2022 as per the New York Post. World's cheapest home in Michigan. With the expenses involved in purchasing a house hitting the roof, a ramshackle house was recently set down for only $1 in the United States, making it "Worlds Cheapest Home" in the heart of Pontiac, Michigan.

Who bought the $295 million dollar house? ›

It was recently revealed the buyer is fast fashion brand Fashion Nova CEO Richard Saghian, who paid $126 million for the property plus an auction premium of $15 million. As the highest bidder, he got quite the deal, considering the home was listed at auction for $295 million, though without reserve.

What is the most expensive thing in the world? ›

International Space Station. Guinness World Records says that the most expensive thing ever created was the International Space Station, which reportedly cost USD 150 billion to design and build.

What is the most expensive city in the United States to own a home? ›

#1: San Jose, California

San Jose is all around one of the most expensive U.S. cities for buying and owning a home. It had the highest price increase at just under 10% as well as the highest median sales price of $1.85 million. San Jose homeowners also pay an average of $8,858 in property taxes each year.

What is the most unaffordable city in the world? ›

For the 2023 report, it uses 2022 Q3 prices and income levels for evaluation, dividing the median house price by the gross median household income to find the median multiple for housing. For well over a decade now, Hong Kong has taken the top spot as the least affordable market globally.

What city has the most luxury houses? ›

Most expensive housing markets in the U.S.
  1. Manhattan, New York. Borough population: 1,596,273.
  2. Honolulu, Hawaii. City population: 343,437. ...
  3. San Jose, California. City population: 1,938,524. ...
  4. San Francisco, California. City population: 808,437. ...
  5. Orange County, California. ...
  6. Brooklyn, New York. ...
  7. Los Angeles, California. ...
  8. Washington, D.C. ...

Which country has the most luxurious homes? ›

Known for its luxury and exclusivity, Monaco holds the top rank of the most expensive housing market in the world.

What's the most expensive house in the USA? ›

The current U.S. home sale record was set in 2019, when Citadel's Ken Griffin bought a penthouse on Billionaires' Row in Manhattan for about $240 million. A Los Angeles estate known as Casa Encantada was listed last year for $250 million; it is currently priced at $195 million.

What's the cheapest house in the world? ›

A two-bedroom house in Michigan, United States, has recently been put on sale for $1, as per a report in the New York Post. The house, which is called the "world's cheapest home" as per its listing, is located about 30 miles outside of Detroit and has two-bedrooms and one bathroom.

Who owns the one house? ›

Earlier this year, Richard Saghian, owner of the fast-fashion business Fashion Nova, bought the Los Angeles mansion known as “The One” for $141 million. The One was one of the biggest U.S. homes to ever go up for auction.

What's the most expensive house ever sold? ›

Though the home is among the most expensive listings in the country, it won't break a sale record at its current price. The most expensive home sale in the U.S. was set in 2019, when Ken Griffin, founder of hedge fund Citadel, spent some $240 million on a penthouse on New York's Billionaires' Row.

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