With money comes the ability to build dream homes. Lavish houses with more rooms than a person or even a family could ever need in their lives. Of course, then come the added extras of swimming pools, garages, movie theaters, and sports courts. You really would never need to leave your house.
What to Expect From the Biggest Houses in the World
Determining the size of the house could come down to the total square footage of the entire grounds or the house itself. This article will focus on acreage and not just living space. Gardens, swimming pools, and stables all count as part of a large home. If you’ve been wondering what’s the biggest house in the world, or if you’re looking to do a bit of real estate shopping, keep on reading. We’re going to get into 15 of the most massive mansions in the world. And we’ll be showing you pics, too.
1. Istana Nurul Iman Palace, Brunei 2.15 Million Square Feet
Number one on the list of biggest houses in the world is the Istana Nurul Iman Palace in Brunei. The palace spreads out over 2.15 million square feet and is owned by Brunei’s sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah. The Istana Nurul Iman Palace has 1788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, a mosque suitable for up to 1500 people, and a banquet hall for lavish parties that up to 5000 guests can attend. That alone is already eye-watering, but it doesn’t stop there. The palace also features five swimming pools and a stable for Bolkiah’s 200+ polo ponies, which has air conditioning, may I add. As the Prime Minister is one of the most prominent car collectors in the world, he also has 110 garages to house 17,000 of his cars. Leandro V. Locsin, a Filipino architect-designed and completed the extraordinary palace in 1984, where Bolkiah has lived ever since. During the Islamic celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr, the palace opens up to the public to celebrate the three-day festival. Istana Nurul Iman Palace also opens its doors to the public during the ten days of Ramadhan for prayer gatherings.
2. Buckingham Palace, London – 828,000 Square Feet
The royal residence of Buckingham Palace spans over 828,000 feet and houses the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II. A group of five architects originally designed Buckingham Palace as a large townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. Fast forward a hundred years, and the townhouse was enlarged to be three wings that surround a central courtyard. The last structural additions came in the early 20th century, which included the well-known East Front balcony. The palace, which has 775 rooms, is also home to the most extensive garden in London. If that wasn’t enough, the palace even has a post office, a cinema, an indoor swimming pool, a doctor’s surgery, and a jeweler’s workshop.
3. Antilia – Mumbai, 400,000 Square Feet
The third biggest house in the world is the Antilia. Mukesh Ambani is the proud owner of a 190m tall, 27 story skyscraper located in the heart of Mumbai. Where else would this incredible building be situated than on the most expensive street in Mumbai, Altamount Road? Not only is Antilia one of the biggest houses in the world, but it is also one of the most expensive. Appraisers have valued the property at roughly $1 billion ranking it in second place after Buckingham Palace in London. The businessman billionaire Mukesh Ambani purchased the house in 2010 but didn’t move in until 2012 in fear of “bad luck.” Antilia has three helipads, a 168-car garage, a 50-seat theater, and lush terrace gardens. You can also find a swimming pool, a spa, a temple, and a health center throughout the rooms on the 27 floors. As Mumbai is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, the architect firms Perkins & Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates designed the building to withstand a magnitude eight earthquake.
4. Biltmore Estate, Asheville 178,000 Square Feet
The Biltmore Estate was the primary residence for George Washington Vanderbilt II from 1889 to 1895. Descendants of George still own the property, which covers over 178,000 square feet. Although the house is now a tourist attraction, the Biltmore Estate is still classed as the largest private residence in America. Vanderbilt sought help from New York architect Richard Morris Hunt to design the Châteauesque style property. Hunt, who was inspired by French Renaissance architecture, designed the 250 room house to have four floors and a basement. The first floor was primarily made up of bedrooms and bathrooms to sleep family and guests of Vanderbilt. On the building’s second floor, which is accessed by a grand staircase, is a formal hall, a portrait gallery, and a living hall. The third and fourth floors had even more rooms for guests, maids, and servants and even had an observatory. Down in the basement is where all the fun happens. Vanderbilt requested an indoor swimming pool, a bowling alley, and a gymnasium. The subbasement, accessed by a back flight of stairs, led to a wine cellar that housed all of his wine. Vanderbilt also asked Hunt to design a village on the property to act as a source of income. The village included rental cottages, post offices, and a doctor’s office, amongst other things.
5. Safra Mansion, Brazil – 117,000 Square Feet
Lily Safra, a Brazilian billionaire who attained most of her considerable wealth through her four marriages, resides in the Safra Mansion in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her husband, Edmond J. Safra, had purchased the Safra Mansion and Villa Leopolda before his untimely death in 1999. The Safra Mansion is the family’s biggest property at over 117,000 square feet. Not much, however, is known about the interior of the home. The Safra family like to keep to themselves, so all we can report is that the house has 130 rooms and an outdoor and indoor pool.
6. Fair Field, Sagaponack – 110,000 Square Feet
A junk bond financier, Ira Rennert owns the 110,00 square foot Fair Field home in the Hamptons. Rennert was forced to pay $213 million in damages after being accused of using funds from MagCorp to buy his Hampton Mansion. Ouch. The mansion boasts 29 bedrooms, three swimming pools, and a 91-foot dining room. But, of course, that’s not all. Fair Field not only has a $150,000 hot tub, but it also has a two-lane bowling alley, a 164 seat movie theater, and a range of different sports courts. Now, that’s a house I’d like to visit.
7. The One, Bel Air – 105,000 Square Feet
Bel Air’s not only home to the Fresh Prince but also a 105,000 square foot property labeled “The One.” Fashion Nova’s CEO Richard Saghian purchased The One fairly recently for $126 million. This price tag makes it one of the most expensive properties ever to go up for auction. Saghian’s new home has 21 bedrooms, 49 bathrooms, a sky deck, a private theater, and a 30 car garage. Considering it also boasts an 8,500 square-foot nightclub, The One seems more like a party destination than an actual home.
8. Witanhurst, London – 90,000 Square Feet
Witanhurst is ranked as the second biggest residential estate in London after Buckingham Palance. The current Grade II listed house first came about in 1913. Architect George Hubbard designed and built the London home for soap magnate Sir Arthur Crosfield. Over the years, planning permission to turn Witanhurst into houses and apartments had been requested, but eventually, the property was sold to Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev in 2008. The mansion has 65 rooms in total, 25 of which are bedrooms. One of the most magnificent rooms is the oak floored 70-foot ballroom that has carved embellished gold-leaf cornices. Witanhurst went under construction to extend the main house two stories below ground. The home now features London’s biggest double basement with a 70-foot swimming pool, a hairdressing salon, a spa, and a 33 seat cinema.
9. Modern Versailles, Florida – 90,000 Square Feet
The Modern Versailles home in Windermere, Florida, is the private residence of David Siegel and his wife, Jackie Siegel. Taking full inspiration from the Palace of Versailles, the Siegels should finish their home sometime this year. Construction has been on and off since 2004 when Siegel first began with the build. After experiencing financial difficulties, Siegel listed the semi-built mansion before resuming construction after an increase in finances. Once the Modern Versailles is complete, it will rank as America’s fourth most expensive house and one of the biggest houses in the world. The 14 bedroom home will also feature five pools, a video arcade, a two-story movie theater, and a 20,000 bottle wine cellar. Siegel also requested an aquarium, two tennis courts, a bowling alley, and sports courts.
10. Fairwater, Sydney – 86,000 Square Feet
John Horbury Hunt and J. W. Manson designed and built the Fairwater heritage-listed residence in New South Wales in 1970. The Fairfax family later acquired the home towards the end of 1900. September 2018 saw the property sell to close to $100 million to Mike Cannon- Brookes and his wife, Annie. This sale made Fairwater the most expensive house in Australia. The 86,000 square foot Sydney Harbour facing property is the largest private residence on the harbor stretching from New South Head Road to Seven Shillings Beach.
11. La Reverie, Palm Beach – 84,600 Square Feet
Sydell Miller, the Matric Essentials Hair product company owner, enjoys beautiful things. This clearly shows in her previously owned Palm Beach home, La Reverie. The sea-to-lake estate in Palm Beach is one of the most expensive properties in Palm Beach County. The house reached $111 million thanks to its ten bedrooms, Intracoastal Waterway access, and large open windows that let in all the natural light. Before the sale in 2019 to Steven Schonfeld and his wife, Miller made her home into an architectural masterpiece. Miller collected modern and contemporary furniture and artwork from all over the world. Some of the Miller family’s collection pieces have been sold off to support organizations; these pieces included paintings from Picasso and Chagall.
12. Villa Leopolda, The French Riviera – 80,000 Square Feet
We briefly mentioned before that the Safra family owned not just Safra Mansion in Brazil but also the Villa Leopolda. In the French Riviera, Villa Leopolda is an 80,000 square foot villa that has been home to the Safras since 1987. American architect Ogden Codman Jr. originally designed the Villa Leopolda on an estate that King Leopold II of Belgium owned. During World War I, the military used Villa Leopolda as a military hospital before returning it to a residence after the war had ended. Codman had a neo-Palladian vision for the villa, kitting it out with extensive gardens and landscaping. There are 19 deluxe bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, multiple dining areas, and a large living space in true villa style. The architects included a movie theatre and a bowling alley in the home for entertainment. What is with rich people and bowling alleys?
13. Pensmore, Highlandville – 72,000 Square Feet
The thirteenth largest house that is also able to withstand earthquakes is the Pensmore property in the Ozark Mountains. Not only can it take on magnitude eight earthquakes, but it can also survive bomb blasts and tornados thanks to its 12 inch thick walls. The home, which has five stories, 13 bedrooms, and 14 bathrooms, should stand for 2,000 years, or so its owner Steven T. Huff claims. Steven T.Huff, an astrophysicist and former CIA officer, began construction of his home in 2008. Although the build isn’t completely finished, we’re sure it’ll have all the modern amenities. Huff even wants to add a space history museum.
14. Taohuayuan, Uzhou – 72,000 Square Feet
The most expensive property in China is Taohuayuan, which means utopia. And a utopia is what this is. Taohuayuan is a 32 bed, 32 bath home that sits on an island in the middle of a lake. This entire home is literally on its very own private island. Sunac China and Xiangshanbang Traditional Architectural built the home over three years. The huge property is currently listed for $154 million and showcases traditional Chinese architecture. All of the 32 bedrooms face south, and the house includes a wine room, manicured gardens, and a swimming pool. As the home is located on Suzhou’s Dushu Lake, the residents would receive incredible views of the water and surroundings.
15. Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park – 70,000 Square Feet
We can find our final entry into the biggest houses in the world in Philadelphia. Architect Horace Trumbauer designed the 110-room Neoclassical Revival mansion named Lynnewood Hall in 1897. Trumbauer originally constructed the home for Peter A. B. Widener, who was an industrialist. Lynnewood Hall housed one of the most important Gilded Age private art collections, which Widener and his son Joseph assembled. Before Peter’s death in 1915, Widener was struck with grief after the loss of his wife Hannah in 1896. Later, just three years before his death, tragedy struck again when his oldest son George Widener, and his grandson Harry Widener, died on the RMS Titanic. Lynnewood Hall has sadly sat vacant since 1952.
Biggest House in the World: Conclusion
It’s safe to say after seeing this list of the biggest houses in the world, you’ll never look at homes the same way. It’s interesting to know if the owners of these homes actually make use of all these rooms or if the majority sit untouched. As we come to a close, we’d love to know your thoughts and opinions on some of the biggest houses in the world. Do you think a home this size is unnecessary? And which of the 15 listed would you choose if you were on the hunt for a mega-mansion? Let us know in the comments down below!
