Inside Abramovich's New $230 Million London Mega-Mansion

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Dec 27th 2010 at 6:02PM

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has purchased all nine luxury apartments in two adjoining buildings in London's posh Knightsbridge neighborhood and plans to transform them into a mega-mansion at a total cost of about $230 million. He aims to turn the 30,000-sq.-ft. eight-bedroom buildings, a historic property located next to famed department store Harrods and designed by renowned master builder Thomas Cubitt, who also designed parts of Buckingham Palace, into a high-tech luxury fortress with five above-ground stories and three underground levels, the London Daily Mail reports. The paper has obtained a schematic of the plans, above; most of the cost of the project will go towards the renovations.

"He wants a very plush interior in the style of high neoclassical Victorian to match the exterior," an insider tells the paper. "He's going to be very hands-on and there will be nothing minimalist about his taste. Inside will be all cornices, thick pile carpeting and heavy drapery." The plans call for six bedrooms two guest rooms all with en suite baths; a multicar garage with staff accommodation in a mews behind the main building; a cinema / entertainment room; an indoor swimming pool; a steam room and sauna; and a children's study and entertainment room. Abramovich has been patiently acquiring the flats in the buildings since the late '90s, the paper reveals, and just recently closed on the last one.

Tags: abramovich, abramovich+london, abramovich+mansion, abramovichlondon, abramovichmansion, billionaire, estates, Harrods, Knightsbridge, London, mansion, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, UK, wealth

Filed under: Estates, Wealth, Architecture & Design

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Jennifer Dec 31st 2010 8:51AM

His mansion plans look nice but with all that money he has couldn't he have helped a lot of hard working folks who are about to retire by turning that building into affordable housing units for the retired. Why would one man have to build such a hugh place for one family. The camel will have an easier time sliding through the eye of a needle. So sad that economies throughout the World are suffering and I have to turn my computer on to see how one man is going to build a home the size of Fort Knox. Hopefully this man has the sense to not flaunt his ventures and donate back to the same town he is going to be living in.

Capwhan Dec 31st 2010 9:38AM

The man is a total fool.

blair Dec 31st 2010 9:40AM

This article is recycled from about a year ago - couldn't they have gotten some real specs and pics since then?

Capwhan Dec 31st 2010 9:49AM

Some people don't know how to spend their money wisely.

john Dec 31st 2010 11:40AM

Some people don't have to.

iamannatude Dec 31st 2010 10:10AM

Talk about 'over-kill'! I am NOT impressed, I would say I am closer to DISGUSTED. Talk about sloth, this guy has it. Gotta feel sorry for this bozo, he is SO insecure about himself, to be THIS gaudy! I noticed that he isn't doing this in his homeland, Russia. Why? Maybe because he has managed to hose the general population there and I am sure they would take exception to paying for his fancy lifestyle, all while they are starving. Sorry, folks, I happen to think this is SICK! Besides, what moron puts his diningroom ABOVE his kitchen? The garage? Below staff living quarters, ever heard of carbon monoxide, dumbell? HEY! Abramovich! The lab called, they couldn't save your brain! Selfish azz!

sandra Dec 31st 2010 3:34PM

Jealousy is so unbecoming, how about YOU sending pics of your home so we can compare and judge, like you have done.

TodayLA09 Dec 31st 2010 12:38PM

is someone jealous????

MR.RICK Jan 1st 2011 2:25AM

you poor broke people are always lashing out at those with money. the money he spent on this mansion will be made again by time the doors are installed. money makes money. i love to see losers venting at people who are well off. stop crying.

allenstringer Dec 31st 2010 10:11AM

Just think of all the jobs this home construction will require. But I guess many people would just want a handout instead of working for the money. Maybe this is the attitude that has sent so many jobs overseas. Or maybe Abramovich is just planning to setup house to join the Obama Oligarchy.

Kizzmenow4 Dec 31st 2010 1:36PM

Just one question, Why? I dont understand the need to have a house that big.

Denizio Dec 31st 2010 2:11PM

Wealth is new to the Russians and they don't know how to handle it. They have no idea what philanthropy is. Is this the same Rich Russian that paid $300 mill for a yacht?

red Dec 31st 2010 8:01PM

I think he could have designed that better with half or quarter of the cost. I think that his heirs will have a problem selling that place if they ever wanted to sell it.

mikersales Dec 31st 2010 4:08PM

What, no elevator? The heck with that, I.m outta here. Wait, it's REALLY cold in Russia. OK, I'll make do.

AGB1953 Dec 31st 2010 5:42PM

You bleeding heart wacks make me sick. All you want wealthy people to do is give you something for nothing and your wealth-envy is pathetic. Don't you realize how many JOBS this mansion will create? People will go to work, the rich guy will pay out 300 millioin dollars to WORKERS and then they can live off what they EARN. That's what wealth does - it produces JOBS. No wonder America is circling the drain.

Grace Dec 31st 2010 10:33PM

Silly little fool... We've had tax cuts for the rich for several years now... And how many jobs did that create ??

We had a very prosperous nation until Reagan came into office... Since then it has been all downhill... The "trickle down" theory never made it downhill... ! It all went uphill to the select few...

If all of you fools want to work long hard hours to support the rich in the manner they have become accustomed to...be my guest... I'm glad I'm 72 and saw this country represent ALL people...

Patty Dec 31st 2010 5:48PM

It's a good thing I not in power of the country. It would be a dictatorship LOL No one would be so rich and no one would be poor... and I'm a liberal at heart, just control must come, everything is out of control...

winter Dec 31st 2010 7:29PM

If I spent 230 million on a mansion it whould have to be a lot classiry that what the drawing looks like. The designer must have been on magic mushrooms when he drew the plans. It looks more like a cheap Barbie doll house to me.

parlenic Dec 31st 2010 7:36PM

I hope someone bombs it.

liguy Dec 31st 2010 8:24PM

If I had that kind of money, I wouldn't sink all of it into one residence, and I would seriously consider donating a chunk of it to several worthy charities that will actually do some good with the money. Besides helping society, the donated money will create jobs at the not for profit charities that administer the donation.

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