The 11 most expensive houses in the world (2024)

For the mega-rich, luxurious living is taken to the extreme.  

From historic castles to glittering modern penthouses, read on for a tour of some of the most expensive houses in the world.

11. Palazzo di Amore, Beverly Hills, US

• Estimated Value: $160 million 
• Owner: Jeff Greene 
• Location: Beverly Hills, California 

This 25-acre Beverly Hills palatial estate encompassing 53,000 square feet of living space entered the market in 2017 with an asking price of $195 million.

Dubbed Palazzo di Amore (the Palace of Love), it was built by real estate tycoon Jeffrey Greene over 12 years at a cost of $150 million.

Italian-style features are 12 bedrooms, 23 bathrooms, a bowling alley, a beauty salon, a ballroom, a wine cellar stocked with 10,000 bottles, swimming pools, tennis courts, and a 27-car garage. 

10. Ellison Estate, Woodside, US

• Estimated Value: $160 million 
• Owner: Larry Ellison 
• Location: Silicon Valley, California 

Oracle founder Larry Ellison's sprawling 23-acre estate in Woodside, California, contains 10 buildings, a tea house, bathhouse, pond, waterfall, swimming pool, tennis court, fitness centre, and two guest homes.

Built in 2004 for over $200 million, it's modelled after 16th-century Japanese architecture with extensive use of wood, bamboo, and stone.

Ellison spent nearly a decade accumulating land parcels to create the estate, achieving privacy and seclusion in the heart of Silicon Valley. 

9. Beyoncé & Jay Z's Malibu mansion, Malibu, US

• Estimated Value: $165 million 
• Owner: Beyoncé Knowles & Jay Z 
• Location: Malibu, California 

Music power couple Beyoncé and Jay Z purchased this sleek modern Malibu mansion in 2021 for $115 million from previous owner Richard Weintraub.

The sale followed a seven-year hunt for the perfect California home base.

Spanning 17,000 square feet, their glass-walled Cliffside estate overlooking the Pacific has four pools, a gym, wellness spa, basketball and sports courts, 10 bedrooms, and a garage for 15 cars.

It was originally listed at $165 million in 2017 by developer Bruce Makowsky. 

8. 18-19 Kensington Gardens, London, UK 

• Estimated Value: $222 million 
• Owner: Lakshmi Mittal 
• Location: Kensington, London 

Set beside Kensington Palace in one of London's most prestigious areas; this sprawling mansion was sold in 2020 by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for $222 million to billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman of the ArcelorMittal steel empire.

The 40,000 square foot home has 12 bedrooms, an indoor pool, spa, staff quarters, and parking for 11 cars.

Abramovich spent $25 million renovating the home but never lived there, instead using it as an investment. The sale broke the record for the highest London sale. 

7. Four Fairfield Pond, Sagaponack, US

• Estimated Value: $248 million 
• Owner: Ira Rennert 
• Location: Hamptons, New York 

America's biggest home sale occurred in 2021 when this Hamptons mega-mansion, Four Fairfield Pond, traded hands for $248 million.

Sitting on 63 acres in Sagaponack, the main residence spans 21,000 square feet with two guest houses, stables, a sunken tennis court, a swimming pool, and a bowling alley.

Developer Michael Davis made a huge profit after buying the oceanfront land for $103 million just five years prior.

6. The Odeon Tower Penthouse, Monaco 

• Estimated Value: $335 million 
• Owner: Undisclosed 
• Location: Monaco 

Perched at the top of Monaco's Odeon Tower, this five-storey 35,500 square-foot penthouse with sweeping 360-degree views was sold in 2018 for a record $335 million - the priciest apartment sale in the world.

The ultra-luxury pad has a private heated infinity pool, cinema, and elevator that requires fingerprint scanning to reach the residential floors.

Monaco's most prestigious address, the Odeon Tower's Penthouse, includes residents like billionaire John Paulson. 

5. Les Palais Bulles, Théoule-sur-Mer, France 

• Estimated Value: $390 million 
• Owner: Pierre Cardin 
• Location: French Riviera 

This architectural landmark near Cannes was designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag for fashion designer Pierre Cardin.

Built from 1975-1989, the bizarre bubble-shaped abode covers 10.4 acres and has 10 bedroom suites, three swimming pools, guest houses, a 500-seat amphitheatre, and panoramic Mediterranean views.

The futuristic mansion's curved design follows the natural contours of the landscape with interiors adorned by Cardin's eclectic collection of furniture and artworks.

4. Villa Les Cèdres, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France 

• Estimated Value: $413 million 
• Owner: Rinat Akhmetov 
• Location: French Riviera 

This grand 18-acre estate was constructed in 1830 and bought by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1904.

Nestled atop Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera, Villa Les Cèdres was acquired in 2019 for $413 million - the highest price ever paid for a home in Europe.

It includes 14 bedrooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, gardens, and up to 18,000 square feet of living space.

The lavish villa was once owned by the founder of Grand Marnier liqueur and by the Marnier-Lapostolle family. 

3. Villa Leopolda, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France 

• Estimated Value: $765 million 
• Owner: Lily Safra’s descendants 
• Location: French Riviera 

Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on the French Riviera, the sprawling 20-acre Villa Leopolda estate was originally built in 1902 for King Leopold II of Belgium.

Previously owned by Lily Safra, who passed away in 2022 and was the widow of banker Edmond Safra, the villa reached a record $506 million in 2008 before the financial crisis killed the deal.

It finally sold for $308 million in 2019. The historic seaside property features 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, expansive manicured gardens, a commercial greenhouse, a helipad, and guest cottages. 

2. Antilia, Mumbai, India 

• Estimated Value: $2 billion 
• Owner: Mukesh Ambani 
• Location: Mumbai, India 

Valued at an astronomical $2 billion, the 27-storey Antilia in Mumbai is considered the world's most expensive private residence.

Custom-built by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, the 400,000 square-foot skyscraper stands 570 feet tall with panoramic views over Mumbai.

Extravagant features include three helipads, a 168-car garage, a 50-seat movie theatre, an ice room, a dance studio, and a temple.

The modern architectural marvel was designed to resemble a vertical glass garden with hanging terraced gardens on multiple levels. 

1. Buckingham Palace, London, UK 

• Estimated value: $5 billion 
• Owner: British Royal Family 
• Location: London, UK 

The principal residence of the British monarch, Buckingham Palace has been the Royal Family's London home since 1837.

The massive palace has 775 rooms, including 52 bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.

Spanning over 830,000 square feet, the lavish state rooms host royal receptions, banquets, investitures, and garden parties.

The Throne Room is embellished with red and gold decor and houses the thrones of the monarch and Prince Consort.

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