$220 Million London Penthouse Now World's Most Expensive

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Aug 11th 2010 at 11:01AM

A six-bedroom penthouse at London's posh One Hyde Park development (above) has just sold for a record-breaking £140 million, or about $220 million, making it the most expensive piece of residential real estate in the world (in terms of current listings and sales). The massive deal eclipses the paltry $150 million asking price for The Manor, Candy Spelling's monstrous mansion in Holmby Hills, California, previous holder of the World's Most Expensive title. While the identity of the buyer remains a closely-guarded secret, speculation is centering on oligarchs and oil sheikhs, the London Telegraph reports. The palatial penthouse stretches across two floors and boasts bullet-proof windows, a panic room and stunning views across the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park.

The new owners will also have access to 24-hour room service from the neighboring Mandarin Oriental hotel, spas, squash courts a private wine-tasting facility and protection from security guards who are former members of the SAS, the UK's elite special forces unit. One Hyde Park, which boasts 86 properties starting at around £20 million, is comprised of four hexagonal tower blocks due to be completed by December. Back in 2008 when the project was in its infancy my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported that Sheikh Hamad, the foreign minister of Qatar, had agreed to purchase an apartment there for a rumored £100 million, or around $196 million. More recently we revealed that British supercar maker McLaren will open a luxe new showroom in the development as well. Take a look at the images after the jump.

Gallery: One Hyde Park

Tags: Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills, Hyde Park, London, Mandarin Oriental, McLaren, One Hyde Park, penthouse, Qatar, real estate, The Manor, worlds most expensive

Filed under: Estates, Real Estate Developments, Wealth

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

laura.frangi Aug 11th 2010 1:36PM

Apparently the Villa Léopolda in Villefranche-sur-Mer (close to Nice, France) was sold for 500 millions of Euros in 2008!

JPS Aug 11th 2010 2:12PM

Actually the sale was never finalized and it's now off the market:
http://www.luxist.com/tag/Villa+Leopolda/

mateo del elayo Aug 11th 2010 11:32PM

Dearest brit idiot,

Holmby Hills is in Los Angeles, not Beverly Hills. Try to limit the inaccuracies and drool.

ELIZABETH ENCINAS Aug 14th 2010 11:20AM

there is no need , to be offensive not everyone in the world has to know, los angeles, beverly hills or california.........

ELIZABETH ENCINAS Aug 14th 2010 11:19AM

IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY IT DOESNT MATTER AT WHAT PRICE, TO CALLHOME AND FEEL SAFE BEING THERE. I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF DESIGNING AND CREATING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT REALLY REFLECTS THE OWNERS PERSONALITY. THAT WHEN THEY OPEN THE DOOR THEY FELL GREAT COMING HOME TO A PLACE , NOT FULL OF TRENDY MAYBE VERY EXPENSIVE FURNITURE AND ACCESORIES ...BUT MAYBE A VERY SIMPLE ELEGANT AND PEACEFUL SORROUNDING, WITH MAYBE SHOWING THEIR PRIVATE COLLECTIONS ,,, AND ALSO THIR PERSONAL AND PRIVATE MEMORIES. MAKING SURE THEY USE AND HAVE USE FOR EVERY SINGLE ROOM........ CONGRATULATIONS...AND BEST WISHES. MAY YOU COLLECT WONDERFUL MEMORIES IN YOUR HOME. AND BE ABLE TO SHARE IT ALWAYS, WITH FAMILYAND SPECIAL FRIENDS........ ELIZABETH.