Pity the poor Chinese; pockets full of cash, but saddled with a government that frowns on overt displays of wealth as injurious to social harmony. How are their magnates to claim their rightful place on the world tycoon runway if they can't build their own palaces? After all, the size of one's estate has always been the best gauge of one's moral worth. Obviously, Mukesh Ambani of India agrees, as evidenced by his plan to build the first private $1 billion home.
Luckily, we live in a country that understands the need for excess. Forbes recently did a survey of the most expensive homes in the world. The top home in the U.S. was the 56,000 square-foot Hala Ranch, a $135 million hovel in Aspen. Imagine trying to live in a place with only 15 bedrooms and 16 baths! Those with more modest tastes might appreciate Tranquility, a $100 million home in Lake Tahoe (at least, I think it's still there; how worried would you be about forest fires if you owned this place?).
Frankly, I would have thought that in the age of 'more is better', one of our fellow citizens would have built a more sumptuous home along the lines of the Vanderbilt's 250-room Biltmore Estate. Perhaps The Donald will some day want to move up from his $125 million shack, the Maison de L'Amitie in Palm Beach.
Maybe something like the Updown Court in Windlesham, Surrey might do nicely. This 103-room, $138 million English country manor, the most expensive home in the world according to the survey, would make a perfect backdrop for a Victorian rags-to-riches drama. I can see the climatic scene now, as the Price proposes to a commoner in the bowling alley near the helipad.
Of course, with the bounty enjoyed by new economies comes an appetite for tony accommodations. In Dubai, for example, the Palms Islands, man-made islands in the Persian Gulf created in the shape of palm trees, now has its first resident, Englishman Andrew Dukes. The home he paid $1.36 million for has already doubled in value. What housing price drop?
I'm glad to see these modern day incarnations of Ozymandias are still able to build homes that will memorialize their names long after they have departed. Now, if I could only finagle an invitation to visit. Or at least park my trailer in the back yard.
Maybe something like the Updown Court in Windlesham, Surrey might do nicely. This 103-room, $138 million English country manor, the most expensive home in the world according to the survey, would make a perfect backdrop for a Victorian rags-to-riches drama. I can see the climatic scene now, as the Price proposes to a commoner in the bowling alley near the helipad.
Of course, with the bounty enjoyed by new economies comes an appetite for tony accommodations. In Dubai, for example, the Palms Islands, man-made islands in the Persian Gulf created in the shape of palm trees, now has its first resident, Englishman Andrew Dukes. The home he paid $1.36 million for has already doubled in value. What housing price drop?
I'm glad to see these modern day incarnations of Ozymandias are still able to build homes that will memorialize their names long after they have departed. Now, if I could only finagle an invitation to visit. Or at least park my trailer in the back yard.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-28-2007 @ 9:14AM
LINDA WILBER said...
God gave you all these riches you are lucky, god bless you all. May your riches increase by day and the Lord be with you. Some day I hope I can just get ahead in my life. Right now in debt 20,000 but I pray to God some day I will get lucky. Good luck to all.
Linda