World’s 10 Most Expensive Homes

Sep 30, 2009

1880

I was in a curious mood about property the other day since I will probably look for a property for sale one day. I decided to find out where the 10 most expensive homes in the world are. Being part of the South African working class, there’s high doubt in my mind about owning one of these properties one day. Properties like these are very sought after by heads of multi-national corporations or even countries and people like you and me will probably never live in such luxury. This list was compiled 2 years ago, so these facts might be a bit old.

10. R481 million ($65 million) – Cap Ferrat, Cote d’Azur, France. There are 19 bedrooms, 21 bathrooms and ten receptions in the main house and three guest villas. Views from the property include the ocean and Monaco. I honestly don’t know what I’ll do with 19 bedrooms. I only need one. Sadly no photo is available for this property, but I’m sure that this is probably something worthy of viewing.

9. R518 million ($70 million) – The Pierre Penthouse, New York, USA. The penthouse takes up the top 3 floors of a New York hotel and has views of Manhattan, Central Park, the East River and the Hudson River. A place of Champagne bubbles and swing bands, the Pierre Roof, as it became known, was the exclusive province of high society in Depression-era New York. Though its interior was off-limits to most of the city, however, its ornate exterior became a signature feature of the Fifth Avenue skyline. Isn’t 1 floor enough? I would’nt having a view like that though, but a bit too pricey if you ask me.

8. R555 million ($75 million) – The Portabello Estate, Corona del Mar, California, USA. The design of the 8 bedroom house resembles a nautilus shell and was built in 2002. The property features a 2-story grotto with a pool, 2 spas, swim-up bar, tunnel slide, poolside lounge room and barbecue area, jacuzzi, kitchen with heated counter tops, entertainment level with bowling alley, Art Deco Theater, automotive museum, cafe, full exercise facility. Truly luxurious, but honestly, who wants to live in a house shaped like a shell? Humans are not crabs!

7. R555 million ($75 million) – Three Ponds, Bridgehampton, New York, USA. The 60 acre property has 14 gardens, a golf pro shop, a grass tennis court and a 23 metre swimming pool. The grand main house, which totals more than 25,000 square feet has a great room with a 28-foot-high domed ceiling. The tennis court I can understand, but who needs 14 gardens? Unless you’re an avid gardener, you won’t be using all of them. This is just too much if you ask me.

6. R733 million ($99 million) – Bishops Avenue, Hampstead, London, UK. This house has a double staircase and a glass elevator. In addition there is a swimming pool, with a glass bridge and a Turkish bath. Okay, one does not need an elevator in your house (unless you’re disabled). This is just plain ridiculous if you ask me. Truly an acquired taste in my opinion.

5. R740 million ($100 million) – Waterfront Estate, Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the Bosphorus waterway, this property has 64 rooms. It is nearly 61 metres long and details include gilded moldings and crystal chandeliers. This sound like a really big house. Too big for me. I only need 3-4 rooms. Even if I were married with 10 kids I would not be a 64 room person. It’s still a very beautiful property though.

4. R740 million ($100 million) Tranquility, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA. Joel Horowitz, the cofounder of Tommy Hilfiger, built the property from scratch. It has a wine cellar, atrium and 19-seat movie theater. Any home with a movie theater interests me. Too bad I can’t afford this one. Guess I’ll have to start saving up. How much would it cost to set up your own movie theatre at home? Anyone know?

3. R925 million ($125 million) – Maison de L’Amitie, Palm Beach, Florida, USA. This beachfront property is owned by Donald Trump, who bought it at a bankruptcy auction in 2004 for $41,25m. Another lavish luxurious home at the beach that I will never own. It’s almost every South African’s dream to have a beach house. Afrikaans singer, Koos Kombuis has coined the phrase “Almal wil ‘n huisie by die see hê” which is literally translated as “Everyone wants a house by the sea”.

2. R999 million ($135 million) – Hala Ranch, Aspen, Colorado, USA. The most expensive property in the US, this ranch is owned by Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S. The mansion on the sprawling estate has 15 bedrooms and 16 baths. About 10 bedrooms too many if you ask me. Like I said before, I just need 3-4 rooms. At least one must be padded for comfort. Oh yes, and what about a John Malkovich room ? I know the band Incubus has a chill out room that resembles a John Malkovich room. For those of you who don’t know, the phrase was coined from the Being John Malkovich movie.

1. R1,02 billion ($138 million) – Updown Court, Windlesham, Surrey, UK. The house has 103 rooms and 22 bathrooms. It is bigger than Buckingham Palace and has a panic room, a bowling alley, 50-seat cinema, space for eight limousines and a heated marble driveway. Nothing wrong with having a 50 seater cinema and bowling alley in your house, but too many rooms, honestly. If one has a bowling alley in your house chances are that you would probably get bored with it, so what’s the point?

In retrospect, I am of the opinion that one will not find properties like these advertised in classifieds publications in the bargain sections. Instead you’ll probably have to find a very reputable real estate agent who will make a ton of money and retire if they ever sell one of these properties. The pricing on all of the above is ridiculous if you ask me, but it’s still worthy to take notice of.

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Henno Kruger

Blogger, Desktop Activist, Twitter / Facebook Addict, Music Festival Addict, Avid lover of South African music, Founder and owner of Running Wolf’s Rant