Expensive Estates
selection of US$100 million+ properties
Villa Léopolda, Côte d’Azur - French Riviera
This a a Belle Epoque mansion on the south-east coast of France’s Côte d’Azur - French Riviera.
The monumental sale of the Estate has made headline news when it “was sold”? beginning of August for nearly half a million euro (around US$750 million) after being on the market for some time. (Update: real price paid was closer to 365 million euro, around US$545 million.)
Deemed the most expensive house on the planet now, Villa Leopolda is one of the most sumptuous estates on the Cote d’Azur, the French Riviera.
Playground of the rich and famous, the villa has attracted plenty of eyeballs with its grandeur.
But this isn’t all. Back in 1999, then owner Mr Edmond Safra, the Lebanese-Jewish banking billionaire died at his Monaco home in a fire that was deemed arson.
Since then his widowed wife Lily Safra has been gauging the market for some time, passionately waiting for the right time to sell.
Originally built by King Leopold II of Belgium at the beginning of 1900, the cream-colored villa is set in 20 acres of gardens overlooking Cap Ferrat, near Villefranche sur Mer.
King Leopold II bought the land for a bargain (1 French franc!) and the estate soon become a magnet for high society.
Then later in 1916, his nephew and heir, King Albert I, turned the Villa Leopolda into a hospital for officers wounded during the First World War.
Later, the villa was purchased by the famous Agnelli family (founders of Fiat).
It soon became notorious for jet set parties attracting celebrities like Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra and others.
The estate is so big; it requires 50 full time gardeners.
The grounds cover 20 acres of garden and visitors can stroll amongst 1,200 olive, orange, lemon and cypress trees.
The new Russian super-rich have been quietly buying up large properties on the Côte d’Azur in recent years, but previous sale prices have never exceeded €200 million.
The highest recorded sale to date is the £100 million paid by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal for a mansion in Kensington Palace Gardens.
The unnamed Russian billionaire (rumoured to be Andrey Melnichenko, who ais also the owner of the giga-yacht "A") be has apparently paid almost four times as much for the Villa Leopolda.
“It has become surreal,” one French estate agent told the newspaper Le Parisien. “You daren’t offer these people a house which costs less than €100 million or they boot you out… and not very politely.”
La Leopolda is situated half way between Nice and Monaco.
It looks across the Villefranche bay at Cap Ferrat, which has become one of the world’s most sought-after pieces of real estate.
Not so long ago the local newspaper Nice-Matin cited legal sources and stated that 60 of the villas or mansions on Cap Ferrat are now owned by Russians.
Updown Court, Windlesham, Surrey, UK
Updown Court certainly has the ideal location for the billionaire plutocrat: central London is 28 miles away, Heathrow a 20-minute drive. Worried about the local schools? Eton College is within easy reach. The road from Sunningdale, the nearest railway station, is lined with sets of high gates concealing the kind of country houses beloved of City bonus-earners.
The original Updown Court, built in 1924 and owned by Prince Sam Gaye of Egypt, was severely damaged by a fire in 1987. The estate is set in the center of 58 acres (230,000 m2) of grounds, comprising a stable and lake within its gardens and woodland.
Developer Leslie Allen-Vercoe then proceeded to purchase the property, which was just a burnt-out shell of the property it had been, for the approximate equivalent of $38.4 million. He has since invested a further $60 million, through the backing of an Irish bank, with the new property designed by John B Scholz, an Arizona architect. Notable aspects of the architecture include the double staircase that is modeled on the one that fashion designer Gianni Versace had in his mansion in Miami, its Trey-slated rooftops, and the bathroom's honey-colored granite and green Guatemalan marble. It has been described by The Times newspaper as Californian Neo-classical.
Updown Court is set in the centre of 58 acres (230,000 m2) of grounds, gardens and woodland. Also, neighbors include the Elton John, Duchess of York, and, at nearby Windsor Castle, the Queen
Additional footage, tour of the property by Sunday Times Property Editor Peter Conradi Tours. The property is currently still listed unsold.
Portabello Estate, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach,
Orange County, California, USA
The Portabello Estate: An art form complementing its natural environment. Meaning "beautiful door" in Italian, Portabello opens new doors of never-before-seen luxury and unheard-of amenities to create a grand-scale living and gala entertaining environment that is beyond that of a five-star beachfront resort.
Gracing three oceanfront lots in Cameo Shores, this soft contemporary masterwork is both defined by its stunning seaside site—and redefines the luxury lifestyle ideal. Most every room provides a breathtaking panorama of the majestic Pacific Ocean, serene beach coves and the spectacular coastline from Dana Point to Palos Verdes.
A study in sensuous curves, the home unfolds as a nautilus shell, with an immense, sun-washed grotto at its center, surrounded by beautiful "chambers" including eight opulent bedroom suites and living areas that open seamlessly to the incomparable seafront. Noteable highlights of this landmark property are too numerous to capture in text, and include: 2-story grotto with a pool, 2 spas, swim-up bar, tunnel slide, poolside lounge room and barbeque area; entertainment level with bowling alley, Art Deco theater, automotive museum, cafe, full exercise facility. Approximately 2,000 square foot 2-bedroom master suite, expansive living areas, immense oceanfront lawn/terraces.
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Some may appear gaudy and distasteful, but educational nevertheless.
Villa Léopolda, Côte d’Azur - French Riviera
This a a Belle Epoque mansion on the south-east coast of France’s Côte d’Azur - French Riviera.
The monumental sale of the Estate has made headline news when it “was sold”? beginning of August for nearly half a million euro (around US$750 million) after being on the market for some time. (Update: real price paid was closer to 365 million euro, around US$545 million.)
Deemed the most expensive house on the planet now, Villa Leopolda is one of the most sumptuous estates on the Cote d’Azur, the French Riviera.
Playground of the rich and famous, the villa has attracted plenty of eyeballs with its grandeur.
But this isn’t all. Back in 1999, then owner Mr Edmond Safra, the Lebanese-Jewish banking billionaire died at his Monaco home in a fire that was deemed arson.
Since then his widowed wife Lily Safra has been gauging the market for some time, passionately waiting for the right time to sell.
Originally built by King Leopold II of Belgium at the beginning of 1900, the cream-colored villa is set in 20 acres of gardens overlooking Cap Ferrat, near Villefranche sur Mer.
King Leopold II bought the land for a bargain (1 French franc!) and the estate soon become a magnet for high society.
Then later in 1916, his nephew and heir, King Albert I, turned the Villa Leopolda into a hospital for officers wounded during the First World War.
Later, the villa was purchased by the famous Agnelli family (founders of Fiat).
It soon became notorious for jet set parties attracting celebrities like Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra and others.
The estate is so big; it requires 50 full time gardeners.
The grounds cover 20 acres of garden and visitors can stroll amongst 1,200 olive, orange, lemon and cypress trees.
The new Russian super-rich have been quietly buying up large properties on the Côte d’Azur in recent years, but previous sale prices have never exceeded €200 million.
The highest recorded sale to date is the £100 million paid by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal for a mansion in Kensington Palace Gardens.
The unnamed Russian billionaire (rumoured to be Andrey Melnichenko, who ais also the owner of the giga-yacht "A") be has apparently paid almost four times as much for the Villa Leopolda.
“It has become surreal,” one French estate agent told the newspaper Le Parisien. “You daren’t offer these people a house which costs less than €100 million or they boot you out… and not very politely.”
La Leopolda is situated half way between Nice and Monaco.
It looks across the Villefranche bay at Cap Ferrat, which has become one of the world’s most sought-after pieces of real estate.
Not so long ago the local newspaper Nice-Matin cited legal sources and stated that 60 of the villas or mansions on Cap Ferrat are now owned by Russians.
Updown Court, Windlesham, Surrey, UK
Updown Court certainly has the ideal location for the billionaire plutocrat: central London is 28 miles away, Heathrow a 20-minute drive. Worried about the local schools? Eton College is within easy reach. The road from Sunningdale, the nearest railway station, is lined with sets of high gates concealing the kind of country houses beloved of City bonus-earners.
The original Updown Court, built in 1924 and owned by Prince Sam Gaye of Egypt, was severely damaged by a fire in 1987. The estate is set in the center of 58 acres (230,000 m2) of grounds, comprising a stable and lake within its gardens and woodland.
Developer Leslie Allen-Vercoe then proceeded to purchase the property, which was just a burnt-out shell of the property it had been, for the approximate equivalent of $38.4 million. He has since invested a further $60 million, through the backing of an Irish bank, with the new property designed by John B Scholz, an Arizona architect. Notable aspects of the architecture include the double staircase that is modeled on the one that fashion designer Gianni Versace had in his mansion in Miami, its Trey-slated rooftops, and the bathroom's honey-colored granite and green Guatemalan marble. It has been described by The Times newspaper as Californian Neo-classical.
Updown Court is set in the centre of 58 acres (230,000 m2) of grounds, gardens and woodland. Also, neighbors include the Elton John, Duchess of York, and, at nearby Windsor Castle, the Queen
Additional footage, tour of the property by Sunday Times Property Editor Peter Conradi Tours. The property is currently still listed unsold.
Portabello Estate, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach,
Orange County, California, USA
The Portabello Estate: An art form complementing its natural environment. Meaning "beautiful door" in Italian, Portabello opens new doors of never-before-seen luxury and unheard-of amenities to create a grand-scale living and gala entertaining environment that is beyond that of a five-star beachfront resort.
Gracing three oceanfront lots in Cameo Shores, this soft contemporary masterwork is both defined by its stunning seaside site—and redefines the luxury lifestyle ideal. Most every room provides a breathtaking panorama of the majestic Pacific Ocean, serene beach coves and the spectacular coastline from Dana Point to Palos Verdes.
A study in sensuous curves, the home unfolds as a nautilus shell, with an immense, sun-washed grotto at its center, surrounded by beautiful "chambers" including eight opulent bedroom suites and living areas that open seamlessly to the incomparable seafront. Noteable highlights of this landmark property are too numerous to capture in text, and include: 2-story grotto with a pool, 2 spas, swim-up bar, tunnel slide, poolside lounge room and barbeque area; entertainment level with bowling alley, Art Deco theater, automotive museum, cafe, full exercise facility. Approximately 2,000 square foot 2-bedroom master suite, expansive living areas, immense oceanfront lawn/terraces.
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Some may appear gaudy and distasteful, but educational nevertheless.
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