The Most Expensive House in the World Stands 27 Stories Tall
Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest men in the world, built himself the most expensive house in the world, standing 27 stories tall in South Mumbai. Chairman of Reliance Industries, Ambani has ranked among the most powerful people in the world for the last 10 years. The private residence maintains a staff of over 600 people 24/7 to keep the incredible home up and running. Buckingham Palace beats this residence out as the most expensive residential property, but Antilia, as this home is called, is the most expensive private residential property, valued at nearly US$700 million.
Antilia is named after a mythical island in the Atlantic Ocean, and this house has an architectural scale that even mythology couldn't imagine. Each floor has extra-high ceilings, which means that the 27 story building is the equivalent of a regular 60 story building. The house and its overbearing opulence haven't been spared from controversy, as the previous land was owned by an orphanage and sold on the assumption that it would be used for the education of the underprivileged.
Besides that controversy, the Indian Navy also said that the 3 helipads on the building were illegal, and the Indian government claimed that the construction was illegal as well. Completed in early 2011, Ambani didn't move into the home until September, as he feared all of the controversy would cause him "bad luck."
There are two sides to this home, the overwhelming beauty and engineering marvel, or the unnecessary construction of this opulent dwelling. Even though the property is valued at US$700 million, it cost Ambani between 1 and 2 billion dollars US, talk about a bad investment. Although, something tells me this house wasn't built to be sold.
A residence like this seems like a slap in the face to the poor and needy in the area, but ultimately it was Ambani who made the money, and he gets to decide how to spend it. Antilia still stands as the most expensive private residential building, and it will likely never be surpassed.