By Codelia Mantsebo
Indoor swimming pools, cavernous wine cellars, breathtaking views of mountains and lakes; estate owners create their dream homes from the ground up.
Set in sprawling estates in some of the world’s most desirable locations, these historic estates boast the likes of nightclubs, casinos and even theaters.
Owners of these homes make their mark by adding a few personal touches, like their own helipad – with a price that matches their extravagant taste.
Take a look at some of the world’s most expensive homes.
Antillia – Mumbai, India
Price tag: $1billion
Priced at $1billion, Antillia is the world’s first billion dollar home. The 400,000-square-foot mega-mansion features 27 floors and takes it’s name from the mythical island, Antillia. Built by India’s businessman, Mukesh Ambani, it has several floating gardens, three helipads and six floors dedicated to parking.
Location: Mumbai, India
Villa Leopolda – Cote D’Azure, France
Price tag: $506m
Situated in Villefranche-sur-Mer town on the French Riviera, The Ville Leopolda is a 27-storey residence with 19 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, pools and whirlpools, gym and a movie theater. Currently owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, the villa was built by the King Leopold of Belgium in 1902 and has been used in movies like The Red Shoes in 1948 and To Catch a Thief in 1955.
Location: Villefranche-sur-Mer, French Riviera
Four Fairfield Pond – The Hamptons, New York
Price tag: $248m
Named by billionaire owner Ira Rennert, Four Fairfield Pond has a 91ft long dining room, basketball court, two tennis courts, a bowling alley, 29 bedrooms and 39 bathrooms. The 63-acre mansion faces the Atlantic Ocean and the buildings total over 110,000 square feet.
Location: Sagaponack, New York
One Hyde Park Penthouse – Knightsbridge, Central London
Price tag: $170m
This 16,000-square-foot duplex penthouse — boasts bullet proof windows, an air purifer in the event of gas attacks, SAS-trained bodyguards and a panic room.
Set over two-floors, the apartment also has an underground passage to The Mandarin Oriental Hote in addition to 24-hour room service.
Location: London, England
17 Upper Phillimore Gardens – Kensington, South-west London
Price tag: $128m
Formerly a girls’ preparatory school, this five-storey detached Victorian house has ten bedrooms, an underground swimming pool, sauna, gym, cinema and panic room. With interior covered in marble, gold, and priceless artworks, this mansion was bought by Ukrainian businesswoman Olena Pinchuk in 2008.
Location: London, United Kingdom