While homes provide comfort to most, those of the upper class prefer living in luxurious houses that reflect their class and elegance. Ninety-nine acres explore some of the world’s most expensive properties that will leave anyone green with envy!
Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea FC and Russian business magnate, owns this lavish residence boasting features including a theatre, swimming pool, and entire library.
1. Villa Leopolda
Villa Leopolda is one of the world’s most expensive houses, constructed on land once owned by King Leopold III of Belgium between 1929-1931 in Villefranche-sur-Mer in France’s Cote d’Azur region.
Villa Cap Ferrat boasts breathtaking views of elegant Cap Ferrat (ranked the world’s second highest residential property prices in 2012), and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, from its breathtaking terraced mansion with spiraling outdoor staircases to its palatial interiors showcasing ornate Italian Renaissance designs complete with ornate chandeliers.
Amenities at this estate include a luxurious sitting area, ornate woodwork, an artificial lily-pad pond, and a ballroom that can seat 300 guests. Furthermore, 14 bedrooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and stables for 30 horses complete this magnificent property.
Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are famous for starring in Alfred Hitchcock films like The Red Shoes and To Catch A Thief, respectively. Now owned by Russian nickel magnate Mikhail Prokhorov whose estimated valuation is approximately US$750 Million.
2. Palazzo di Amore
Palazzo di Amore, located minutes from Beverly Hills’s heart, is available at a record-setting price. Built with state-of-the-art amenities for entertaining purposes and stunning city views, this Mediterranean estate features a triple gated entrance, a quarter-mile private drive, vineyards and waterfalls, and a massive motor court with parking for 150 cars – plus 12 bedrooms and 23 bathrooms inside its walls!
Real estate mogul Jeff Greene purchased the property for $35 million in 2007 and spent eight years transforming and expanding it to its current size. Mohamed Hadid of Mega-Mansion Builder was responsible for much of the design, while Greene participated in every decision and invested millions. A Peruvian woodcarver even spent four months hand-carving mantels surrounding seven fireplaces!
Home features include an elegant marble two-story skylit entry leading to graceful twin curving staircases and modern amenities such as an advanced security system and approx. The 15,000-square-foot entertainment complex includes a disco ballroom with a rotating dance floor and DJ booth, 50 seat movie theater, and a bowling alley.
3. Witanhurst Mansion
One hulking pile in London is making waves: A Queen Anne-style house (some reports call it a mansion) situated on five rural acres near London’s affluent Highgate neighborhood creates quite the fuss.
Current ownership remains unknown, yet ambitious renovation plans for this colossal residence have begun. Plans include building an underground shopping mall complex to almost double its size.
Contractors were recently seen excavating a copper mine-sized pit where most of the expansion will occur, raising eyebrows in this sleepy enclave and its neighbors as they welcomed construction disruptions and international attention brought about by this massive expansion project.
4. Villa Les Cedres
Villa Les Cedres, built in 1830 and owned by Campari Group (makers of dark orange bitter), is the world’s most expensive house. Situated on an idyllic French Riviera peninsula where luxury yachts moor and exotic plants bloom, its owner Campari Group produces dark orange bitter as the house stands alone as an icon.
Leopold II, King of Belgium, originally commissioned this aristocratic property using profits from land acquisition in Congo as financing. Leopold used this house to entertain Blanche Delacroix – his twenty-five-year-old lover then – at his 20-free-year birthday celebrations each year.
After Leopold died in 1924, his property passed to the Marnier-Lapostolle family (known for Grand Marnier orange liqueur production), who began cultivating exotic plants throughout its grounds. Additionally, there’s a 14-bedroom mansion, ballroom, stables, and an incredible swimming pool with views stretching to Corsica on clear days – it requires 15 gardeners to maintain! However, its new owner may prefer something smaller with fewer greenhouses and exotic plant species to keep looking its best.
5. The Holme
The Holme is a 205-year-old mansion located on four acres in Highgate, London, designed by architect Thomas Burton. Over time it has been owned by various famous individuals – most notably actress Marlene Dietrich – but is Grade II listed and has undergone various restoration efforts while staying true to its original vision.
This stately property boasts rooms bursting with classic charm and well-kept grounds perfect for relaxing on sunny days. Additionally, there is a two-lane bowling alley, 50-seat theatre, spa services, and wine cellar to add charm.
If it sells for its listed asking price of PS48 million, The Holme could become the world’s most expensive home. Being listed for sale by Beauchamp Estates and Knight Frank, its sale would likely result in occupation by a wealthy foreign investor.
