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Jamie Robinson, The Spaces
2 minute read
Published 7:54 PM EDT, Tue October 17, 2017
Villa Les Cèdres, a mansion that was once home to Belgian King Leopold II, has hit the market for 350 million euros ($410 million), making it the most expensive home for sale in the world.
Located in Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera, the 18,000-square-foot, 14-bedroom mansion sits within 35 acres of landscaped grounds.
According to Bloomberg, its library holds some 3,000 books, as well as ornate chandeliers, historic furniture and elegant paintings.
The home is currently owned by the Marnier-Lapostolle family (of Grand Marnier fame).
The current owners cultivated the property's tropical plants, gardens, olive groves and orchards.
Inside Villa Les Cèdres, a $410-million home
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by The Spaces, a digital publication exploring new ways to live and work.
CNN —
A Cap Ferrat mansion that was once home to Belgian King Leopold II has gone on the market for 350 million euros ($410 million) – making it the most expensive home for sale in the world.
Villa Les Cèdres was built in 1830. The 18,000-square-foot mansion sits within 35 acres of landscaped grounds on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat coast. Its rooms are ornately appointed with paneling, coffered ceilings, period moldings and elaborate chandeliers.
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The sale of this 72,441 sq ft mansion to Chinese real estate tycoon Hongtian Chen back in July smashed records right, left and centre. 'Peach Blossom Land' or 'Utopia', as it translates, is the most expensive home ever sold in China. It has 32 bedrooms, a lake-side swimming pool, wine cellar, and several courtyards and gardens, one of which was modelled on a UNESCO world heritage site.
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While no one would fork out the full $200m asking price to live in the world's most famous bunny palace, it still fetched an impressive $100m back in August. This bought the new owner Daren Metropoulos a home theatre, separate guest house, a zoo license and an on-site octogenarian -- as terms of the sale included a caveat that the silk pyjama-wearing Hugh Heffner gets to live in the property until he dies.
301 N Carolwood Drive, California ($100m) —
Another big ticket deal for California, this 30,000 sq ft LA property, was sold to billionaire Tom Gores in October. Not bad for 10 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, a basketball court, a 10 car garage and a $50m drop on the original asking price.
Crespi Hicks Estate, Texas ($100m) —
With sweeping lines inside and out and a monochrome marble entrance hall, this was the deep south sale of the year. The 28,000 sq ft Dallas mansion was snapped up by founder of Beal Bank, Andrew Beal in January. Don't be fooled by the fact it only has seven bedrooms. It also boasts a separate two-storey guest house. And a helipad.
The Penthouse, 432 Park Avenue, New York ($87.7m) —
A record breaker, this sale marked the biggest closed in New York City this year. The 8,255 sq ft penthouse at the top of the world's tallest residential tower, designed by Rafael Viñoly, was purchased by Saudi billionaire Fawaz Al Hokair in a deal reported to have closed in September.
The planet's most expensive homes sold in 2016
According to Bloomberg, its library holds some 3,000 books, including a 17th-century botanical codex, which is also for sale, alongside carpets, paintings and furniture from the villa.
King Leopold bought Villa Les Cèdres in 1904 and expanded its grounds. His blue-and-gold sigil is mounted on one of the sitting room’s walls, while portraits of his mistress still hang in the rooms.
Villa Les Cèdres was later owned by the Marnier-Lapostolle family (of Grand Marnier fame) who cultivated its cedar and palm trees, as well as the olive groves and orchards surrounding the French property, some of which date back 300 years.
Italian distiller Davide Campari-Milano SpA acquired the 14-bedroom home last year, and it’s now offered for sale via Savills.
If the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat home goes for its asking price, it will become the most expensive residential sale in history. It trumps LA’s Clampett estate in Bel Air, which listed in August for $350 million.
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