Here's Where You Can Find The Largest Homes In The World

In 2012, viewers saw Versailles of Windermere, a Florida home designed after its namesake across the pond, in the documentary "The Queen of Versailles." In the film, we got to know Jackie Siegel (yup, she's the "queen") and the home she shared with Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel after they decided to embark on building the biggest single-family home in the country with 90,000 square feet, reported Distractify. Although their efforts were paused in 2008 following the economic recession, construction is resumed and will likely be completed by mid-2022.

However, the final Versailles of Windermere will look quite different than what viewers thought it would per the documentary. Since the Siegels began building more than two decades ago, much has changed for the family — namely that they're nearly empty-nesters, so they don't have much need for playrooms. Instead, Versailles will include spaces such as a hidden bar, a massive closet with its own elevator, and a nightclub reminiscent of those found in Sin City. When the ribbon is theoretically cut, the estate will have 13 bedrooms and nearly double the amount of bathrooms, according to New England Cable News. It's worth about $4 million, and the Siegels pay $65,000 in taxes each year for their home that also includes a garage that can accommodate 20 cars, a ballroom, a wine cellar that encompasses two stories, a 50-guest dining room, and nearly a dozen kitchens.

For many of us, a million-dollar home is out of reach. But for Mukesh Ambani, chairman of an Indian multinational conglomerate company, that's nothing –- valued at between $1 to 2 billion, his Mumbai pad has been called the second priciest home in the world, reported Architectural Digest. Named after an island that was once supposedly in the Atlantic Ocean, Antilia takes up 400,000 square feet on, fittingly, one of the planet's costliest roads. The home is composed with almost 30 floors that have ceilings that so high that they equate to about the same height as a two-story structure.

Of course, it's hard to fill up 400,000 square feet with just housing, so Antilia also includes an enormous temple, six floors for car storage and a service station, a salon, an ice cream shop, a movie theater that can screen films for up to 50 guests, and tons of suites for visitors spending a little extra time at the lavish home. It's all decorated with an overarching lotus and sun theme, featuring red, gold, and white tones all among ultra-luxe modern touches like floor-to-ceiling windows and glistening chandeliers. 

However, despite its upscale attitude, Antilia is in no Beverly Hills. Its views include a packed-to-the-brim neighborhood, where more than half of the residents are forced to survive on only $2 per day. But on the top floor — which is directly underneath the helipad –- expansive views of the Arabian Sea are visible, reported All That's Interesting.

The translation of Taohuayuan, a 32-bedroom garden estate in China that hit the market in 2016 as the priciest home in the country to ever go on sale, couldn't be more on-point. "Utopia," according to Mansion Global, sold for nearly $150 million after three years of construction on a private island near Dushu Lake, which is the largest lake in China. It took handmade building materials, as well as tons of foliage, from Xiangshanbang Traditional Architectural and Building Skills to bring the property to life.

On nearly 1,700 acres, the estate — themed after UNESCO World Heritage Site the Classical Gardens of Suzhou — also includes a swimming pool (next to the lake, of course) with views of the nearby city, and several courtyards, said Sotheby's International Realty (via Insider). And that's just the outdoors; inside the 72,000 square foot garden palace, there are also 32 bathrooms, a colossal wine cellar, and décor that mixes both modern luxury as well as traditional East Asian touches. Every one of the 32 bedrooms also face south, which makes it so they garner the most natural sunlight during the daytime hours.

With over 70,000 square feet on the billionaire's playground of Palm Beach, La Reverie –- which translates to "a daydream" –- lives up to its name. The estate now owned by hedge fund billionaire Steven Schonfeld and his family after they purchased it in 2019 for $111 million serves as the lucky family's winter vacation home to escape the harsh seasonal New York temperatures, according to Mansion Global. But with its amenities, it's much more than a vacation home –- La Reverie might as well be a resort. It includes 11 bedrooms and nearly double the number of bathrooms, as well as entertainment-friendly additions like a candy shop, ice cream shop, a salon, spa, and a bowling alley. It's ideal for the Schonfelds, who have several children and primarily live on Long Island and in New York City.

Before the Schonfelds purchased La Reverie — which was the most expensive residential deal to ever close in the Sunshine State — it was owned by Sydell Miller, who founded beauty company Matrix Essentials, reported the Palm Beach Daily News. Two decades before the sale, she constructed the three-story mansion over four years atop more than five beachfront acres. Miller seems to have downsized –- on her terms, anyway –- to an entire floor of a West Palm Beach waterfront condominium building that cost her $42.56 million.

The Manor might not be the largest home in California or even in the United States like some of these other enormous mansions are. However, it does take the title as largest home in Los Angeles, which is no easy feat considering the number of star-worthy residences in the city. With 56,500 square feet –- just about 1,500 more than the White House –- the estate has 123 rooms, including 14 bedrooms and 27 bathrooms, according to Work + Money.

Although these days, the public doesn't know for sure who resides at this luxe property –- it last sold for $120 million in 2019 after being listed for $160 million –- its past is no secret. One of its former owners is the heiress to Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone, who bought the Manor in 2011 and then renovated it over three months. Prior to that, the Manor was the home of TV producer Aaron Spelling, who produced showstoppers such as "Charlie's Angels" and "Beverly Hills 90210." Before building the home that cost him $12 million to create (which is $48 million in today's currency), the property housed another mansion that Spelling tore down to construct his dream home. But despite its beautiful appearance, the Manor's neighbors were never jumping for joy. Neighbors have said that the estate has brought in too many tourists to try to spot the mansion up-close, hosted too many loud parties, and was just simply too big for the neighborhood.

To many, Buckingham Palace is the gem of homes in England. And it certainly is –- but it's followed closely by Witanhurst, which is the biggest private family home in the capital of the United Kingdom, according to Forbes. The 90,000-square-foot estate includes features like a ballroom more than the length of a bowling lane, and a well-appointed fitness area with massage rooms, a gym, and a pool, all within a 40,000 square foot basement. However, despite the 25-room mansion's grandeur, no one knew who actually lived there for more than five years. Then, in 2015, the mystery was solved: A Russian billionaire worth $2.6 billion was revealed to be the owner of the home that sold for nearly $57 million in 2008. In the deal of the century, it's now estimated to be worth almost $340 million.

Witanhurst came to be in the 1910s, reported the Daily Mail, by the owner of a local soap company. Even from the very beginning, it had some very special guests, including Queen Elizabeth herself. But since then, the property has become much less popular with neighbors. Similar to many other massive mansions, those living nearby Witanhurst have complained that it has disturbed their window views and even lessened the values of their homes.

Beverly Hills has its fair share of ultra-luxurious homes, but the Beverly House is both that as well as a historic icon. The Spanish and Italian-style mansion was once the residence of William Randolph Hearst, newspaper publisher and founder of Hearst Publications, according to Finest Residences. Actress Marion Davies purchased the estate as what was perhaps the most lavish gift in history for Hearst, who she was romantically involved with.

Beverly House also maintains its place in time since John and Jacqueline Kennedy stayed here on their honeymoon. Additionally, it has made appearances in films such as "The Godfather" (remember when Jack Woltz woke up with a horse head in his bed? Yup, that was here) and "The Bodyguard." With its long list of features and amenities, accolades like that aren't surprising. The simply-named Beverly House includes one the longest private driveways in the city, floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the colossal pool and its accompanying pool house, an entry hall that spans 50 feet, 22-foot-high ceilings with ornate designs, and a billiard room with a stone fireplace. Plus, with its own nightclub, wine cellar, and multiple projection rooms for screenings, there aren't many reasons to leave this amazing estate.