A Home Worth $1 Billion

I feel as if I need to channel Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies a bit when I utter the price of the home that has been built in India. Many of you may have heard about it since it hit the news a few years ago, when it was designated as the world’s first billion-dollar home. As of this week, that claim to fame is now a reality as the home is apparently completed and ready to welcome its owner, one of the richest men in the world, Mukesh Ambani.

Ambani is the chairman of Reliance Industries, India’s largest private sector company. His personal wealth is estimated at about $29 billion and Forbes named him the fourth richest man in the world in 2010.

A look back in time shows that the home seems to have all the features noted in the original plans. Soaring 27 stories and 570 feet high, it towers over much of its surroundings, with glass walls taking full advantage of its stunning position in the center of downtown Mumbai, with views stretching to the Arabian Sea. Six garage levels sit below the residence, providing garage space for approximately 160 cars. No doubt Ambani, his wife and three children, plus the 600 staff members reportedly hired for this building/residence will have no problems with parking…or perhaps Mr. Ambani can fill those spots on his own? Some published reports say there is a full-service auto maintenance center that comprises one floor of the tower.

While there is some question as to exactly how much the home is worth (which seems to be anywhere between $1 billion and $2 billion, according to many analysts), there seems to be little question as to the level of amenities this mansion in the sky affords. Named Antilia, after a legendary island in the Atlantic Ocean, this palatial building took seven years to complete and begins with the home’s lavish “lobby,” offering nine elevators. The home’s reported 37,000 square feet include such features as a two-story health club, a 50-seat theater, a ballroom and a four-story hanging garden. Other highlights include multiple safe rooms, a dance studio, a swimming pool and the three heli-pads on the roof.

What more can one say?

At Unique Homes, we haven’t advertised any billion-dollar homes in 2010. But we did have one for $100 million (Tranquility in Lake Tahoe, Nev.). In fact, we’re sorting through all of our 2010 issues this week, looking for our favorite homes. That’s because 2011 is our 40th anniversary, and we’re picking 40 listings as our Homes of the Year. We’ll feature them in our next issue; together, they may total about a half of a billion dollars. Perhaps not good enough for Ambani. But we think you’ll enjoy them nonetheless.