10 of the Most Extravagant Homes in the World

Nestled in the center of the upper Madison Avenue cultural district, this 7-story, 12,000 square foot townhouse is a rare find on the market. While the townhouse is fully renovated, it still retains its original architectural details with an elevator and extravagant central staircase. This extravagant home is also a very short walk from Central Park.

Photo courtesy of Sotheby's International Real Estate.

Why settle for anything less than your own private island? This 38-acre retreat in the Bahamas is a sailor's dream -- surrounded by pristine blue waters, where your nearest neighbor is a boat ride away. The main house can accommodate up to 22 guests, with room for 29 more in the domestic and staff quarters. And with its own fresh-water treatment plant, power and fuel systems and telephone and data system, one man can be his own island.

Photo courtesy of Sotheby's International Real Estate.

Dating back to the 9th century A.D., this 39,000 square-foot castle has been owned by the of King Arduino, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I and the House of Savoy. It features 30 bedrooms (all air conditioned), 47 full baths, a helipad and a Noble Courtyard that can accommodate up to 300 of your closest friends. The only thing missing is a feifdom to command.

Photo courtesy of Sotheby's International Real Estate.

The former estate of William Randolph Hearst, this 6.5-acre mansion just north of Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills was also the setting for the infamous "horse" scene in The Godfather. President Kennedy honeymooned here, and its notable neighbors include Tom Cruise and David Beckham. Complete with 29 bedrooms, three swimming pools, a home theater and in-house disco, Hearst Mansion sold for $165 million in 2007, making its current price tag of $95 million an absolute bargain.

Photo courtesy of MostCostly.com.

The former home of Donald Trump, who purchased the Palm Beach mansion in 2004 for a paltry $41.25 million and sold it for a $60-million profit four years later, the Maison de L'Amitie sits on 475 feet of prime oceanfront and features 15 bedrooms, a ballroom, tennis courts and 100-foot pool. 

Photo courtesy of BusinessWeek.

The 95-acre Starwood Ranch in Aspen, Colorado boasts a 56,000-square-foot mansion with 15 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, stables, a tennis court, indoor swimming pool, outdoor water features, a snowmelt driveway and several smaller buildings.

The extravagant Aspen compound is the home of Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Bandar, former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States.

Photo courtesy of AspenTimes.com.

The Penthouse in London is massive, stylish, modern and located in a premium location -- the famous number 1 Hyde Park address. This penthouse comes equipped with SAS guard, bullet proof windows, iris scanners, panic rooms and secret tunnel to the nearby Mandarin Hotel -- perfect for the rich and famous.

Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, just purchased The Penthouse for a cool $221 million,  the highest price to date ever spent on a UK residence.

Photo courtesy of priceypads.com.

Villa Leopolda is an 80,000 square foot Chateau in Cote d'Azur France built in 1902 by King Leopold II of Belgium. The villa features 19 bedrooms, multiple sports courts, a bowling alley, several kitchens, dining rooms and a movie theater.

Recently a Russian mogul lost his deposit on the home when he reneged on buying the property. While it has been rumored to be the home of such global figures as Bill Gates, the wife of late French banker Edmond Safira, Lily Safira, currently lives there.

Photo courtesy of overseaspropertymall.com.

Antilla in Mumbai -- named after a mythical island in the Altantic -- is a custom-built, 27-story, 570 feet tall towering mansion, featuring: double height ceilings, retractable stages, ballrooms, 50-seat theatre, crystal chandelier ceilings, underground parking for 160 cars, three helicopter pads, a health club, a dance studio, elevated gardens and 600 servants. Antilla is the home of India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani. Ambani is the head of Indian petro-chemical giant Reliance Industries.

Click here to see more photos of this extravagant home.