The ultra luxury segment property rates have remained untouched by recession or any other fluctuations in the market. A lot of it has to do with the fact that demand and supply in this segment is never affected by the ups and down in the economy.
If the economy is down, the builders can afford to sit tight till it recovers and the buyers are simply not affected by the lows of an economy. On that thought, we bring you some of the most expensive homes around the world for you to ogle at. Have fun!
Antilia, Mumbai, India
Valued between $ 1 and 2 billion, this 27 storey skyscraper residence is spread over 40,000 square feet. Mukesh Ambani, Indian billionaire is the owner of this envious project that took nearly 7 years to complete. Antilia has over 6 underground levels of parking, three helipads, hanging gardens, an in house spa, multiple swimming pools, a movie theatre and a ballroom in addition with the living quarters (palace). Is this sheer arrogance? You decide.
Villa Leopolda, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
Lily Safra, owner of this sprawling estate was once owned by King Leopold II of Belgium. The villa is the second most expensive homes in the world pegged at about 1.2 billion. Spread over 20 acres, he villa appeared in news in 2008 when Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov attempted to buy the villa at 500 million Euros but later pulled out of the deal forfeiting 50 million his money.
Fair Field, Sagaponack, N.Y.
Owned by Ira Rennert, an American investor and businessman, air field is one of the largest residential occupied residential compounds in the world. Spread over 1,10,000 square feet, this home (read mansion) has 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, a basket ball court, 2 bowling alleys, 2 tennis courts, 2 squash courts and $ 1,50,000 hot tub! Based on reports in 2011, the house was valued at $198 million.
Kensington Palace Gardens, London, U.K.
Welcome another Indian aboard, steel magnate, Lakshmi Mittal who owns this magnificent Kensington Palace in London UK. He bought the palace in 2008 at $117 million pounds. The palace is decorated from marble taken from the same quarry as the Taj Mahal. Nicknamed the “Taj Mittal” Kensington Palace has 12 bedrooms, an indoor pool, Turkish baths and parking for 20 cars.
One Hyde Park, London, U.K.
Ukrainian billionaire, Rinat Akhmetov, bought the world’s most expensive apartment in 2011 at $ 221 million. It boasts a staggering 25,000-square feet, bullet proof glass and 24-hour hotel concierge service to Hotel Mandarin next door. It also comes with a secret tunnel from his home to the Hotel. His new neighbor is Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hammad Bin Jasim!
Ellison Estate, Woodside, Calif.
Ellison Estate is named after owner Larry Ellison, who of Oracle fame. He is also known in the business world as the nation’s most avid trophy home buyer and has bought more homes than he can possibly live in! Ellison Estate is built on the lines of the feudal Japanese architecture with a manmade lake spread over 2.3 acres of land with seismic retrofitting to guard against earthquakes.
