World’s Most Expensive Homes, Now at Reduced Prices

 These people are still wealthy, it’s just a drop in the bucket for them. 

from the Wall street journal

Remember the good old days of 2007, when there was a flood of homes on the market for $100 million or more? There was Prince Bandar’s cozy chalet in Aspen, priced at $135 million. There was “Pinnacle,” the $155 million planned estate at the Yellowstone Club, along with Donald Trump’s $125 million listing in Palm Beach, Fla., and the Hearst place in Beverly Hills, Calif., listed for $165 million.

Well, Prince Bandar’s place didn’t sell, Pinnacle was scrapped (Yellowstone is in bankruptcy), the Hearst house was de-listed in September and Mr. Trump’s place sold at a $25 million discount.

So what’s left for the panicked, $100-million-plus buyer who needs a place to live?

Not much. According to Forbes magazine’s list of top 10 most expensive homes, the priciest home for sale in the world is now a $125 million offering in Beverly Hills.

“Fleur De Lys” priced at $125 million. (Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills)
No. 1-The Beverly Hills estate, called Fleur de Lys and owned by Suzanne Saperstein, is modeled after Louis XIV’s Palace at Versailles. It has a 45,000 square-foot home, five acres of landscaped grounds, a 50-seat screening room and nine-car garage.

No. 2-Ranking second is Leona Helmsley’s place in Greenwich, Conn. The estate has 40 acres, a 21,897-foot manor (14 bedrooms, 13 baths) and a 52-foot-long indoor swimming pool. (Bloggers say the price was recently dropped to $95 million, but Forbes still has it at $125 million).

No. 3-Now we move to England with Windlesham-a 103-room home on 58 acres, “making it the idyllic English country home for those flush with cash,” as Forbes said. Very flush, given the $110 million price tag. The home has a 50-seat cinema, bowling alley, indoor squash court and (most useful for today’s financial markets) a panic room.

No. 4-This home on Lake Tahoe-importantly, on the tax-free Nevada side-built by Joel Horowitz, a co-founder of Tommy Hilfiger. The house is 20,000 square feet, with a 3,500-bottle wine cellar, indoor swimming pool, atrium, and a 19-seat movie theater. Price? $100 million even. But given that this has been on the market for more than a year, I have a feeling they might take $99.9 million.

No. 5-This $100 million home in Moscow has an 11,700-square-foot house, two 4,000 square-foot guest cottages and a 91,000 square-foot recreation center with pool, gym, sauna and Turkish and Roman baths.

Stay tuned…within a few weeks, the $100 million home may go the way of Bear Stearns.