Top 6 Largest Houses in the World

Real Estate

While most people are content with having a few thousand square feet to call home, the world’s ultra-wealthy reside in much larger spaces. From modern mansions to historical properties, there are several colossal houses scattered around the world, each with their unique features and amenities. Here are six of the largest houses in the world, starting with the “smallest.” The list excludes places like the Palace of Versailles, which is no longer a residence but now a museum.

6. The One

Located in the elite Los Angeles suburb of Bel Air, The One was purchased by Fashion Nova owner Richard Saghian at an auction in March 2022 for $141 million. Originally listed for $295 million, no one offered anywhere near that sum for the 21-bedroom, 49-bathroom mansion. Developed over a 10-year period by a former film producer named Nile Niami, the property was foreclosed, and the mansion achieved the dubious status of the highest auction price ever for a home in the U.S. The One boasts 74,000 square feet (6,875 square meters) of luxurious space and all the modern amenities, including a nightclub, a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, and a 5,000 square-foot (464 square-meter) master bedroom. It features five swimming pools and a 30-car garage and is considered the largest modern house in America.

5. Villa Leopolda

Villa Leopolda is located in the French Riviera and was originally built by King Leopold II of Belgium. It was then gifted to his mistress, a French teenage prostitute. The stunning 18-acre (7.2-hectare) estate appears in the classic movie “To Catch a Thief” and includes 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. It offers unparalleled views of the Mediterranean, as well as a greenhouse, botanical gardens, and even a helipad. Today, Villa Leopolda is considered the most expensive private residence in all of Europe, with 80,000 square feet (7,432 square meters) of space. It is currently owned by a Russian billionaire who purchased it for $750 million in 2008.

4. Witanhurst

Witanhurst is an expensive private estate owned by Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev and is reported to be the second-largest private residence in London after Buckingham Palace. The Georgian Revival mansion is 90,000 square feet (8,361 square meters) and has 25 bedrooms. It features amenities such as a sauna, 70-foot (21-meter) swimming pool, movie theater, ballroom, and massage parlor. Completed in 1920, it was recently refurbished.

3. Antilia

Antilia, situated in Mumbai, India, is a skyscraper with a 168-car garage that is one of the tallest buildings in the city. Despite being a massive 400,000 square feet (37,000 square meters), it is only the third-largest house on this list. It is owned by Mukesh Ambani, an Indian business magnate, and is located on Altamount Road in South Mumbai, which is one of the most expensive areas in the world. Antilia is the current Guinness World Record holder for the largest house owned by an individual and was designed to survive an earthquake of up to 8 on the Richter scale. The property is managed by a staff of 600 and comprises six floors dedicated to housing up to 168 cars, a movie theater, beauty salon, ice cream parlor, and nine high-speed elevators. Additionally, there is a room that features artificial snowflakes shooting from the walls, and the property cost between $1 and 2 billion to construct.

2. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace in London, England, is the largest private residence in the country and serves as the home of the sovereign and the royal administrative headquarters. The palace is owned by the Crown Estate, an independent company that donates any profits to the British Treasury. With 775 rooms, including 52 royal bedrooms and guest quarters, 19 state rooms, and 188 staff bedrooms, it is one of the most expansive mansions in the world. The palace is open to visitors, but private rooms are off-limits. The throne room and the gilded white drawing room, which houses a Victorian-era gilded piano, are the main attractions. The palace is valued at $4.9 billion for its 828,000-plus square feet (76,924 square meters) of space.

1. Istana Nurul Iman Palace

Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and the biggest house in the world. Built-in 1984, it cost over $1.4 billion, making it the most expensive palace in the world at the time. The palace also functions as the official seat of Brunei’s government and has earned the Guinness World Record for the largest residential palace. It has over 2.1 million square feet (200,000 square meters) of space, 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, and 44 marble staircases. The palace also features a golden-domed mosque, a 5,000-person banquet hall, five swimming pools, and a 110-car garage. The polo ponies have their own air-conditioned stables, and the estate is several times larger than Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles. For a few days after Ramadan, visitors can enter the palace for free and be greeted by the Sultan or his wife.

That’s Insane

The Biltmore Estate, also called the Biltmore House, is the largest house in the United States. It is a massive chateau with 250 rooms and covers 175,000 square feet (16,258 square meters). Located in the charming city of Asheville, North Carolina, the estate was the former country home of George Vanderbilt, a prominent 19th-century industrialist. Visitors can take tours of the Biltmore Estate and marvel at its 65 fireplaces, banquet hall, bowling alley, and indoor swimming pool.

Originally Published: Nov 9, 2022

FAQ

1. What is the biggest house in the world?

The biggest house in the world is the Antilia, located in Mumbai, India. This private residence is owned by Mukesh Ambani, the billionaire chairman of Reliance Industries. The Antilia consists of 27 floors and is 568 feet tall. It has a total area of 400,000 square feet and features a variety of amenities, including a helipad, a movie theater, a swimming pool, and a ballroom.

2. Where is the second biggest house in the world located?

The second biggest house in the world is the Istana Nurul Iman, located in Brunei. It is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. The Istana Nurul Iman has a total area of 2.15 million square feet and features 1,788 rooms, a banquet hall that can seat up to 5,000 guests, and a mosque that can accommodate 1,500 worshipers.

3. What is the third biggest house in the world?

The third biggest house in the world is the Biltmore Estate, located in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. It was built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1800s and has a total area of 178,926 square feet. The Biltmore Estate features 250 rooms, including 33 bedrooms, a banquet hall, a library, and a swimming pool.

4. What is the fourth biggest house in the world?

The fourth biggest house in the world is the Witanhurst, located in London, UK. It has a total area of 90,000 square feet and features 65 rooms, including 25 bedrooms, a swimming pool, and a cinema. The Witanhurst was originally built in the early 1900s and has undergone several renovations over the years.

5. Where is the fifth biggest house in the world located?

The fifth biggest house in the world is the Oheka Castle, located in Huntington, New York, USA. It was built in the early 1900s by Otto Hermann Kahn and has a total area of 109,000 square feet. The Oheka Castle features 127 rooms, including 32 bedrooms, a ballroom, a library, and a dining room that can seat up to 50 guests.

6. What is the sixth biggest house in the world?

The sixth biggest house in the world is the Hearst Castle, located in San Simeon, California, USA. It was built by William Randolph Hearst in the early 1900s and has a total area of 68,500 square feet. The Hearst Castle features 56 bedrooms, a movie theater, a library, and a Roman-style indoor swimming pool.