Beverly Hills Home Most Expensive in U.S.

In September I published a post on Le Palais Royal, which was the most expensive publically listed home on the market at $139 million at the time. However, Le Palais Royal did not hold the spotlight for long. Jeff Greene, who made his fortune betting against sub-prime mortgages before the 2008 financial crisis, is selling his home for $195 million to capitalize on the strength of the international demand for extreme luxury estates. The property is known as Palazzo di Amore (Palace of Love) and was listed on November 6th. 

• Size: 25-acre compound, 53,000 sq. feet interior space
• Bedrooms: 12
• Bathrooms: 23
• Garage: Fits 27 cars
• Features: A private vineyard and wine label (creating 400-500 cases of wine per year), bowling alley, 50-seat movie theater, game room, discotheque with a rotating dance floor, separate quest house, reflecting pool, and spa
• History: The estate was developed by Mohamed Hadid with help from architect Bob Ray Offenhauser and designer Alberto Pinto. Green bought the house in 2007 out of bankruptcy for a reported $35 million and spent nearly 8 years and $25 million expanding the estate.
• Listing brokers: Joyce Rey and Stacy Gottula of Coldwell Banker
• The price to beat: The most expensive home sale in the U.S. occurred this year, for $147 million. If Palazzo di Amore sells for greater than $147 million, it will set the record for the most expensive home sale in the U.S. 

Most Expensive U.S. Home Debuts on MLS

Looking to upgrade? Last week, the United States' most expensive publicly listed home debuted on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for $139 million. The Hillsboro Beach estate, known as the Le Palais Royal, is to be completed in 2015. The Palace of Versailles inspired its gold ornaments, extensive balconies, and six fountains.

The mansion's 60,000 square feet of living space encompasses 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, an Imax home theater, a 1,300 gallon aquarium, a spa, and other equally impressive features. The subterranean garage accommodates 30 vehicles. The house celebrates outdoor living just as much as indoor living--the presidential palace flaunts its own private pool on its terrace! The main pool has an infinity edge, swim-up bar, water slide, fire pit and Jacuzzi. The property also features a summer kitchen, an almost 500 foot dock that can accommodate a 185 foot yacht, and 465 feet of private beachfront.

However, Le Palais Royal is not the most expensive home for sale in the U.S. when you consider properties that are being shown off market. The Manor, in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, is priced at $150 million. The 1991 Manor originally housed Candy and Aaron Spelling and had a bowling alley and hair salon. British Heiress Petra Stunt (daughter of billionaire Bernie Ecclesiastes) purchased the house for $85 million in 2011 and updated it to appear more youthful. Stunt is only 25 years old.

The Beverly House, in Beverly Hills, California, is available to buy at $135 million or rent at $600,000 per month. The house was built in the 1920s and was home to publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst and actress Marion Davies. The Beverly House appears in The Godfather and served as a honeymoon retreat for Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy. The compound includes the H-shaped house (complete with 40 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms, a 50-foot entry hall, and a library) three pools with a pool house, and a tennis court.

           

The Beverly House, Beverly Hills

The Manor, L.A.