10 Most Expensive Houses in the World and Their Owners

Do you belong to the ever-growing group that feels life is getting too expensive? If so, you can rest assured that our average prices are light years away from the most expensive homes in the world.

But who can really afford to live in a home priced in the hundreds of millions of dollars? A great many, it seems. Among the tenants we find names like Bill Gates, Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich and the richest man in Ukraine, but otherwise relatively unknown billionaires are included in the 10 most expensive apartments in the world.

10. Mountain Home Road, Woodside California

Owner: Masayoshi Son
Price: 117.5 million US dollars

SoftBank's Japanese CEO, Masayoshi Son, lives in this neoclassical home of over 800 square meters in Woodside, California. The not-so-modest residence houses, among other things, an independent library, a large pool and a tennis court.

9. Xanadu 2.0, seattle washington

Owner: Bill Gates
Price: 120.5 million US dollars

This high-tech complex on Lake Washington belongs to the second richest man in the world - Bill Gates. Among other things, the Microsoft founder can recharge his batteries here in the pool equipped with an underwater music system, in the 230-square-meter gym or in his private library.

8. Blossom Estate, Palm Beach California

Owner: Ken Griffin
Price: 130 million US dollars

Hedge fund giant Ken Griffin bought four properties totaling eight acres on Florida's coast in 2013 for $130 million. Today, he calls it "home."

7. 17 Kensington Palace Gardens, London

Owner: Roman Abramovich
Price: $140 million

Russian oil tycoon and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich owns several large properties in London. Since buying this shelter along the super cozy Kensington Palace Gardens, the blustery Russian has received planning permission for an underground extension that will include a tennis court, health center and car museum.

6. Ellison Estate, Woodside, Calif.

Owner: Larry Ellison
Price: 200 million US dollars

Oracle founder Larry Ellison is probably one of the most active real estate buyers in the world. Built in 2004, the 23-acre Japanese-style development houses 10 buildings, an artificial lake, a teahouse, a bathhouse and a koi pond.

5. One Hyde Park, London

Owner: Rinat Akhmetov
Price: 221 million US dollars

We find the most expensive apartment in the world in exclusive Knightsbridge south of Hyde Park in London. The owner is the richest man in Ukraine, oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, and he feels safe in his 2300 square meter fortress with bulletproof windows and 24-hour service in the best luxury hotel style.

4. 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens, London

Owner: Lakshmi Mittal
Price: $222 million

Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal is believed to own three houses on the street known to the public as "Billionaires Row," including a neo-Georgian mansion near the Israeli Embassy. The house was sold by hedge fund billionaire Noam Gottesman to Mittal's son for $222 million.

3. Fair Field, Sagaponack, The Hamptons, Long Island, New York

Owner: Ira Rennert
Price: $248 million

Industrial billionaire Ira Rennert lives in this huge complex outside New York with 29 bedrooms, three pools and his own power plant.

2. Villa Leopolda, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Frankrijk

Owner: Lily Safra
Price: 750 million US dollars

The Villa Leopolda was built by King Leopold II. As a gift to one of his many mistresses built. In 2008, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov planned to buy the 20-acre property, but pulled out when the $750 million price tag became known. It reportedly cost him more than 50 million euros in paid deposits.

1. Antilia, Mumbai, India

Owner: Mukesh Ambani
Price: 1 billion US dollars

The most expensive house in the world is located in this 27-story, 37,000-square-meter skyscraper. The owner is businessman Mukesh Ambani, who is the richest Indian in the petroleum industry. The scraper contains six underground levels with a parking garage, three helicopter pads and a huge spa. It reportedly requires about 600 employees to keep everything running smoothly.