Owning a home is a significant achievement for many people, as it provides comfort and security while indicating one’s social status. In today’s competitive society, social status is crucial, particularly for the wealthy and affluent. Although many people are content with a reasonably sized home, others have a limitless desire for giant, luxurious mansions that require endless wealth to maintain. However, despite their exorbitant costs, we cannot deny that these homes are breathtakingly beautiful. Their architecture and design are beyond the imagination of most of us. Join ViewCation as we visit the biggest houses in the world.
Pensmore
Situated in the Ozark Mountains near Highlandville, Missouri, Pensmore is one of the largest houses in the United States. Built by millionaire and astrophysicist Steven Huff in 2008, the house spans over 72,215 sq ft and has 13 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and 12-inch thick exterior walls. Huff’s unique vision for Pensmore was to create a home that could withstand natural disasters like earthquakes and tornadoes, as well as man-made threats like bomb blasts and bullets. He also wanted to explore how different climates would affect sustainable construction techniques on a commercial scale. However, the latest news reports suggest that Huff is unhappy with the current structure and plans to tear it down and rebuild it from scratch. Despite this setback, Pensmore remains a fascinating example of innovative and sustainable home design.
Villa Leopolda
Nestled on a sprawling estate on the French Riviera, Villa Leopolda is more than just a luxurious home. It is a testament to a rich history that has stood the test of time. King Leopold II of Belgium first constructed the estate with the intention of giving it to his lover, Blanche Zélia Joséphine Delacroix. However, after his death in 1909, the estate was given to King Albert I, and Delacroix was promptly evicted. In the years that followed, Villa Leopolda changed hands several times before being purchased by Brazilian billionaire Lily Safra. Eventually, the estate was sold again in 2008 to a Russian oligarch, who now owns the property. With 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and sprawling gardens, the estate is valued at more than $500 million, ranking it among the most expensive homes in Europe. American architect Ogden Codman Jr. transformed the 12 structures on the property into the luxurious mansion that we see today, ensuring that Villa Leopolda will continue to stand as a testament to a bygone era.
La Reverie
La Reverie is a sprawling celebrity residence situated in the affluent neighborhood of Palm Beach, Florida. This luxurious mansion was purchased for a modest $4.5 million back in 1995 and has since become the largest celebrity residence in Palm Beach and the seventh largest in the world. The behemoth, which looks like a house rendered in photos, was built by Sydell Miller and featured three stories, ten bedrooms, and a basement. It is a stunning work of architecture that boasts almost 350 feet of oceanfront and enjoys an enviable location in Palm Beach.
The mansion’s lavish amenities include a massive 8,700 square feet of living space, ten opulent bedrooms, a breathtaking basement, and a host of other lavish features. La Reverie’s extravagant features include a fitness center, tennis court, and an oversized pool area perfect for hosting glamorous pool parties. In addition, the mansion has become a hot spot for the elite to reside in and hosts various charity events and concerts.
The Versailles mega-mansion
The Versailles mega mansion, located in Orange County, Florida, is a sprawling estate that belongs to David Siegel, the CEO of Westgate Resorts. The mansion’s most notable feature is its size, measuring an astonishing 90,000 sq. ft, inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France. With an 8,000 sq ft master bedroom and over 30 bathrooms, 14 bedrooms, 11 kitchens, and six swimming pools, the behemoth drew a lot of attention and became a topic of discussion in various media circles. The Versailles mega construction began in 2004 and continued until 2019 and consists of a wine cellar, two tennis courts, and numerous other luxurious amenities.
The mansion’s immense size and lavishness were featured in several documentaries, including the famous “Queen of Versailles.”
Its design is also unique and captivating, with its French-inspired architecture and lush landscapes. The interior decor is just as impressive, with intricate designs and ornate finishes that evoke a sense of grandeur and royalty.
Witanhurst
Witanhurst, a grand estate located in the Highgate neighborhood, is the second-largest residential estate in London, after Buckingham Palace. It was designed by George Hubbard and built between 1913 and 1920, using part of the previous Parkfield estate that stood on the massive property. With an impressive 90,000 square feet, the estate boasts a ton of modern amenities. They include a swimming pool with sauna and gym facilities, a massage parlor, a movie theater, and ample parking space. Once a favored meeting spot for royalty, including Queen Elizabeth, it fell into disrepair until Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev acquired it in 2008 for nearly $64 million. The estate features Queen Anne-style architecture, with a grand ballroom, a glass dome, and 25 bedrooms, making it a truly breathtaking structure. Following the purchase, Guryev immediately began a renovation project to restore the mansion to its former glory, ensuring that it remains one of the most impressive residences in all of London.
The One
The One is a magnificent and colossal modern house located in the prestigious Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Spanning across approximately 105,000 square feet of area, it is known as the largest modern house in America. Designed with the utmost luxury in mind, the mansion boasts 21 bedrooms, a state-of-the-art gym and juice bar, a luxurious hair salon, two turntables, a four-lane bowling alley, and a grand movie theater. In addition, it also has a lavish 10,000-bottle wine cellar and an opulent cigar lounge, perfect for an evening of relaxation and indulgence.
The One has almost every amenity one could dream of, including an IMAX-style theater, a stunning 5,000 square foot master bedroom, an enormous 8,500 square foot nightclub, four sparkling swimming pools, and a spacious garage that can house up to 30 cars.
Despite its breathtaking beauty, the house failed to sell for the staggering $500 million that its developer, Nile Niami, had hoped for. After a decade-long construction process, The One was eventually sold for $141 million, inclusive of all fees and commissions, to a billionaire CEO of Fashion Nova, making it one of the most expensive homes ever sold in the United States.
The Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore Estate, situated in Ashville, North Carolina, is the biggest privately-owned house in the United States and ranks as the third largest house globally. It was built by George Washington Vanderbilt between 1889 to 1895 and is now a popular historical museum and tourist attraction. The mansion has four floors, 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and three kitchens. The ground floor houses all the principal rooms for easy access. The Biltmore Estate is famous for its exquisite park and farm that spans 178,926 square feet, with two dedicated water sources to maintain its greenery. Unlike other private mansions in the world, the Biltmore Estate has been open to the public since 1930 and offers accommodation in its Village Hotel or four-star Inn, gourmet food, and its own wine. The estate’s main house has a chateau-like charm and modern amenities such as a huge indoor swimming pool, a 23,000-book library, and a bowling alley, making it one of the most impressive houses in the world.
Antilla
Antilla is a 27-story building that stands 550 feet tall in the heart of Mumbai. It is the second largest private residence in the world, covering a total surface area of 400,000 square feet, and its construction costs exceeded $1 billion. Mukesh Ambani, a wealthy capitalist and India’s richest man with a net worth of over $30 billion, owns this personal skyscraper. The building has a unique design, with each floor being distinct and constructed with different materials. The entire structure was built with Vastu shastra, a traditional Hindu art of constructing homes, as the central philosophy. Every floor serves a specific purpose, ranging from car garages to indoor pools, spas, gyms, and a helipad on the roof. Antilla is a magnificent and expensive residence that boasts an ice cream parlor, a mega-temple, and a 50-person movie theater, among other amenities. Perkins and Will, a Chicago-based architectural firm, designed the structure to endure extreme earthquakes by making each floor the same height as a two-story building.
The Istana Nurul Iman Palace
The Istana Nurul Iman Palace in Brunei is an architectural marvel that boasts of being the largest residential palace in the world. Its size is simply mind-boggling, spanning over 2.15 million square feet. The palace is truly a sight to behold, with its grand and ornate architecture that exudes opulence and grandeur.
One of the most remarkable features of the palace is its sheer number of rooms—a staggering 1,788 in total, which is more than any other palace in the world. The palace also has 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 guests and an impressive mosque that can accommodate up to 1,500 worshippers at a time. The palace also has a 110-car garage, a stable for 200 horses, and a helipad, making it a truly self-sufficient and self-contained residence.
The Sultan of Brunei and his family have their official residence at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace, which stands as a representation of the luxurious lifestyle and prosperity of the Bruneian royal family. It is not open to the public, but visitors can admire the palace’s beauty from afar, marveling at its grandeur and size.
So there you go. It’s now time to hear from you. Let us know which of the houses wowed you the most.