For most people, a home is the most cherished property since it both reflects and ensures the individual’s social status and quality of life. Most individuals would be content with a modest house, but some have goals that can only be attained by building huge, lavish mansions.
Owning one of these mansions is a source of pride, power, prestige, and wealth, but it comes with increased financial burdens. So, have you ever wondered what the biggest house in the world is? We’ve all seen big houses before, but the 30 structures above will redefine the term “big house” for you.
What is the Biggest House in the World?
The largest house in the world has far more space than any single person or small family could ever need. They have luxuries like swimming pools, garages, movie theaters, and sports courts. The houses on our list below are not only the biggest house in the world but some of them are also the most expensive houses.
So, let’s take a look at these biggest houses, their size, location, architect, and who owns them. Here’s a list of the 30 biggest houses in the world.
1. Istana Nurul Imam Palace, Brunei
Image Source: timesproperty.com
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Size: 2.15 million square feet
Architect: Leonardo V. Locsin
Owner: The Sultan of Brunei
Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the biggest house in the world, with a 2.15 million square feet area, 1,788 rooms, a mosque, and 257 bathrooms. In addition, the mansion features 110 car garages, an air-conditioned stable for his 200+ polo ponies, a banquet hall, and five swimming pools.
Image Source: timesproperty.com
The palace, also known as The Light of Faith Palace, was designed by Leonardo Locsin, a Filipino Visayan architect, and completed in 1984.
Image Source: timesproperty.com
The golden domes and vaulted roofs of the palace represent a blend of Malay and Islamic styles. This residence doubles as both a private residence and an official venue for entertaining visiting dignitaries from other countries.
Image Source: timesproperty.com
During the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday, you can visit the palace for three days. Food is provided, and guests can wait in line to meet with the Sultan or his wife.
2. Buckingham Palace, UK
Image Source: pixabay.com
Location: London, UK
Size: 828,000 square feet
Architect: William Winde and remodeling by John Nash
Owner: Crown Estates
Buckingham Palace is one of King Charles III’s residences, but it is not privately owned because it is part of The Crown Estate. There’s plenty of space, with 775 rooms in total. It is the biggest house in the world that is owned by an independent commercial business.
Image Source: pixabay.com
Buckingham Palace was designed in 1703 by a collaboration of five architects as a grand mansion for the Duke of Buckingham. A century later, the townhouse was expanded to include three wings that cluster around an interior courtyard.
The 19 State Rooms are open for tours during the summer, but only if you arrange them in advance. The 42-acre garden surrounding Buckingham Palace is another highlight of the tour.
The palace has 78 restrooms and is connected to Clarence House and the Houses of Parliament via a network of tunnels beneath the ground.
Image Source: pixabay.com
The famous East Front balcony is part of a later addition to the building that was completed in the early 20th century. Not only that, but the palace also boasts a post office, a cinema, an indoor swimming pool, a doctor’s surgery, and a jeweler’s workshop.
3. Antilia Residence, Mumbai
Image Source: bloomberg.com
Location: Mumbai, India
Size: 400,000 square feet
Architect: Perkins and Will
Owner: Mukesh Ambani
We wouldn’t even call Antilia Residence a house, but rather a private skyscraper, given that it’s the third-biggest house in the world.
Image Source: bloomberg.com
It was completed in 2012 and is owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Vastu Shastra has been a part of the family’s culture for generations, so the whole design was developed with it in mind.
There are 27 stories, 3 helipads, air traffic control, a 168-car garage, a ballroom, 9 elevators, a theater, a terrace garden, swimming pools, a spa, a health center, a temple, and even a snow room!
4. Biltmore Estate, Ashville
Image Source: romanticasheville.com
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Size: 178,926 square feet
Architect: Richard Morris Hunt
Owner: The Biltmore Company
Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate is home to the country’s largest private residence at 178,926 square feet. Completed in 1895, the structure’s design complements the scenic mountains surrounding it.
Image Source: romanticasheville.com
The Biltmore Estate has a unique twist that separates it from other luxury houses around the world. In 1930, it opened to the public with a four-star Inn and a Village Hotel that provided lodging, fine dining, and wine production.
Image Source: romanticasheville.com
The main home of the Biltmore Estate, owned by railroad and shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, has a chateau-like charm with no less than 250 rooms.
Image Source: romanticasheville.com
There are 43 baths, 65 fireplaces, a bowling alley, a 23,000-book library, a gigantic indoor swimming pool, and every other luxury amenity imaginable, making this home one of the best in the world.
5. Safra Mansion, Brazil
Image Source: lebaneseexaminer.com
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Size: 117,000 square feet
Architect: Ogden Codman Jr.
Owner: Vicky Safra
Formerly owned by Lily Safra and her late husband Edmond, a prominent banker who died in a mysterious fire at his estate in Monaco in 1999, the Safra Mansion in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is inspired by the Villa Leopolda on the French Riviera.
Image Source: lebaneseexaminer.com
The Safra Mansion is a huge, walled-in mansion that spans 117,000 square feet and contains at least 130 rooms and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Since the Safras prefer to keep to themselves, few people know what’s inside.
6. Oheka Castle, New York
Image Source: tripadvisor.com
Location: Long Island, New York
Size: 109,000 square feet
Architect: Paul McClean
Owner: Delano & Aldrich
Oheka Castle is the second-largest residential estate in the United States and was built over a century ago by the late businessman and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn.
Image Source: tripadvisor.com
Built on the highest point on Long Island, this 443-acre Cold Spring Harbor estate features a whopping 109,000 square feet of living space.
The mansion, which has 127 rooms, was a popular summer retreat for the wealthy and famous in the 1920s. The home has been transformed into a 32-unit upscale hotel, complete with original-era furnishings.
7. The One, California
Image Source: businessinsider.com
Location: Bel-Air, California
Size: 105,000 square feet
Architect: Paul McClean
Owner: Richard Saghian
As one of the biggest houses in the world, the 74,000 square foot residence named “The One,” was conceived of and was built by film producer and real estate developer Nile Niami, and is one of the most expensive homes in the United States.
Image Source: businessinsider.com
The home will have nearly every luxury imaginable, including but not limited to a 5,000-square-foot master bedroom, an Imax-style theater, four swimming pools, a garage for no fewer than 30 cars, and an 8,500-square-foot nightclub. It also has 20 bedrooms, 30 bathrooms, and a jellyfish room.
8. Arden House, New York
Image Source: theardenhouse.com
Location: Harriman, New York
Size: 100,000 square feet
Architect: Bob Abrahams
Owner: Edward Henry Harriman and Mary Averell Harriman
In 1905, when it was first built, the 100,000-square-foot Arden House was considered one of the most luxurious residences in the world. Located on a sprawling estate not far from Harriman, New York, this stunning house is a sight to be seen.
Image Source: theardenhouse.com
Edward Henry Harriman, a wealthy railroad tycoon, commissioned its construction. The 450-acre highland estate features a 125-acre lake.
Arden House is the headquarters of the Research Center for Natural Conservation, a non-governmental organization established by the Chinese conglomerate Fang Holdings Ltd.
9. Witanhurst, London
Image Source: nypost.com
Location: Highgate, London
Size: 90,000 square feet
Architect: George Hubbard
Owner: Safran Holdings
As one of the biggest houses in the world, Witanhurst was built in 1913. The huge mansion features 65 rooms, 25 of which are bedrooms. There is a ballroom, which is 70 feet high and has an oak floor and carved decorated gold-leaf cornices.
Image Source: nypost.com
The basement of Witanhurst was dug out and built into it to provide room for a larger family. This house has the largest double basement in all of London, with a 70-foot swimming pool, a hair salon, a spa, and a 33-seat movie theater.
10. Modern Versailles, Florida
Image Source: en.chateauversailles.fr
Location: Windermere, Florida
Size: 90,000 square feet
Architect: Not known
Owner: Jacqueline and David Siegel
The original Palace of Versailles was located outside of Paris, France, and has nothing to do with this extravagant Florida mansion. The property, which David and Jackie Siegel conceptualized, is currently being constructed.
Image Source: en.chateauversailles.fr
When completed, this luxury mansion will have 32 bathrooms, 11 kitchens, and a 30-car garage. There will also be two elevators, one of which will be made of gold.
11. Meadow Brook Hall, Michigan
Image Source: meadowbrookhall.org
Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan
Size: 88,000 square feet
Architect: William Kapp of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Owner: Matilda Dodge Wilson
With 110 rooms and an area of 88,000 square feet, Meadow Brook Hall is not only the fourth-largest mansion in the United States but also one of America’s classified castles. There are museums and exhibitions held in this building, which was built in the Tudor revival style.
12. Fairwater, Sydney
Image Source: dailymail.co.uk
Location: New South Wales, Sydney
Size: 86,000 square feet
Architect: John Horbury Hunt and J. W. Manson
Owner: Mike Cannon-Brookes
The Fairwater home in New South Wales was designed and completed in 1970 by John Horbury Hunt and J. W. Manson and is now on the national register of historic places. The home was later purchased by the Fairfax family near the end of 1900.
In September 2018, Mike Cannon-Brooke and his wife, Annie, paid close to $100 million for the property. As a result of this sale, Fairwater is now Australia’s most expensive home.
This 86,000-square-foot property, which stretches from New South Head Road to Seven Shillings Beach, is the largest private residence on Sydney Harbour.
13. La Reverie, Palm Beach
Image Source: galeriemagazine.com
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
Size: 84,626 square feet
Architect: Sydell Miller
Owner: Not known
La Reverie, which was purchased in 1995 for a relatively affordable $4.5 million, is the largest celebrity property in Palm Beach, Florida.
The photos may make it appear as though it were only a small house, but its actual size is quite large. Current owners use it for more than just luxurious living; they also use it to hold charitable events and concerts.
Image Source: galeriemagazine.com
Sydell Miller, the proprietor of Matrix Essentials hair care products, conceived and constructed La Reverie. The setting could not have been more ideal, as Palm Beach is a popular destination for Hollywood’s A-listers. And that’s a good thing if you’re trying to sell a home for a king’s ransom.
14. Villa Leopolda, The French Riviera
Image Source: villaleopolda.com
Location: Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
Size: 80,000 square feet
Architect: Ogden Codman Jr.
Owner: Lily Safra
Villa Leopolda, built between 1929 and 1931 by American architect Ogden Codman Jr., was owned by Brazilian millionaire Lily Safra until 2008 when she sold it to a Russian tycoon.
Located on the Côte d’Azur in France, the 80,000-square-foot building was a military hospital during the First World War.
Image Source: villaleopolda.com
It is not only one of the biggest houses in the world, but also one of the most expensive homes in all of Europe. There are two separate guesthouses on the property with a combined 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms.
The property also features expansive grounds and what is arguably the nicest beachfront on the entire continent.
15. Old Court House, London
Image Source: homedit.com
Location: Hampton Court Green, London
Size: 80,000 square feet
Architect: Christopher Wren
Owner: Toby Jessel
In addition to the Biltmore, the Vanderbilts built Florham, a Gilded Age mansion that spans 80,000 square feet. It is among the top ten biggest houses in the United States and was constructed in the 1890s for Hamilton McKown Twombly and his wife, Florence Adele Vanderbilt.
Florham, which has 110 rooms, was inspired by Sir Christopher Wren’s late-1700s enlargement of Hampton Court Palace.
The interior was lavishly decorated with Renaissance fireplaces and a Louis XV ballroom. Fairleigh Dickinson University purchased the estate and its 178 acres of gardens and greenhouses.
16. Château Pensmore, USA
Location: Highlandville, Missouri
Size: 72,000 square feet
Architect: Not known
Owner: Steven T. Huff
Chateau Pensmore is a mansion in the Ozark Mountains that was built by multimillionaire astronomer and businessman Steve Huff. The area is not governed by government construction regulations.
The home is made completely of energy-efficient concrete and is reinforced with Helix steel fibers, making it resistant to explosions and natural disasters. The grounds have a testing center, a museum space, and a Liberty Tree Trail in addition to the 14 bathrooms and 13 bedrooms.
17. Taohuayuan, China
Image Source: retalkasia.com
Location: Uzhou, China
Size: 72,000 square feet
Architect: CLD
Owner: Not owner
Taohuayuan, which translates to “utopia,” is the name of China’s most expensive property market. Located on an island in the center of a lake, Taohuayuan has 32 bedrooms and 32 bathrooms. This entire residence is practically on its private island.
Image Source: retalkasia.com
The huge mansion took about three years to complete. The massive home, which has traditional Chinese architecture, is presently marketed for $154 million. The mansion has 32 bedrooms, all of which face south, as well as a wine cellar, groomed grounds, and a swimming pool.
18. Lynnewood Hall, USA
Image Source: loveproperty.com
Location: Highlandville, Missouri
Size: 70,000 square feet
Architect: Horace Trumbauer
Owner: Richard S. Yoon
Located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, this formerly grand estate is now abandoned and closed down. The hotel, which features 110 rooms and a Neo-Classical Revival design, was initially constructed for industrial tycoon Peter A.B. Widener.
Image Source: loveproperty.com
The mansion fell into disrepair, and some claim it to be the world’s largest haunted house. Richard Yoon, the founder of the First Korean Church of New York, is the current owner.
19. Xanadu 2.0, Washington
Image Source: scmp.com
Location: Medina, Washington
Size: 66,000 square feet
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Cutler Anderson Architects
Owner: Bill Gates
A large, unremarkable house sits on the banks of Lake Washington, which is home to Bill Gates and his family. Before Bill and Melinda Gates split up, they lived here. This Bill Gates house has seven bedrooms, twenty-four bathrooms, and a sensor system to control the lighting and temperature.
Image Source: scmp.com
The residence was given the name “Citizen Kane” after the famous film’s main character, Charles Foster Kane. The library conceals the Codex Leicster, a manuscript by the great artist Leonardo da Vinci, and two other hidden bookshelves.
20. The Breakers, Rhode Island
Image Source: townandcountrymag.com
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Size: 62,482 square feet
Architect: Richard Morris Hunt
Owner: Cornelius Vanderbilt II
The Breakers, a Newport summer mansion built in the Neo-Italian Renaissance style for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, is commonly referred to as a Vanderbilt Mansion. This grand building has five stories and seventy rooms, for a total of 62,482 square feet of living space.
Image Source: townandcountrymag.com
The Preservation Society of Newport County is currently in charge of maintaining its use as a tourist attraction.
21. Fair Field, Sagaponack
Image Source: businessinsider.com
Location: Sagaponack, NY
Size: 62,000 square feet
Architect: Perkins and Will
Owner: Ira and Ingeborg Rennert
Ira Rennert, a tycoon in the junk bond industry, owns the controversial Fair Field. When MagCorp discovered that he had used company cash to buy a mansion in the Hamptons, they sued him and won, resulting in a $213 million settlement.
Image Source: businessinsider.com
This luxurious estate features three pools, a 91-foot dining room, and 39 bathrooms for guests’ use. There’s not just the main house, but also two pool houses and a playhouse! Even the estate’s electricity needs are met, as it features its power plant.
22. Gemini Mansion, Florida
Image Source: scmp.com
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
Size: 62,000 square feet
Architect: Marion Sims Wyeth
Owner: Larry Ellison
Gemini, one of the biggest houses in the world, is a stunning beachfront property that was purchased in 2022 by tech billionaire Larry Ellison. It features around 2,500 feet of beachfront, where 1,300 feet on Lake Worth and 1,200 feet on the Atlantic.
Image Source: scmp.com
It was originally the residence of the Lambert family, who made their fortune in the pharmaceutical industry and was designed by architect Marion Sims Wyeth in the 1940s.
There are 33 bedrooms on the Ellison estate and 12 of which are in the main house. The sports complex includes a tennis court, a golf driving range, and a treehouse.
23. Maison de L’Amitie, Florida
Image Source: themostexpensivehomes.com
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
Size: 60, 000 square feet
Architect: Not known
Owner: Dmitry Rybolovlev
The French Regency-style home Maison de L’Amitie (which translates to “the house of friendship”) sits on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, with a border length of 492 feet facing the water.
Image Source: themostexpensivehomes.com
With 18 bedrooms, 22 bathrooms, a ballroom, and a gallery, this home is a perfect example of the neoclassical architectural style. The property was sold off to a number of different people before its demolition in 2016.
24. The Manor, Los Angeles
Image Source: workandmoney.com
Location: Mapleton Drive, Los Angeles
Size: 56,500 square feet
Architect: James Langenheim & Associates
Owner: Not known
This enormous estate, which was formerly held by TV producer Aaron Spelling and later purchased by Petra Ecclestone, is also known as Spelling Manor. No one knows who the current owner is.
Image Source: workandmoney.com
The Manor, located in Holmby Hills, is the neighboring mansion to the much smaller Playboy Mansion, but it is larger than the White House and the average American home by a factor of 21. The property was built on the site of Bing Crosby’s home, which was demolished to make way for it.
25. Hala Ranch, Colorado
Image Source: businessinsider.in
Location: Aspen, Colorado
Size: 56,000 square feet
Architect: Hagman Yaw
Owner: John Paulson
With an estimated worth of $135 million, this 56,000-square-foot mansion is the third most expensive home in the United States.
Image Source: businessinsider.in
This property, once owned by Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, features a sewage treatment facility, a mechanical workshop, and a rustic home with 15 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, all of which are framed by massive timber beams and anchored by stone columns.
26. The White House, Washington DC
Image Source: worldoftravel.com
Location: Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C
Size: 55,000 square feet
Architect: James Hoban
Owner: President of United States
The White House, created in a neoclassical style, is yet another one of the biggest houses in the world. It serves as the official residence of the President of the United States.
Image Source: worldoftravel.com
It has changed much throughout the years and now occupies 55,000 square feet. The current White House complex features the Presidential Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, and the Executive Office Building, all of which are occupied by the President and his or her senior staff.
27. Palazzo di Amore, Beverly Hills
Image Source: marketwatch.com
Location: Lania Lane, Beverly Hills
Size: 53,000 square feet
Architect: Bob Ray Offenhauser
Owner: Jeff Greene
The Palazzo di Amore is one of the world’s most gorgeous mansions, and it’s located in Beverly Hills, California. This 25,000-square-foot home was built in 2005 and is situated on 25 lush acres.
Image Source: marketwatch.com
The luxurious estate has 12 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a ballroom with a DJ booth, and a gourmet kitchen with the latest appliances. The outdoor area features manicured grass, gardens, and an infinity pool that can accommodate up to 150 guests.
28. Nottoway Plantation House, Louisiana
Image Source: nottoway.com
Location: White Castle, Louisiana
Size: 53,000 square feet
Architect: Henry Howard
Owner: Joseph Jaeger Jr.
Built in a hybrid Greek Revival and Italianate architecture, Nottoway Plantation is the largest plantation home in the South at a whopping 53,000 square feet.
Image Source: nottoway.com
The first floor of this three-story home is made up of a brick base coated in rusticated stucco that rests above a concrete foundation and is facing eastward, towards the Mississippi River.
29. Updown Court, Surrey, England
Image Source: dailymail.co.uk
Location: Windlesham, Surrey
Size: 50,000 square feet
Architect: John B. Scholz
Owner: Not known
The Indian businessman who currently owns the Grand Upside Down Court is tasked with safeguarding this exceptional example of the neo-classical Californian architectural style.
This luxurious building is 50,000 square feet in size, and it features 103 rooms, 24 bedrooms, a fully automated two-lane bowling alley, five swimming pools (including an infinity pool), a squash court, a floodlit tennis court, a wine cellar that can hold 3,000 bottles, and a panic room.
30. Pritzker Estate, LA
Image Source: marycumminsrealestatemarycummins.blogspot.com
Location: Los Angeles, California
Size: 50,000 square feet
Architect: John B. Scholz
Owner: Not known
Having a total size of 49,300 square feet, the New Pritzker Estate is another one of the huge houses in the world. It was constructed for Anthony Pritzker, who is a well-known billionaire.
The two basement levels of this palatial building are home to the game room, two-lane bowling alley, entertainment foyer, bar, and offices. The mansion uses geothermal heating and cooling, LED lighting, climate control, and solar panels put on the roof.
Conclusion
There are certainly plenty of huge houses worldwide, but these massive buildings set a new standard. You will certainly never look at a house the same way again after reading this list of the biggest houses in the world. We hope you enjoyed our list of the world’s 30 biggest houses.
