These villas and palaces are among the most expensive properties in the world

This text comes from the stern archive and first appeared in April 2024.

The most expensive villa in Germany is said to cost 40 million euros (find out more here). The Alexandrinen Cottage therefore plays no role internationally. Because for the most expensive properties in the world, high three-digit millions are demanded – allegedly sometimes even billions. Most recently, the French Château d’Armainvilliers caused a stir in this regard. If the Belgian real estate agent Ignace Meuwissen actually manages to achieve the targeted 425 million euros, the transfer of the Château d’Armainvilliers would be one of the most expensive house sales in the world (find out more here). Above 400 million euros or US dollars, the number of possible buyers actually becomes very thin.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t properties that significantly exceed this price. However, we usually talk about the pure value that is attributed to the respective property and not about an actual purchase price. For example in the case of what is probably the most expensive building in the world – Buckingham Palace. If it were possible to sell it – some experts estimate it would bring in up to seven billion US dollars.

But it is precisely these estimates that are the problem: they very often exceed what is actually paid for a house on the market. The expensive real estate business is usually very discreet, which can lead to a variety of confusing sources. A very good example of this is “Antilia”, the residence of the richest Indian, Mukesh Ambani. Depending on the source, his high-rise in Mumbai could be worth between $50 million and $2 billion. We don’t know for sure – and Ambani is understandably reluctant to provide correct information.

Sometimes you find out the true value of a property in a painful way: “The One”, a villa in Bel Air, California, was long considered a candidate for one of the most expensive villas in the world. Former film producer Nile Niami originally wanted to sell the house for half a billion US dollars – setting a record in the USA. But before “The One” was finished, his company went bankrupt. Even at a “heavily discounted” price of $295 million, it failed to find a buyer. It was only during a foreclosure auction that Richard Saghian, owner of the fast fashion retail company Fashion Nova, struck. He ultimately paid $126 million.

Niami’s dream was shattered – he actually wanted to sell the most expensive property in the USA. This currently belongs to investment banker Ken Griffin, who secured the four-story penthouse in the skyscraper 220 Central Park South for $238 million in 2019 (find out more here). However, a possible competitor that could pass by is already lurking: “Gordon Pointe” in Florida, currently on the market for $295 million, according to “”.

In the picture gallery you will find examples of extremely expensive houses – and the respective problems with determining the price. Only one thing is certain: none of them are cheap. On the contrary.