Inside America’s 13 Most Expensive Mansions (And 2 That Are Even Pricier)
Luxury in America reaches staggering heights behind the gates of its most extravagant homes. These estates aren’t just places to live – they’re private worlds built for the ultra-wealthy, blending art, architecture, and excess in equal measure.
With prices that rival entire city blocks, they offer a rare glimpse into the uppermost tier of real estate, where every square foot is a statement of status, ambition, and opulence beyond imagination.
1. The One – Bel-Air, California
Nicknamed for its unparalleled status in luxury real estate, this mega-mansion spans 105,000 square feet of pure opulence. The property boasts 21 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, five swimming pools, and a 30-car garage.
Originally listed for $500 million, it eventually sold at auction for a fraction of that price after its developer faced financial troubles. Still, it remains one of America’s most extraordinary residential properties ever constructed.
2. Chartwell Estate – Los Angeles, California
Famous as the filming location for “The Beverly Hillbillies” TV show, this French Neoclassical masterpiece exudes old-world elegance across its 25,000 square feet. Limestone walls and manicured gardens transport visitors to the French countryside.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s son Lachlan purchased this iconic estate for $150 million. The property features a 75-foot swimming pool, tennis court, and guest house larger than most luxury homes.
3. Xanadu 2.0 – Medina, Washington
Microsoft founder Bill Gates spent seven years and $63 million creating this technological wonder on Lake Washington. The 66,000-square-foot mansion incorporates cutting-edge technology throughout, including sensors that adjust temperature and lighting as guests move through rooms.
Especially impressive is the library, which houses rare manuscripts including Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester. Underground garages, a 60-foot swimming pool, and a trampoline room complete this tech billionaire’s dream home.
4. Villa Firenze – Beverly Hills, California
Sprawling across nearly 10 acres in the exclusive Beverly Park neighborhood, this Italian-inspired estate sold for $165 million in 2021. Visitors enter through the longest private driveway in Beverly Hills, leading to a courtyard that can accommodate 30 vehicles.
Built by biotech entrepreneur Roy Eddleman, the property features 20 bedrooms, a pool pavilion, tennis court, and walking trails throughout the grounds. Hand-painted ceilings and imported Italian stonework showcase extraordinary craftsmanship.
5. Gemini – Manalapan, Florida
Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, this 16-acre oceanfront paradise offers the ultimate Florida lifestyle. The main residence spans 62,200 square feet with 33 bedrooms and stunning ocean views from nearly every room.
Unusual features include a sports complex, butterfly garden, and botanical collection with 1,500 tropical species. The property’s name comes from its unique positioning, with access to both bodies of water creating a true tropical paradise.
6. Mesa Vista Ranch – Pampa, Texas
Late oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens transformed 65,000 acres of Texas Panhandle into a wildlife paradise over nearly 50 years. The property features man-made lakes, 20 miles of water features, and some of the world’s finest quail hunting grounds.
Multiple structures include a 12,000-square-foot main lodge, lake house, and private airport with a 6,000-foot runway. Pickens invested nearly $100 million creating this ecological showcase that demonstrates how conservation and luxury can coexist beautifully.
7. Palazzo Di Amore – Beverly Hills, California
Real estate mogul Jeff Greene built this Mediterranean-inspired palace as the ultimate entertainment compound. The 53,000-square-foot main residence features 12 bedrooms, 23 bathrooms, and a 50-seat theater, but the entertainment spaces truly set it apart.
A 15,000-square-foot entertainment complex includes a disco/ballroom with rotating dance floor and laser system. The property’s vineyard produces 400-500 cases of wine annually, complementing a wine cellar that holds 10,000 bottles.
8. Four Fairfield Pond – Sagaponack, New York
Billionaire Ira Rennert’s controversial Hamptons compound spans 63 acres of prime oceanfront real estate. Local residents protested its massive 110,000-square-foot size during construction, equivalent to 55 average-sized homes combined.
The Mediterranean-style main house features 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, and a 164-seat theater. Recreational amenities include two tennis courts, two squash courts, a basketball court, bowling alley, and a $150,000 hot tub.
9. The Manor – Holmby Hills, California
Television producer Aaron Spelling built this colossal 56,500-square-foot French chateau-style mansion in 1991. Nicknamed “Candyland” after his wife Candy, the estate became famous for extravagant features like multiple gift-wrapping rooms, a bowling alley, and an ice rink.
Purchased by Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone for $85 million in 2011, she invested $20 million in modernizing the interiors before selling it for $120 million in 2019. The property remains one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable mega-mansions.
10. Casa Encantada – Bel-Air, California
Currently owned by financier Gary Winnick, this historic 1930s Georgian-style estate sits on eight acres overlooking the Bel-Air Country Club. Architect James E. Dolena designed the 40,000-square-foot mansion for glass fortune heiress Hilda Boldt Weber.
Famous interior designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings created custom furniture specifically for each room. When Winnick purchased it for $94 million in 2000, it set a record as America’s most expensive home sale, though it has since been surpassed many times.
11. Owlwood Estate – Los Angeles, California
Hollywood royalty including Tony Curtis, Sonny and Cher, and Jayne Mansfield have called this historic Holmby Hills estate home. The 12,200-square-foot Italian Renaissance-style mansion sits on 10 acres in the platinum triangle between Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, and Holmby Hills.
Built in 1936, the property has witnessed countless celebrity parties and Hollywood deals. Recently sold for $88 million after being listed for $180 million, the estate represents old Hollywood glamour at its finest.
12. Il Palmetto – Palm Beach, Florida
Hedge fund billionaire Henry Kravis owns this Mediterranean Revival masterpiece designed by architect Maurice Fatio in 1930. Spanning 60,000 square feet across six acres, the oceanfront compound includes both Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth frontage.
Meticulously restored to preserve its historic character, the estate features hand-painted ceilings, intricate stonework, and museum-quality finishes. A tunnel beneath South Ocean Boulevard connects the main house to the beach, providing ultimate privacy for its billionaire owner.
13. Copper Beech Farm – Greenwich, Connecticut
Dating back to the 1890s, this historic 50-acre waterfront estate once held the record for America’s most expensive home sale at $120 million. The 13,500-square-foot Victorian main house features 12-foot ceilings, original millwork, and exceptional craftsmanship throughout.
With 4,000 feet of private Long Island Sound waterfront, the property includes two offshore islands. Meticulously maintained gardens, an apple orchard, two greenhouses, and a 75-foot heated pool showcase classic New England luxury at its finest.
14. 220 Central Park South Penthouse – New York, New York
Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin broke records by paying $238 million for this sky palace overlooking Central Park. The 24,000-square-foot penthouse occupies multiple floors of the Robert A.M. Stern-designed limestone tower.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offer unparalleled 360-degree views of Manhattan, while private elevators whisk residents between floors. The building’s amenities include a private restaurant, athletic club, juice bar, and library – all with that priceless Central Park backdrop.
15. Michael Dell’s Billionaire’s Row Property – New York, New York
Computer magnate Michael Dell dropped $100+ million on this trophy penthouse atop One57, one of Manhattan’s supertall residential towers. The 11,000-square-foot residence occupies the top floors of the Christian de Portzamparc-designed blue glass tower.
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame spectacular Central Park views from 1,000 feet above street level. Custom interiors by celebrated designers feature rare materials sourced globally. The building offers hotel-style amenities including room service from the Park Hyatt below.
