No 1 in the world
Villa Leopolda is a large villa in the French town of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. It was built in 1902 by King Leopold II of Belgium as a present for his mistress and derives its name from him. The villa appeared in the news in the summer of 2008 with reports of the Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov having purchased the home at a price of approximately 500 million euros ($ 736m). However, Prokhorov’s spokesman denied that he was the purchaser. In February 2010, a Nice court decided that Prokhorov could not demand back the 39 million-euro down payment made in 2008 and had to pay an additional 1.5 million euros of interest. The price reported at the occasion of the lawsuit was 370 million euros, which still would have made it probably the world’s most expensive villa.
The World in Guangzhou, Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Villa and Tomson Riviera in Shanghai ranked as the top three on the list of China’s Ten Most Expensive Homes in 2010, according to the World Executive Group. Let’s compare them with the world’s top 10 luxury homes and find out which ones are more luxurious.
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No 1 in China
The World in Guangzhou, China
This project in Guangzhou was designed by 70 architects both at home and abroad and includes 70 villas. The average price for a villa is 76.28 million yuan ($ 11.17 million), while the most expensive one costs more than 200 million yuan.
No 2 in world
Updown Court, England
Updown Court is a private residence in Windlesham, England. It is the largest private residence to be built in the United Kingdom since the 19th century and was listed with Savills and Hamptons International, UK in 2005 for £70 million.
No 2 in China
Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Villa
Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Villa was ranked China’s most luxury home in 2009, defeating many famous real estate projects like Tomson Riviera in Shanghai.
No 3 in world
The Manor, the United States
The Manor, in the Holmby Hills, neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, was the home of television producer Aaron Spelling’s widow. Built in 1988, it is the largest home in Los Angeles County. The Manor is a French chateau-style mansion with 123 rooms and 56,500 square feet of space on more than 4.6 acres.
No 3 in China
Tomson Riviera, Shanghai
Tomson Riviera is located in Lujiazui, Shanghai. The 44-story apartment building is as high as 153 meters. Its price hit 130,000 yuan per square meter in 2006.
No 4 in world
Bran Castle, Romania
Bran Castle, situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. It is estimated to be worth more than $ 140 million.
No 4 in China
Thaihot Mansion, Beijing
Beijing Thaihot Mansion, situated near the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, consists of 101 luxurious villas.
No 5 in world
Hala Ranch, the United States
The Hala Ranch is a 95-acre (380,000 square meters) estate in Aspen, Colorado, and is originally purchased and given its name by Prince Bandar bin Sultan. The estate has been ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the most expensive homes in the United States, listed at $ 135 million. It is built in a rustic style, with massive timber beams and stone columns, and contains 15 bedrooms, all with patios, and 16 bathrooms.
No 5 in China
Shenzhen Tianqin Bay
Tianqin Bay project is located in Shenzhen Meisha resort. The 48 peninsula-like villas have perfect sea view, with private swimming pools and garages.
No 6 in world
Fleur de Lys, the United States
Fleur de Lys, which is bulit on Beverly Hills, california by a Texan billionaire, is valued at $125 million. The 15-bedroom mansion was inspired by France’s Vaux Le Vicomte palace outside Paris.
No 6 in China
Greentown Rose Garden, Shanghai
The Greentown Rose Garden project is located in Qizhong Forest Sports Center in southwest Shanghai. Covering an area of 9.6 square kilometers, the sports center includes facilities such as an 18-hole golf course, an international ATP tennis court, an athlete village, a high-class hotel, and a high grade forest villa area.
No 7 in world
Maison de L Amitie, the United States
In 2004, Donald J Trump bought former health care executive Abe Gosman’s palace, Maison de L Amitie, at a bankruptcy auction for $41.25 million. With the refurbished version–complete with ballroom, conservatory, 100-foot-long swimming pool and 475 feet of oceanfront–he aims to set a US sales record.
No 7 in China
Pangu Plaza, Beijing
Beijing Pangu Plaza is located near the Beijing Olympic Park. It is only 180 meters away from the Water Cube and 500 meters away from the Bird’s Nest. Rental for a year is said to be 100 million yuan.
No 8 in world
Albermarle House, the United States
Albermarle House, is situated in a highland of Virginia State, covering 300 acres. The Georgia style estate was designed by architecture master–Dave Easton, at a market price of $ 100 million.
No 8 in China
Shenzhen OCT East Horizon
OCT East, covering an area of 9 square kilometers at eastern Shenzhen, connects the sea view with mountain and forest. A golf course, theme park and churches complete the scene.
No 9 in world
Three Ponds, the United States
Three Ponds, which encompasses more than 60 acres of Hamptons farmland, is named for its lakes. But, the lavish estate also features its own golf course, 14 gardens, a 75-foot-long swimming pool and guest house. The main house, designed by architect Allan Greenberg, has a great room with a 28-foot-high domed ceiling.
No 9 in China
Sheshan Dong Zi Yuan, Shanghai
Shanghai Sheshan Dong Zi Yuan features its natural combination of architecture with the astonishing view of Sheshan Forest Park. The estate includes a five-star hotel and a golf course.
No 10 in world
Cielo De Bonaire, Spain
Cielo de Bonaire, a grandiose marble-filled mansion with a heliport, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, lush terraced gardens and dramatic sea views that, at $ 74 million, must be one of the most expensive properties on the market in Spain.
No 10 in China
Longfor Summer Palace Splendor, Beijing
Longfor Summer Palace Splendor is located in northern Beijing, with a size of over 1,000 square meters. This location used to be the center of ancient China summer palace, for its unique environment. The overall style also absorbs some Chinese royal garden element.
