7 of the most expensive houses in the world – with price tags reaching the billions

Caroline Westbrook Published May 14, 2025 11:08am Link is copied Comments They say that your house is the most expensive purchase you'll ever make - and for many getting on the property ladder remains a pipe dream. But what if money were no object? Then you might want to consider moving into one of the world's most expensive homes with eye-wateringly high price tags which, in some cases, even run into the billions. However, these are the sorts of properties which come complete with every home comfort you could ever want, meaning you might never need to leave the house again. Here's the homes with the biggest asking prices in the world, according to Forbes.com... (Picture: Getty Images) Kicking off in the UK, this property is located slap bang in the middle of a street known as Billionaires Row - renowned for housing some of the world's most expensive homes, including this one. Its owners have included F1 magnate Bernie Ecclestone as well as Indian steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, with the street itself also being home to diplomatic missions and embassies. If you want to live here, be prepared to shell out a cool $222 million (£176.6 million) (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) Over to the French Riviera for the sixth most expensive property on the list, which is a luxurious apartment sitting on top of a skyscraper in the principality of Monaco. The flat sits on the fifth floor of the building, around 170 metres high, and boasts such luxuries as a rooftop pool and a private screening room. Although it's also caused controversy due to the tower's impact on the cityscape and the influence on prices in the neighbouring French town of Beausoleil. None of which have made much difference to the price tag of $330 million (£262.7 million) (Picture: Caters) Aka the 'Palace of Bubbles', this unusual property near Cannes in the south of France was built in 1989 for French industrialist Pierre Bernard, but was later bought by fashion designer Pierre Cardin. The house features 1,200 square feet of space along with 10 bedrooms - each of which has been individually decorated by a different artist - 11 bathrooms, an open-air 500-seat amphitheater, swimming pools and water features. And it's worth around $420 million (£330 million) (Picture: Getty Images) Back to France for this luxurious estate, which is situated on the Riviera and is one of the oldest properties on this list, dating all the way back to 1830 - although it came into its own when it was acquired by King Leopold of Belgium in 1904, who renovated the property and gave it its name. It's an impressive 18,000 sq ft, with 14 bedrooms and a library filled with rare books. It's worth around $450 million (£352 million) (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images) Another French property, this one is located in Villefranche-sur-Mer and was another property owned by King Leopold II of Belgium. In fact it was built for his mistress, Caroline Lacroix, and later used as a military hospital during the First World War. It's had several owners in its time, most recently Russian billionaire businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, who bought it off previous owner Lily Safra in 2008. Its opulent interiors and 50-acre grounds will set you back around $750 million (£598 million) (Picture: Getty Images) Located on Altamont Road, said to be Mumbai's most exclusive street, Antilia - named after a mythical island off the coast of Europe - is said to be worth an eye-watering $2,000,000,000 (£1.5 billion), making it the world's most expensive private residence. The property is owned by billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani, and while it's unclear which of his family members live there, the house takes some serious looking after, with its 50-seater cinema, full-service health club and spa, three helipads and nine elevators. Luckily the staff of 600 are on hand to take care of everything (Picture: Getty Images) An obvious one, of course, but Buckingham Palace in London remains the world's most expensive property, with its luxurious state rooms, neoclassical decor and the world famous balcony which has taken centre stage during royal weddings, coronations and jubilees. Bucky Pal has 775 rooms in total which include (deep breath) 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. You can't buy it but if it were for sale you could expect an asking price of around $4.9 billion (£3.9 billion) (Picture: Getty Images) This article was originally published in April 2024

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Scottish Sun

3 hours ago

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I tested all the supermarket Champagne for under £20 – Aldi winner was £5 cheaper than Sainsbury's bubbly

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Wine expert Helena Nicklin samples what is on offer in the supermarkets for less than £20 and gives her verdicts. Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut NV £14.95 Aldi 10 Award-winning champagne that delivers rich, complex flavours without the high price tag Credit: supplied THIS corker has been top of the pops among wine writers for ages, with plenty of us singing its praises. And following its triumph at the World Champagne Awards, that is now official. Key fizz grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are blended together to create these bubbles but the real surprise is the depth of those spiced brioche and baked apple flavours. A delicious flute that proves you don't have to spend a fortune on a famous name. You simply don't get better champagne bang for your buck than this. Stock up now for the summer, while you still can. 5/5 Wine expert taste tests the newest supermarket dupe of Whispering Angel Etienne Dumont Champagne Brut NV £14.95 Sainsbury's 10 A good standby supermarket-saver bottle or one to grab any time when you want real bubbly without a bonkers price tag Credit: supplied A FROTHY French fizz, this classic champagne blend is not a bad budget option to consider for less than 15 quid. In your flute, this will give you a little almond, a little green apple and a little toast flavour. It also has a satisfyingly deep colour. In the mouth, though, it's maybe just a tad weedy and thin, with bubbles that don't last as long as they could. But it's a perfect candidate for champagne cocktails and at this price, it works. A good standby supermarket-saver bottle or one to grab any time when you want real bubbly without a bonkers price tag. 2/5 Henri Cachet Champagne Brut NV £14.98 Asda 10 Affordable and approachable, this creamy champagne offers fresh pastry notes and smooth vanilla aromas—ideal for celebrations without the hefty price Credit: supplied ASDA's cheaper champers is a gentle, mid-way style that should keep everyone happy. Well below the price of a bottle of any famous branded fizz, this froth is soft and creamy. It is more about fresh pastry flavours than tart and tangy apple and has a lovely, almost vanilla-like aroma. Perhaps less complex than some fizzes at the same price. But that isn't a problem because it's still highly gluggable even when enjoyed alone. Perfect for parties, nicely chilled, or any special occasion where you would like to raise a glass of the real thing but don't fancy breaking the bank. 3/5 Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut NV £9.99, Lidl in store 10 Not, perhaps, the most refined of French fizzes, with its savoury, clunky mineral notes and a whiff of something like cheese rind, but there's a lot of flavour there Credit: supplied THESE bubbles have done well for Lidl, for good reason. And currently reduced from £13.99 to £9.99, they are a serious bargain. What you get here is not perhaps the poshest or most refined of French fizzes, with its savoury, clunky mineral notes and a whiff of something like cheese rind, but there's a lot of flavour there. And of course you are still popping the cork on a bottle of the real deal. For me, this is one to serve well chilled and sip with party canapés – or some nibbles and snacks if you are drinking at home, to soften it up a bit. A tasty tipple and great value for your hard-earned money. 3/5 Louis Delaunay Brut Champagne NV £15, Tesco 10 Super value for money, this delivers a proper champers experience, loaded with all the toasty apple goodness you could ever want Credit: supplied HATS off to French fizz-maker Louis Delaunay and Tesco for managing to bring this in at such an affordable price. Super value for money, this delivers a proper champers experience, loaded with all the toasty apple goodness you could ever want. It's a lovely golden colour, too, so looks pretty in the glass. The only downside for me is a slight lack of freshness on the finish. Nothing a good chill can't sort out, though. Get this one nice and cold in the fridge before you pop the cork and celebrate what a bargain you've bought. Great as a present, too. 4/5 Pol Guyot Selection Champagne Brut NV £19, Sainsbury's 10 Think plenty of apple flavour, with a bit of toast and butter for that exclusive feel Credit: supplied I'M a big fan of this fizz, for just under 20 quid, and also love how the 'Pol' nods to the more glamorous and pricey Pol Roger brand for a luxe vibe. It's a proper bargain, which tastes more expensive than it is. Definitely a step up in superiority from those £15 club fizzes, for only an extra £4. Think plenty of apple flavour, with a bit of toast and butter for that exclusive feel. The finish on this sparkling treat packs a subtly bitter kick that might not be for everyone, so that's something to bear in mind. 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Time Out

5 hours ago

• Time Out

This 100-year-old Bed-Stuy building is now home to a chic oyster bar

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Reuters

6 hours ago

• Reuters

F1 movie star Pitt finally gets to drive a Formula One car

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