World's Most Expensive Penthouse Sells for $308 Million in Monaco

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Sep 13th 2010 at 11:02AM

Barely a month after we reported that a London penthouse had sold for $220 million, making it the world's most expensive private residence, the record has been shattered with the $308 million sale of a palatial penthouse in Monaco (above). The Monaco property, called La Belle Epoque, has quite a history; formerly the home of billionaire banker Edmund Safra, it's where he was found dead following a mysterious fire that gutted the apartment in 1999. The three-bedroom, 17,500-sq-.ft. duplex penthouse, which includes a double-height library and vast roof terraces complete with mature 15-foot trees and an infinity pool, is thought to have been purchased by an Arab sheikh, the Economic Times reports.

The apartment's luxe features include a panic room with reinforced glass and surveillance cameras, cinema screens which emerge from walls at the touch of a button, numerous walk-in wardrobes and dressing rooms, a leisure room with billiard tables and arcade video games, a Jacuzzi and spa, and a media room with special executive chairs which convert into beds. The penthouse was sold by British property developers Christian and Nick Candy, who acquired the space relatively cheaply following the fire from Lily Safra and hired designer Martin Kemp to oversee $40 million in renovations, including a dining room (above) with a platinum leaf ceiling.

Gallery: $308 Million in Monaco

Tags: Arab, Candy Brothers, Edmund Safra, Lily Safra, London, Monaco, penthouse, worlds most expensive

Filed under: Estates, Wealth

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

denasey Sep 13th 2010 10:13PM

Think of how many lives could be saved, mouthes could be fed, schools could be built, cures could be found... with that money.

TodayLA09 Sep 13th 2010 3:49PM

Only 3 bedrooms??? That's over $100,000,000 a bedroom. Wouldn't be my first choice.

al schrader Sep 13th 2010 5:28PM

Nice windows, but it's in Monaco - no Taco Bell, no KFC fried chicken, no Dairy Queen, no way. You live there. Nice windows though....Al-

assistsd Sep 13th 2010 3:50PM

I'll take it - only if it comes with the boat.

iviethodaurum Sep 13th 2010 3:52PM

You know,it doesnt look that great to me.It is really nice but not 300 million worth of nice.Its odd what people will spend on things and its hard to imagine someone has 300 million to spend on a single home......That sort of cash is just a different world I guess and none of us will ever know what its like to live like that.

dave Sep 13th 2010 4:17PM

remember - a substantial part of the value is probably it's location. And I'll bet it has "killer" views. Dave

niazis5 Sep 13th 2010 4:50PM

i wish i live there i live in a 4 bedroom apartment

Robert Sep 13th 2010 5:11PM

I'll take my home in the projects over that anyday. Feels more like home. I think we can ALL agree on that.

progsolvr Sep 13th 2010 5:49PM

P.T. Barnum was right. There's a sucker born every minute.

Denzil Minyard Sep 13th 2010 6:05PM

I like nice homes, nice watches, great cars, and sharp clothes, but spending this amount of money for one's shelter is a bit obscene. That's my opinion. There are so many charities and other good causes such as cancer research, etc. that could be helped with this amount of money.

bob Sep 13th 2010 6:01PM

I won't buy it without an attached garage.

paul Sep 13th 2010 6:12PM

Darn!!! I bid $307,999,950. Guess I'll just have to stay in my middle class house in the burbs.

David S. Sep 13th 2010 6:13PM

Micro, you are an idiot. If you think this place is a "shit hole" I'd like to see your home! And you probably already let your pets use the bathroom on your floors.

Edward Merchan Sep 13th 2010 6:22PM

I could not ever, ever live there for the simple reason that I will feel totally out of place'

Home is where reason meets reality.

Lynne Sep 13th 2010 6:25PM

Hey! If you have that kind of money, and it's your style, go for it!

microtrama Sep 13th 2010 6:30PM

Davi s you are such an idiot. Of course I let my pets go where ever they want. To me that would be $300 million kennel.

Angela Sep 13th 2010 6:30PM

I've never, ever asked for much for myself. But looking at these photos, and then looking around the house I have to live in, I could honestly stick my head in the oven. Think I'll have myself a little cry and then go do the f*cking dishes.

al schrader Sep 13th 2010 6:50PM

My estate is lesser than that but it's in the most perfect place on earth with giant 100 year old oak trees filled with exotic birds from the Everglades National Forrest, and a citrus garden with tangelos & mandarin oranges, 35 minutes from Walt Disney World, Epcot, and the Magic Kingdom. Five minutes from the Bear Lake hunting reserve paradise, 15 minutes from Playa Linda Beach (look that up online), so many supermodels they work in 7-11s, and more. If I had it, I'd give you Monaco for free....Alfred-