10 of the World’s Best Luxury Homes

For most people a house is the most expensive asset they will ever own and with such a big commitment it makes sense to want it to be perfect. Of course, when money is no object perfection can easily be obtained. The following list takes a peek inside 10 of the world’s best luxury homes, so get ready to see how the richest of the rich live and have your mind blown by the amazing features and exorbitant prices that come with absolute luxury.

 10.  Parc D'Anfa, Casablanca, Morocco - $78 million

Starting off our list at a cool $78 million, this exceptional palace is nestled in the heights of Casablanca's most exclusive neighborhood. Located in the fashionable enclave of AnfaSupérieur, an elevated region of the city that enjoys views of the Atlantic Ocean.

With 107,640 square feet of interior living space, Parc D'Anfa has 24 bedrooms, 24 full bathrooms and an extensive fitness and spa facility. If you love entertaining you’ll love Parc D’Anfa’s 22 large suites with a variety of decorative styles, making it a perfect reception palace.

The estate is spread out on one and half hectares of land, with outdoor spaces made even more beautiful by lush vegetation and landscaped gardens.

The highlight of this home is it’s architectural heft, blending the most lavish Moroccan traditional architectural influences with modern features. For instance, Parc D'Anfa combines magnificent Carrara marble columns, stunning Baccarat crystal luminaries, precious Chinese tapestries and dazzling Murano glass chandeliers. The sculptural splendor is exemplified by the cedar plaster ceilings, finely carved, and delicately engraved by the most experienced master craftsmen of Fez.

Every surface in elegant and opulent Parc D’Anfa estate seems to glimmer in the light, making it look like the set of an epic movie, but this Casablanca palace is truly a dream home come true.

  9.   Cave Cay Exumas, Bahamas - $90 million

Cave Cay isn’t just one of the world’s most luxurious homes,but a full private island. Perched atop one of the highest points, this home allows you to enjoy 360-degree views of the island and boasts 20 bedrooms, 20 full bathrooms and a 70,000 square foot interior.

Cave Cay is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world, located close to the famous Musha Cay in the heart of the Exumas.

The 222-acre island is completely self-sufficient, using diesel generators to supply water and power. The island itself features untouched beaches, and lush vegetation with elevations of up to 40 feet for amazing views. If that’s not enough the island also comes with a private and protected deep water harbor and marina with 35 dock slips on a floating cement dock system.

Don’t worry about getting there; just land your private jet on the islands 2,800 foot private airstrip.

This island is actually up for sale and a worthy investment, coming in at the second least pricey on our list. It’s approved as a commercial operation with plans for 38 buildings including, a three-story boathouse with a marina shop on the first level and a two-story residence above, plus maintenance and staff buildings. Still under construction are the clubhouse and restaurant, shower, bathroom facilities, and three guesthouses with hotel rooms and suites. If you choose to purchase this island, all building materials including tractors, rollers, graders, trucks, golf carts, boats, back up supplies and generators are part of the package, along with a team of six employees intimately familiar with the island. In just six months this island can be fully operational for commercial use or transformed into your own private oasis.

  8.   Cologny Castle, Geneva, Switzerland - $106 million

If you’re in the market for a castle instead of an island then this dazzling 9,687 square foot manor estate, up for sale,might be right for you. Surrounded by 20 acres of beautiful land. The grounds include a number of recreational areas such as a private 9-hole golf course, a pool with pool house, a tennis court, a bowling alley, a large wooded area with playground and chalet, a vegetable garden, a shed for garden equipment, and even a gas pump!

The pump can be used for filling up your luxury cars which can be parked in the several garages and car parks; or store up to ten collector's cars in the two heated garages built specifically for that purpose.

This estate also includes nine apartments for guests and personnel, which are either brand new or fully renovated. Plus, get the best of both worlds, as this property is located just five minutes from the center of town but is renowned for its absolute tranquility. Boasting remarkable, unobstructed views of the Alps and the peak of Mont Blanc. This property has exceptional views of the countryside and will thrill anyone in love with wide-open spaces yearning for some peace and quiet.

  7.   Palazzate, Saint Peter's Bay, Barbados - $125 million

Why stop at an island and a castle when you can also buy a world-renowned beachfront property? An unrivalled luxury estate situated on the famed west coast of Barbados, located at the northern end of the west coast, close to historic Speightstown; Palazzate is without a doubt the ‘crown jewel’ of the island.

Built by native craftsman, using hand cut local coral stone and the finest materials from around the world, Palazzate has a unique look and style that will be preserved for many years to come.

This estate is home to 4 ocean front residences each covering an average space of 13,000 square feet. On top of that you have staffing quarters complete with laundry, kitchens, private access elevators and biometric controls; giving you a total of 75, 000 square feet of living space. Whoever buys this property will benefit from exclusive access to berths and yachting facilities at the nearby Port Ferdinand Marina.

Each residence has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, an individual media room, and a pool. Additionally, there is a bar area with direct access to the family pool and beach. Security rooms and camera systems are located throughout the entire property to ensure added safety. If that’s not enough, you’re in luck because this property is also home to its very own spa area with treatment rooms, a health club, quiet room, rain shower, and changing rooms. Oh, and don’t forget underground parking for 18 cars.

  6.   Taohuayuan, Suzhou, China - $154 million

Touted as the most expensive house in all of Mainland China, this breathtaking compound has been on the market since June and can be yours for only 1 billion Yuan. Taohuayuan roughly translates to Utopia, and it’s not hard to see why.

Sunac China, one of the leading residential property developers in the country spent about three years constructing this estate, while Xiangshanbang Traditional Architectural and Building Skills handcrafted all the bricks and plants. Together they created a space worthy of the highest recognition in international landscaping.

The breathtaking gardens modeled after the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, teem with native plants and craggy rocks; they feature mist-covered ponds, arched bridges reflection pools, and even a bubbling waterfall.

Built on the south shore of Suzhou’s Dushu Lake, China’s biggest lake by surface area, this garden home sits on it’s own private island.

The beautiful compound is highly coveted because its location and shape are in line with the laws of fengshui. It has a total of 32 bedrooms and 32 bathrooms, with all the bedrooms facing south, to take advantage of peak natural light. In keeping with fengshui, the lake is the central element of this estate. The main house, as well as all of its pavilions, provides incredible lake views from different parts of the luxury home. They even installed an infinity-edge pool overlooking the lake.

On top of that, traditional Chinese buildings with swooped-edge gables grace the 1.6-acres of land and inside the approximately 72,400-square-foot residence, is not only a variety of traditional Chinese furniture, fixtures, and art but also a state of the art walk in wine cellar.

  5.   Versailles, Hillsboro Beach, Florida - $159 million

Started almost a decade ago, Jacqueline and David Siegel undertook the extravagant task of building the largest private residence in the United States, calling it Versailles, as it’s Modeled after the Palace of Versailles in France. Although building came to a halt due to the recession, Siegel has bounced back and construction is once again under way.

The luxurious waterfront estate, which sits on four and a half acres of land, located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway is a 90,000 square foot behemothall under one roof. The main house has 11 bedrooms, and the master suite includes a heated plunge pool on the balcony. The house showcases a marble staircase that cost $2 million to build and more than $3 million worth of gold leaf can be found throughout. In addition there is a ballroom that has a dome with beautiful, colorful inlaid glass in the ceiling, costing over half a million dollars and taking the artist a few years to create.

There is also a commercial kitchen for catered events, a kitchen designated for sushi with a hibachi grill, and a regular, family kitchen.But it doesn’t stop there,all of the staff quarters have kitchens, and all of the guest suites have kitchenettes plus there is an outdoor kitchen complete with a pizza oven.

Also to be found outside, a 4,500-square-foot infinity pool with a swim-up bar and water slide, a glass-bottomed hot tub suspended above the deluxe pool,six waterfalls (of which one of them is 25 feet tall,) a putting green and two boat docks on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Furthermore, two guesthouses are being built on the smaller lot, which, will measure about 3,000 square feet each and will share a pool. An underground entertainment complex is being built and will include an ice-skating rink, a nightclub, a bowling alley, a go-kart racetrack and an 18-seat IMAX home theater.

It also features a subterranean garage big enough to park 30 cars, a wine cellar with enough room for 3,000 bottles, and a 1,300-gallon built-in aquarium. In fact, the Siegel’s were approached by the TV show “Tanked,” so they met with the producers and came up with the idea of building the largest shark tank in a private residence. When it’s completed Sea World will be responsible for maintenance.

  4.   Tour Odéon Penthouse, Monaco - $400 million

Think living in an apartment isn’t luxurious? Well think again. The Tour Odéon, a 560feet tower and second tallest building on the Mediterranean coastline offers residents a 24/7 concierge service and a private chauffeur.It comes equipped with a health center, multiple swimming pools and an in-house caterer.

But even in the midst of all that luxury, the penthouse still stands out as the ultimate billionaire playground. At five-floors and more than 10,000 square feet, the Sky Penthouse boasts features like floor to-ceiling windows with a 360 degree view of Monaco. It includes a private terrace, and waterslide that leads from the dance floor straight into the stunning outdoor rooftop circular infinity pool.

The price per square foot is more expensive than New York City due to the fact that Monaco is so small and the demand for property is very high, so all this luxury can be yours for the small price of about $400 million.

  3.   Villa Leopolda, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France - $750 million

Built in 1902 by King Leopold II of Belgium, this villa, named after the King, is considered one of the foremost historical properties in all of Europe. It is often regarded as the second most expensive home in the world.

The villa is spread over two houses across 20 acres of land and takes 50 gardeners to tend to its countless olive, cypress and lemon trees and commercial sized green house. A thick, well-kept tree line surrounds the front of the estate and the pink and beige steps that lead up to it are the original steps King Leopold had constructed. Outside you will find a swimming pool and pool house, an outdoor kitchen, and a helipad.

Inside you will find 19 luxurious bedrooms, equipped with large bathrooms, antique furnishings, walkout terraces, and fireplaces. Other features include sporting courts, a bowling alley, multiple kitchens and dining rooms, a movie theater, and rare marble and period artwork.There is also a guesthouse larger than most millionaire mansions.

Unfortunately this house is off the market, purchased by a Russian billionaire for a whopping $750 million dollars.

  2.   Antilia, Mumbai, India - $1 billion

Built by the wealthiest man in India, MukeshAmbani,is a business tycoon with an estimated net worth of $22.3 billion. The home, called Antilia, after the mystical city in Atlantis,is a 27-storey skyscraper that reaches 550 feet with over 400,000 square feet of interior space. It sits on Mumbai's tony Altamount Road and cost an estimated $1 billion to build.Since some ceilings are double-height, it's actually closer to the size of a 40-story building. It was designed by American based architects on 48,000 square feet of land in downtown South Mumbai and took four years to build.

If you prefer to arrive by air the roof has three helipads and an air traffic control facility but if you prefer to arrive by car, the first six levels are used for parking lots with space enough for 168 cars.

Above that, the living area begins and is easily accessible via a lobby with nine elevators. Inside you will find multiple swimming pools, a home theatre that seats 50 people, a health spa/yoga studio, a ballroom and a temple where the family prays regularly. There is also an ice room with man-made snow, and a conference room that offers a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea.

The final four levels of the complex are dedicated to hanging gardens, which act as an energy-saving device by absorbing sunlight and deflecting it from the living spaces to insulate the area.

Throughout this exorbitant house you will find two design motifs—the sun and the lotus—repeated in rare materials like crystal, marble, and mother-of-pearl.

  1.   Buckingham Palace, Westminster, England - $1.55 billion

Originally known as Buckingham House and technically still a house, this property was valued at roughly $1.5 billion by the Nationwide Building Society in 2012, making it the most expensive house in the world.

It’s no wonder Buckingham Palace tops our list of the world’s best luxury homes, the property holds 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 bedrooms, 188 staff rooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.

Inside you will find classic furniture from England and France as well as beautiful treasures from the Royal Collection including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Poussin. A breath taking bronze staircase designed by architect, John Nash as part of his work remodeling the palace during King George IV reign from 1825 to 1830, is still in immaculate condition. The staircase shows off some of the world’s finest bronze casting work with intricate patterns of acanthus, oak and laurel leaves on the impressive double balustrade, all lit by an etched glass dome in the ceiling.

Once outside you will find yourself in the “walled oasis in the middle of London,” Buckingham Palace’s famous gardens sprawling 39 acres and containing more than 350 types of wildflowers, around 200 trees and a three-acre lake. There is also a tennis court, famous for King George the VI and Fred Perry’s tennis matches of the 1930’s, a wisteria-clad summerhouse and a huge waterloo vase.

Although it is unlikely this house will ever go up for sale, Buckingham Palace is open for public tours allowing us commoners to bask in the ultimate luxury.