RISMEDIA, October 11, 2006?It?s chump change to the world?
s super rich, the tycoons, moguls and jetsetters whose coffers seem to overflow with a never-enduing pipeline of capital. Dropping $100 million for a prime piece of real estate, while unheard of for the average American, is par-for-the-course among those who traverse the upper echelons of wealth across our nation. So, while speculation about these homes is nothing more than a mere fantasy for the vast majority of us, Forbes.
com recently released an online article cataloging the 10 most expensive current listings in the nation ? stellar abodes ranging in value from $55-$125 million. Calling these properties ?
luxury? homes might be viewed as the understatement of the century; akin to characterizing Bill Gates as ?rich?
. As the Forbes piece puts it, ?These are the most expensive residences in the country, with prices so astronomical that only a very small handful of very wealthy people could even dream about owning them.
? With that in mind, however, go and gawk at the top ten and meet us back here in 120 seconds. Okay, so, you?
re back. How was the trip? From the nautilus shell design of the $75 million home in Corona del Mar to the classic French Renaissance chateau that crowns one of New York's most luxurious hotels, this collection of current listings is truly breathtaking.
Who tops this year?s list? None other than ?
The Donald?, whose prot?g?
Kendra Todd was assigned several years back to oversee the complete renovation of his flagship Maison de L'Amitie . 2. (tie) : A triple oceanfront lot, Portabello Estate built in 2002 with eight bedrooms, ten full baths in nearly 30,000 sq.
ft. of ultra-modern space with a dramatic grotto surrounded by chambers. 2.
(tie) : Over 60 acres of Hamptons farmland featuring a private USGA-rated Rees Jones golf course, 14 gardens, a 75-foot-long swimming pool and a guest house. 4. : Topping off one of New York's most luxurious and prestigious hotels, this triplex includes a grand salon with 20-foot-high French doors and offers breathtaking views over the city.
5. (tie) Belvedere, CA, $65 million: Gorgeous vistas, herringbone floors and marble baths with six bedrooms, a 10,000-square-foot home with stunning views of San Francisco, Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. 5.
(tie) : Seven acres of land with panoramic ocean views, sitting on its own bluff, this home offers two riding stables, a riding ring, swimming pool, tennis court and private access to the beach. 5. (tie) : It's clad in French limestone and needs two more years of work.
But this Gold Coast palace is certainly exclusive--you won't even get a go-see without having $800 million in the bank. The dramatic neoclassical villa was sold two years ago for $32 million; neighbors on "billionaire's row" include the Getty family. Warwick Properties Group is handling the listing.
8. (tie) Brentwood, CA, $60 million: Lounging on 112 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains, this property offers a Robert Byrd-designed main house as well as separate guest houses, horse stables, riding trails, a swimming pool and a tennis court. 8.
(tie) : This Tudor-style waterfront estate rests on a spacious 47 acres and features a protected cove, swimming pool, tennis court, pristine gardens and not one, but two helipads. The main house is 22,000 sq. ft.
with an 11-bedroom staff house and a six-bedroom guest house. 10. : This neo-French Renaissance mansion sits five stories high.
Originally built in 1896, the Upper East Side residence was once home to the son of Thomas Watson Jr., who built IBM into a powerhouse. Today, the limestone dwelling offers 14-feet ceilings and some 20,000 square feet of well-lit living space.
It is interesting to note that all top nine homes reside in either California or New York ? not surprising news, given that these trendsetting epicenters bookend the nation. Speaking of trends, David Barrett, who represents the fifth-ranked San Franciscan house for Warwick Properties Group, explains, ?
You need to have $800 million to see it, and at least once a week we get a prospective buyer who has that.? And these are just the properties that are currently listed for sale.
The international real estate firm Knight Frank recently released their list of the most expensive homes regardless of sales status. The top spot still belongs to the opulent $139 million , a magnificent estate located nearby Windsor Castle and easily larger than Buckingham Palace, whose touches of affluence include 103 rooms, five swimming pools, 24-carat-gold leafing on the library floor and a heated marble driveway ? because if those vehicle tires get too cold, who knows what may happen?
Only one other property trumps ?The Donald?s?
Palm Beach wonder, although it is not currently on the market. Of course, we all knew that oil money would somehow find its way onto this list, and sure enough, the $135 million, 95-acre ranch in Aspen, Colorado, owned by Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, fits the bill perfectly. It features a 56,000 sq.
ft. mansion (larger than the entire White House), accoutered with 16 bathrooms, 15 bedrooms, stables, a tennis court and heated swimming pool. So what do you think?
Is all the decadence, pomp, glamour and overstated wealth nothing more than beautifully-painted wheat and chaff, or is there some deeper element of the human psyche ? a profound curiosity bordering on envy ? that goaded you into clicking the links above?
If you had the chance to move out of your current home into one of these estates, would you go for it? How long will it be before the first $200 million home hits the market? Expensive Homes, The Housing Bubble, Agent Productivity, Property Disclosure and Fraud, Professionalism and Career Development are but a few of the weekly topics some 40 industry experts blog on every week at , the official real estate industry blog.
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