Here's Where You Can Find The Largest Homes In The World

Anyone who loves luxe real estate reality shows like "Million Dollar Listing" and "Selling Sunset" has yearned to live in a mansion where the likes of Fredrik Eklund or Christine Quinn host tours for prospective buyers. However, it isn't all infinity pools and dollar bills at these amazing, colossal homes. According to Best Life, there are tons of downsides to owning a big house, too, so don't write off that two-bedroom just yet. Many of those cons include, of course, the big bills, like those massive heating bills to keep that mansion toasty warm; the so-called "mansion tax" in the tristate area which applies to homes sold in New York or New Jersey for over $1 million; and property taxes, which increase depending on the square footage of a home.

However, to the millionaires and billionaires that own these properties around the world which have been named the biggest on the planet, those dollars are just chump change — as are the extra funds it takes to clean, furnish, and repair these estates. Here's a look at some of the most stunning mansions with the most square footage to boot.

In 2012, viewers saw Versailles of Windermere, a Florida home designed after its namesake across the pond, in the documentary "The Queen of Versailles." In the film, we got to know Jackie Siegel (yup, she's the "queen") and the home she shared with Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel after they decided to embark on building the biggest single-family home in the country with 90,000 square feet, reported Distractify. Although their efforts were paused in 2008 following the economic recession, construction is resumed and will likely be completed by mid-2022.

However, the final Versailles of Windermere will look quite different than what viewers thought it would per the documentary. Since the Siegels began building more than two decades ago, much has changed for the family — namely that they're nearly empty-nesters, so they don't have much need for playrooms. Instead, Versailles will include spaces such as a hidden bar, a massive closet with its own elevator, and a nightclub reminiscent of those found in Sin City. When the ribbon is theoretically cut, the estate will have 13 bedrooms and nearly double the amount of bathrooms, according to New England Cable News. It's worth about $4 million, and the Siegels pay $65,000 in taxes each year for their home that also includes a garage that can accommodate 20 cars, a ballroom, a wine cellar that encompasses two stories, a 50-guest dining room, and nearly a dozen kitchens.

To anyone that has seen the beachfront mansions on the French Riviera, it's not surprising that at least one home there makes this list. One of those stunning houses –- perhaps one of the most stunning –- is Villa Leopolda, a Mediterranean-style estate, reported The Most Expensive Homes. The nearly century-old pad sits privately on Villefranche-sur-Mer, a suburb of Nice. Atop 18 acres, this villa has a dozen pools –- more than some high-end resorts –- as well as 19 master suites and 14 bathrooms with some of the best views of the area, of the sea and a pine forest. But in keeping with its historic charm, Villa Leopolda is adorned with nostalgic touches like stone walls, exposed beams, and lush red, gold, and wood details. If the photos of the estate look familiar to you, you're not alone. Villa Leopolda has been the setting of many television programs and movies such as "The Red Shoes," "To Catch a Thief," and "Red Notice."

It all began when King Leopold II of Belgium decided to give the estate to his mistress, Blanche Zélia Joséphine Delacroix, who was only 16 years old when the 65 year old met her, according to the estate's website. However, when Leopold passed, Delacroix's time at the estate did, too; she was abruptly shown the door when King Albert I moved in. The home then saw various owners throughout history.

For many of us, a million-dollar home is out of reach. But for Mukesh Ambani, chairman of an Indian multinational conglomerate company, that's nothing –- valued at between $1 to 2 billion, his Mumbai pad has been called the second priciest home in the world, reported Architectural Digest. Named after an island that was once supposedly in the Atlantic Ocean, Antilia takes up 400,000 square feet on, fittingly, one of the planet's costliest roads. The home is composed with almost 30 floors that have ceilings that so high that they equate to about the same height as a two-story structure.

Of course, it's hard to fill up 400,000 square feet with just housing, so Antilia also includes an enormous temple, six floors for car storage and a service station, a salon, an ice cream shop, a movie theater that can screen films for up to 50 guests, and tons of suites for visitors spending a little extra time at the lavish home. It's all decorated with an overarching lotus and sun theme, featuring red, gold, and white tones all among ultra-luxe modern touches like floor-to-ceiling windows and glistening chandeliers. 

However, despite its upscale attitude, Antilia is in no Beverly Hills. Its views include a packed-to-the-brim neighborhood, where more than half of the residents are forced to survive on only $2 per day. But on the top floor — which is directly underneath the helipad –- expansive views of the Arabian Sea are visible, reported All That's Interesting.

When Nile Niami, who once worked as a film producer before turning his attention to real estate, built a 105,000 square foot home dubbed "The One," he hoped to eventually sell it for $500 million. As the largest modern home in the country, reported the Los Angeles Times (via Insider), some would argue that his price tag was not unfounded. However, the price for the 21-bedroom home that also boasts its own nightclub and 10,000-bottle wine cellar has not come to fruition. The price was slashed to $225 million in September 2021, following a financial debacle when Niami was unable to pay back $100 million of loans.

But with other amenities more suitable for a mall such as a salon, private movie theater for 50 people, bowling lanes, a cigar lounge, and garage for 50 vehicles, the $225 million price for this ultra-modern home is nothing to balk at. It's adorned with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, marble floors, minimalist décor and furniture, white and black tones, and clean lines. There's also a three-bedroom guest house and a few pools, including one that has a lounge atop water and another that sits on the roof of a bedroom. Although it's clearly the epitome of modern luxe, there are a few nods to the past here –- a moat surrounds this modern Bel Air castle.

The translation of Taohuayuan, a 32-bedroom garden estate in China that hit the market in 2016 as the priciest home in the country to ever go on sale, couldn't be more on-point. "Utopia," according to Mansion Global, sold for nearly $150 million after three years of construction on a private island near Dushu Lake, which is the largest lake in China. It took handmade building materials, as well as tons of foliage, from Xiangshanbang Traditional Architectural and Building Skills to bring the property to life.

On nearly 1,700 acres, the estate — themed after UNESCO World Heritage Site the Classical Gardens of Suzhou — also includes a swimming pool (next to the lake, of course) with views of the nearby city, and several courtyards, said Sotheby's International Realty (via Insider). And that's just the outdoors; inside the 72,000 square foot garden palace, there are also 32 bathrooms, a colossal wine cellar, and décor that mixes both modern luxury as well as traditional East Asian touches. Every one of the 32 bedrooms also face south, which makes it so they garner the most natural sunlight during the daytime hours.

With a net worth of $3.7 billion, Ira Rennert is no ordinary businessman — and his Hamptons estate isn't ordinary, either. Valued at $500 million, according to the Financial Times (via Luxtionary), this 62,000 square foot pad cost Rennert $110 million to construct before he moved in during the mid-2000s. Dubbed Fair Field, the 29-bedroom mansion includes three pools (despite its proximity to various bodies of water), its own synagogue, two tennis courts, a home theater that can accommodate more than 150 guests, two guest houses, a play house, a basketball court, and bowling lanes.

But the project didn't come without some serious debate. Located near popular the Hamptons town Southampton, nearby residents called Rennert's proposed home "audacious," said New York magazine. Their complaints only piled on as Rennert planned to add components to his home such as a 10,000-square-foot museum to display his $500 million art collection, a Pilates studio, and another bathroom to one of the guest houses. The debates continued long past the final construction of the home, when allegations surfaced that Rennert used his company's funds to finance it, according to Insider. Despite it all, Rennert isn't a figure often seen in the media, so many of his opinions on the various legal matters remain hush-hush.

With over 70,000 square feet on the billionaire's playground of Palm Beach, La Reverie –- which translates to "a daydream" –- lives up to its name. The estate now owned by hedge fund billionaire Steven Schonfeld and his family after they purchased it in 2019 for $111 million serves as the lucky family's winter vacation home to escape the harsh seasonal New York temperatures, according to Mansion Global. But with its amenities, it's much more than a vacation home –- La Reverie might as well be a resort. It includes 11 bedrooms and nearly double the number of bathrooms, as well as entertainment-friendly additions like a candy shop, ice cream shop, a salon, spa, and a bowling alley. It's ideal for the Schonfelds, who have several children and primarily live on Long Island and in New York City.

Before the Schonfelds purchased La Reverie — which was the most expensive residential deal to ever close in the Sunshine State — it was owned by Sydell Miller, who founded beauty company Matrix Essentials, reported the Palm Beach Daily News. Two decades before the sale, she constructed the three-story mansion over four years atop more than five beachfront acres. Miller seems to have downsized –- on her terms, anyway –- to an entire floor of a West Palm Beach waterfront condominium building that cost her $42.56 million.

Its name certainly isn't uttered nearly as much as Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles, but with over two million square feet of space, it's actually much bigger –- so big that Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the most colossal royal home on the entire planet, according to its website. These days, it's the riverfront royal home of sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and is not too far from the capital of Brunei. And with its 1,788 spaces, it's also hard to miss. Surrounded by lush greenery, the stark white structure is adorned with several gold domes –- including one atop the palace's mosque that can host 1,500 people –- as well as international touches like marble imported from Italy, silk from China, glass from England, and granite from Shanghai.

Despite its grand appearance, the estate that translates to Palace of the Light of Faith only took two years (but a whopping $1 billion) to build following Brunei's 1984 independence from Britain. Some of its royal-worthy amenities include a helicopter landing pad, nearly half-a-dozen swimming pools, a banquet hall that's able to comfortably house 5,000 people, 1,800 rooms, a garage for more than 100 cars, and 250 bathrooms, according to Atlas Obscura. Even the sultan's horses live comfortably here –- their stables are air-conditioned. However, it's more than just a luxe home. Istana Nurul Iman Palace is also where the country's senior government offices can be found.

The Manor might not be the largest home in California or even in the United States like some of these other enormous mansions are. However, it does take the title as largest home in Los Angeles, which is no easy feat considering the number of star-worthy residences in the city. With 56,500 square feet –- just about 1,500 more than the White House –- the estate has 123 rooms, including 14 bedrooms and 27 bathrooms, according to Work + Money.

Although these days, the public doesn't know for sure who resides at this luxe property –- it last sold for $120 million in 2019 after being listed for $160 million –- its past is no secret. One of its former owners is the heiress to Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone, who bought the Manor in 2011 and then renovated it over three months. Prior to that, the Manor was the home of TV producer Aaron Spelling, who produced showstoppers such as "Charlie's Angels" and "Beverly Hills 90210." Before building the home that cost him $12 million to create (which is $48 million in today's currency), the property housed another mansion that Spelling tore down to construct his dream home. But despite its beautiful appearance, the Manor's neighbors were never jumping for joy. Neighbors have said that the estate has brought in too many tourists to try to spot the mansion up-close, hosted too many loud parties, and was just simply too big for the neighborhood.

You can bet that a home with a name inspired by a fictional estate in "Citizen Kane" and an amazing ancient city is impressive. It's even more predictable that it's owned by Bill Gates, one of the richest people on the planet. His 66,000 square foot estate which took seven years to build sits near the banks of Lake Washington near Seattle, which is also Gates' hometown, according to Fancy Pants Homes. The home features 24 bedrooms, six kitchens, but only seven bedrooms and one guest house, so clearly Gates isn't expecting too many overnight visitors. Some of its many amenities include a 200-seat reception hall, a colossal pool, a private art deco theater, and a 2,500 square foot gym with its own trampoline room, sauna, steam room, and locker rooms.

However, these are just ordinary amenities when it comes to million-dollar mansions. Xanadu sets itself apart with Gates-worthy touches like a wood-paneled library that measures more than 2,000 square feet, which is a nod to Gates' regular reading habit. Inside the library, there is a reading area shaped like a dome as well as two secret entrances behind bookcases, one of which leads to a bar area. On the shelves are priceless books, such as the Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci, which cost Gates a cool $30 million.

To many, Buckingham Palace is the gem of homes in England. And it certainly is –- but it's followed closely by Witanhurst, which is the biggest private family home in the capital of the United Kingdom, according to Forbes. The 90,000-square-foot estate includes features like a ballroom more than the length of a bowling lane, and a well-appointed fitness area with massage rooms, a gym, and a pool, all within a 40,000 square foot basement. However, despite the 25-room mansion's grandeur, no one knew who actually lived there for more than five years. Then, in 2015, the mystery was solved: A Russian billionaire worth $2.6 billion was revealed to be the owner of the home that sold for nearly $57 million in 2008. In the deal of the century, it's now estimated to be worth almost $340 million.

Witanhurst came to be in the 1910s, reported the Daily Mail, by the owner of a local soap company. Even from the very beginning, it had some very special guests, including Queen Elizabeth herself. But since then, the property has become much less popular with neighbors. Similar to many other massive mansions, those living nearby Witanhurst have complained that it has disturbed their window views and even lessened the values of their homes.

Times have never been better for software companies, and that notion was solidified in 2019 when the co-founder of Australian software company Atlassian purchased the Land Down Under's priciest home for $100 million, reported Upside. But not only is what's known as Fairwater the country's most expensive home, as at more than 120,000 square feet, it's also a massive one, and one with a long history. It dates back to 1881 and was owned by the same family for more than a century, until the matriarch of the clan died when she was 95 years old. Before that, Fairwater was built by a stockbroker and was designed by one of the most impressive architects of the time.

Located right on the Sydney Harbour, Fairwater has its own personal beach access as well as a pool, ideal for the four children that reside there with their parents, Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes. Outside, there are also lush gardens and foliage with fountains and balconies overlooking the harbor and surrounding area. But inside, Fairwater only gets more impressive. Although it has every modern convenience imaginable, the estate is mindful of its historic past with velvet green, red, and gold furniture, intricate wood details, colorful stained glass windows, pops of gold, and classic artwork.

Beverly Hills has its fair share of ultra-luxurious homes, but the Beverly House is both that as well as a historic icon. The Spanish and Italian-style mansion was once the residence of William Randolph Hearst, newspaper publisher and founder of Hearst Publications, according to Finest Residences. Actress Marion Davies purchased the estate as what was perhaps the most lavish gift in history for Hearst, who she was romantically involved with.

Beverly House also maintains its place in time since John and Jacqueline Kennedy stayed here on their honeymoon. Additionally, it has made appearances in films such as "The Godfather" (remember when Jack Woltz woke up with a horse head in his bed? Yup, that was here) and "The Bodyguard." With its long list of features and amenities, accolades like that aren't surprising. The simply-named Beverly House includes one the longest private driveways in the city, floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the colossal pool and its accompanying pool house, an entry hall that spans 50 feet, 22-foot-high ceilings with ornate designs, and a billiard room with a stone fireplace. Plus, with its own nightclub, wine cellar, and multiple projection rooms for screenings, there aren't many reasons to leave this amazing estate.