Biggest House in the World 2023 - Top 10 Largest Mansions
by Surya
Updated Apr 05, 2023
Biggest House in the World 2023
The Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and is renowned for its massive size. Covering an area of 2.15 million square feet, it is considered the largest house in the world. The palace is located on the banks of the Brunei River in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei.
The palace was completed in 1984 and cost approximately $1.4 billion to construct. It features more than 1,700 rooms, including 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 guests, and a massive mosque that can hold up to 1,500 worshippers. The palace also includes a 110-car garage, a stable for the Sultan's horses, and an air-conditioned stable for his collection of exotic cars.
The palace is surrounded by lush gardens, including a botanical garden with rare orchids, a swimming pool with a length of 200 feet, and a helipad. The palace is also equipped with advanced security systems, including round-the-clock monitoring and a large number of security personnel.
Despite its size and grandeur, the palace is only used for official functions and ceremonies. The Sultan and his family reside in a separate, more modest palace nearby. The Istana Nurul Iman Palace, however, is a symbol of the Sultan's wealth and power and is considered one of the most extravagant royal residences in the world.
Top 10 Biggest Mansions in the World
The below-mentioned table shows the top 10 biggest houses in the world:
Ranking
House and its location
Area
1
Istana Nurul Iman Palace - Brunei
2.15 million square feet
2
Antilia – Mumbai, India
400,000 square feet
3
Biltmore Estate – Asheville, North Carolina
178,926 square feet
4
Safra Mansion – Sao Paulo, Brazil
117,000 square feet
5
Witanhurst – London, England
90,000 square feet
6
Modern Versailles – Windermere, Florida
90,000 square feet
7
La Reverie – Palm Beach, Florida
84,626 square feet
8
Villa Leopolda – The French Riviera
80,000 square feet
9
The One – Bel-Air, California
74,000 square feet
10
Pensmore – Highlandville, Missouri
72,215 square feet
Take a look at our article on the Tallest Building in the World 2023
Top 10 Biggest Houses in the World 2023
1. Istana Nurul Iman Palace - Brunei
The Istana Nurul Iman Palace, located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei, is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. It is considered the largest residential palace in the world, spanning an impressive 2.15 million square feet.
With a staggering 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, a 110-car garage, horse stables, banquet hall, swimming pools, and a mosque capable of accommodating 1,500 people, the palace is truly awe-inspiring.
Named the Palace of Faith Light, it was designed by Leandro V. Locsin in 1984 and built by the Filipino firm, Ayala International. The palace's construction cost a whopping $1.4 billion, making it one of the most expensive residences in the world.
2. Antilia – Mumbai, India
In contrast to most people who construct large mansions, an Indian capitalist named Mukesh Ambani opted to build a personal skyscraper. Antilla, a 27-story, 550-foot-tall building situated in the heart of Mumbai, India, is owned by the Indian pharmaceutical magnate.
Antilla is currently the second-largest private residence globally, with a total area of 400,000 square feet, and its construction cost over $1 billion. However, this was probably a small price to pay for the owner, who is India's wealthiest person, with a net worth exceeding $30 billion.
The building's architecture is distinctive, with each floor having a different design and utilizing varying materials. The entire building was constructed in adherence to the central philosophy of Vastu shastra, a traditional Hindu art of house building. Each floor has a specific purpose, from car garages to spas, gyms, and indoor pools, and even a helipad on the top floor.
3. Biltmore Estate – Asheville, North Carolina
The Biltmore Estate, situated in Asheville, North Carolina, is renowned as the largest private residence in the United States. Its expansive 178,926 square feet of spectacular surroundings complement the region's mountainous landscape, accentuated by its architecture completed in 1895.
What sets the Biltmore Estate apart from other private mansions worldwide is its unique feature. It was opened to the public in 1930, offering lodging options in its Village Hotel or the property's four-star Inn, along with gourmet food and their signature wine.
The estate was owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, a magnate in the railroad and shipping industries, and features a chateau-like charm with its main house boasting an impressive 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, a bowling alley, a library with over 23,000 books, a vast indoor swimming pool, and all the modern amenities one can imagine. These attributes collectively make it one of the best and largest houses globally.
4. Safra Mansion – Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Safra Mansion, situated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, bears a striking resemblance to the Villa Leopolda located in the French Riviera, previously owned by Lily Safra and her late husband Edmond, a well-known banker who passed away in a suspicious fire at his Monaco mansion in 1999.
Covering a vast area of 117,000 square feet, the Safra Mansion comprises a whopping 130 rooms, both indoor and outdoor pools, and is encircled by a towering wall. The interior remains a mystery to most, as the Safra family members prefer to maintain their privacy, despite owning multiple exorbitantly-priced properties worldwide.
5. Witanhurst – London, England
Witanhurst, situated in London, is the second largest residential estate in the city, second only to Buckingham Palace. It was constructed between 1913 and 1920, designed by architect George Hubbard, and incorporates a portion of the former Parkfield estate that once occupied the enormous property.
Spanning 90,000 square feet, the estate is equipped with all the modern amenities one could desire, including a gym with a sauna room, a swimming pool, a movie theater, a massage parlor, and ample parking space. The current owner is believed to be the Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, who acquired the property in 2008 for nearly $64 million.
6. Modern Versailles – Windermere, Florida
The Versailles mega mansion, owned by Jaqueline and David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts, is located in Orange County, Florida. The construction of the enormous estate took so long that at one point, the couple almost lost the house.
Featuring an 8,000 sq ft master bedroom, more than 30 bathrooms, 15 bedrooms, 11 kitchens, and 6 swimming pools, the mansion gained a lot of attention and was showcased in several documentaries, including the popular one, The Queen of Versailles.
7. La Reverie – Palm Beach, Florida
La Reverie, the largest celebrity residence in Palm Beach, Florida and the 7th largest private home in the world, was bought in 1995 for a modest $4.5 million. While it may look like a house rendering in the photo, it is actually quite massive. In addition to serving as a comfortable living space, the current owners frequently host charity events and concerts at the property. Originally built by Sydell Miller, the owner of Matrix Essentials hair product company, La Reverie's location is ideal for attracting wealthy and famous buyers.
8. Villa Leopolda – The French Riviera
Villa Leopolda, located in the French Riviera, has a rich history. It was built by King Leopold II of Belgium as a gift for his mistress Blanche Zélia Joséphine Delacroix. During World War I, the 80,000 sq ft property was used as a military hospital. American architect Ogden Codman Jr. designed the property between 1929 and 1931. Brazilian billionaire Lily Safra owned the property until 2008 when it was sold to a Russian oligarch. The villa is considered to be one of the most expensive homes in Europe, valued at a little over $500 million. It has two guest houses, 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, vast gardens, and a prime beachfront location.
9. The One – Bel-Air, California
Located in Bel Air, California, "The One" is a 74,000 sq ft property that was envisioned and built by Nile Niami, a film producer and real estate developer. Once it's finished, it will become the most expensive house in the United States with a price tag of $500 million.
Whether it's too much, too large or too ostentatious depends on who you ask. However, the mansion will offer almost every possible amenity including a 5,000 sq ft master bedroom, a theater similar to Imax, four swimming pools, a 30-car garage, and an 8,500 sq ft nightclub. The house has 20 bedrooms, 30 bathrooms, and even a specially designed room for jellyfish.
With its extravagant features, it appears that "The One" may be more suited for hosting events and parties than as a permanent residence.
10. Pensmore – Highlandville, Missouri
Steven Huff, an astrophysicist and former CIA officer, had a different motive for building his massive house. Unlike most who build large houses to flaunt their wealth and status, Huff wanted to prove that a house could be made to withstand everything from bullets and bombs to earthquakes, fires, and hurricanes. Construction on the house began in 2008, but its future remains uncertain. Recently, there has been news that the owner plans to have it demolished and rebuilt because it is not as sturdy as he had hoped, blaming the construction company for the shortcomings.
What is the Largest House in the World?
Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and the largest residential palace in the world, covering an area of 2.15 million square feet. The palace features 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can accommodate 5,000 guests, a mosque that can hold 1,500 worshippers, a 110-car garage, a stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies, and much more. Completed in 1984, the palace was estimated to cost around $1.4 billion to build. The palace is not open to the public, but visitors can view it from a distance and marvel at its grandeur and opulence.
Most Expensive House in the World
Here is the list of the Top 10 Most Expensive House in the World provided in the below table;
To Know in-depth about the most expensive houses in the world, check out our article on the Most Expensive Houses in World
Rank
Expensive House
Location
Price
1
Buckingham Palace
London, UK
$4.9 billion
2
Ambani Antilia
Mumbai, India
$1.5 billion
3
Villa Leopolda
France
$750 million
4
Witanhurst,
London
$450 million
5
Villa Les Cèdres
French Riviera
$410 million
6
Fairfield Mansion
New York
$248 million
7
Kensington Palace (9a),
London
$70 million
8
Ellison Estate,
California
$200 million
9
Palazzo Di Amore
California
$195 million
10
Xanadu 2.0
Washington DC
$8 million
Biggest House in the World 2023 - FAQs
Currently, the most expensive house in the world is the Buckingham Palace, which is the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom. However, if we consider privately-owned homes, then the Villa Firenze in Beverly Hills, California, owned by Jeff Greene, is considered the most expensive, with an estimated value of $160 million.
The biggest house in London is the Witanhurst mansion, which is located in Highgate and owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev. The mansion comprises around 90,000 square feet and is the second-largest residential estate in London after the Buckingham Palace.
The most expensive house in the US is "The One," a 74,000 square feet mansion located in Bel Air, California. The property is still under construction but is estimated to be worth $500 million when completed.
The Safra Mansion is owned by the Safra family, who are a well-known banking family from Brazil. The mansion is located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is estimated to be worth around $50 million.
Steven Huff's bulletproof mansion was built to be a proof of concept, demonstrating that a house can be made to be resistant to a wide range of threats such as bullets, bombs, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and more. Steven Huff is an astrophysicist and former CIA officer who designed the mansion to be a safe haven for himself and his family.