Sometimes we think New York City real estate prices are sky-high, having seen apartments sell for $100 million, however, some of the most expensive homes for sale in the world are outside of Manhattan.
From a fashion designer's sprawling Côte d'Azur estate to a handbag titan's ultra-modern (and lavish) Bel-Air mansion, the one thing these properties have in common is a price tag that can shock even the most jaded of us all. For some properties at this price level, little details are known as owners want to maintain the utmost privacy, only sharing details and photos with serious buyers.
Hold on to your seat as these properties are simply jaw-dropping.
1. La Villa Les Cèdres- $1.06B
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Last August, Les Cèdres, in the glitzy French Riviera town of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, hit the market asking an astronomical 1 Billion Euros. The asking price makes this storied villa the most expensive home in the world. The 10 bedroom home that comes with 30 horse stables and a 35-acre private botanical garden was once the home of King Leopold II. The home was later acquired by the Marnier-Lapostolle family of the Grand Marnier dynasty, but was turned over to Campari last March when the company acquired Grand Marnier. The gardens are considered to be one of the most valuable aspects, aside from its location, of the home, being deemed a national heritage site by the French government.
2. Le Palais Bulles- $455M
Théoule-Sur-Mer
According to the listing at Christie's, the price of this French Riviera home is "upon request", however, multiple sourced have reported the asking price to be $455M. The home, owned by French fashion designer Pierre Cardin, is comprised of 12,916 square feet of interior space with 10 bedrooms. The design is composed of a series of pink terra cotta orbs joined together, with each orb being a different room of the house. This design element is what gives the home its futuristic feel. You might recognize the home as it was the location of the Dior 2016 Resort Collection fashion show.
3. 18 Carlton House Terrace- $380M
London
Little is known about this London property that hit the market with a huge price tag to go along with it. The 19th century mansion is comprised of approximately 50,000 square feet and is situated in a prime London location, moments away from Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square. The property is believe to be owned by a member of a Middle East royal family. It has been reported that an exclusive brochure was created that was only circulated to the super wealthy, however, it contained old photographs as the owner did not want to reveal his possessions for privacy reasons.
4. La Tour Odeon Penthouse- $335M
Monaco
This Monaco penthouse takes the prize for "most expensive apartment" given its staggering asking price of $335M. La Tour Odeon is Monaco's tallest building, and the 5-floor penthouse occupies floors 45-49 of the building. The apartment is comprised of 31,500 square feet with a roofdeck that includes its own private pool complete with a waterslide. The fact that the home is in a brand new, amenity-rich (private Mercedes shuttle service) makes it rare in Monaco. Wealthy individuals flock to the principality because of its non-existent tax policy. Imagine watching the Grand Prix from this vantage point!
5. 924 Bel Air Road- $250M
Bel Air, California
When handbag titan Bruce Makowsky's recently completed Bel Air mansion hit the market in January, it received the name of "most expensive home for sale in the U.S.". This over-the-top mansion is comprised of 38,000 square feet with 12 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms. The ultra-wealthy buyer of this home will also receive a laundry list of luxury items throughout the home. This list includes $30M worth of cars, millions of dollars worth of art, and Roberto Cavalli table settings to name a few. Don't worry, Makowsky is including a staff of 7 for two years in the purchase price to keep the property running.