The 4 Biggest Houses On The Planet: Is It A Palace, A Skyscraper, Or A 700-Acre Estate?

The question of the "biggest house on the planet" is more complex than a simple square footage comparison, as of late 2024 and early 2025. The true answer depends on how you define a "house"—is it a royal palace, a private vertical skyscraper, or a sprawling historic estate? The world's largest residences are not just homes; they are monuments of wealth, power, and architectural ambition, with the top contenders spanning continents and millions of square feet. This article breaks down the definitive list of the world's largest homes, from the official Guinness World Record holder to the most expensive private residence ever built, giving you the current, up-to-date facts on these architectural mega-structures.

The Definitive Biggest: Istana Nurul Iman (The Palace of the Light of Faith)

If the measure of "biggest" is sheer floor area and room count, the title unequivocally belongs to the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei. This colossal structure is not merely a home but a fully functional residential palace and the seat of the Brunei government. The palace complex is a stunning example of modern Islamic architecture, designed by Filipino architect Leandro V. Locsin and completed in 1984. It remains the uncontested largest single-family residence in the world by total floor area.

Biography and Key Statistics

• Owner: Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei.
• Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.
• Size: Approximately 2,152,782 square feet (200,000 square meters).
• Rooms: 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, and 18 elevators.
• Unique Features: A massive banquet hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a 110-car garage, five swimming pools, and an air-conditioned stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies.
• Current Status: It holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest residential palace.

This enormous scale makes Istana Nurul Iman more than four times the size of the Palace of Versailles in France, solidifying its position at the top of the world's largest residences list.

The Largest Private Skyscraper: Antilia (Mumbai, India)

When discussing the largest *private* home—one not primarily used as a palace or government seat—the conversation shifts to Antilia, the iconic residence of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Antilia redefines the concept of a single-family home by building vertically rather than horizontally, earning it the title of the world's largest and most expensive private house. Antilia is a marvel of modern engineering on Mumbai's Altamount Road, often referred to as Billionaires' Row. It is considered the most expensive private home in the world, with an estimated value in the billions of US dollars.

The Vertical Mansion’s Specifications

The structure is a 27-story personal skyscraper, but its high ceilings mean it is equivalent in height to a 60-story building. Its design is based on the concept of the sun and the lotus, with every floor uniquely designed using rare materials like crystal, marble, and mother-of-pearl.

• Owner: Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries.
• Location: Altamount Road, Mumbai, India.
• Size: Over 400,000 square feet (37,000 square meters) of total living floor area.
• Unique Features: A dedicated six-story garage with space for 168 cars, a grand ballroom, nine high-speed elevators, a private movie theatre, a health spa, and three helipads on the roof.
• Architecture: Designed by American architects Perkins & Will and completed in 2010.

The sheer density of luxury amenities packed into its 27 stories makes Antilia the undisputed largest private single-family home by indoor floor space.

The Largest Estate Complex: Lakshmi Vilas Palace (Vadodara, India)

While Istana Nurul Iman takes the prize for floor area, and Antilia for a vertical private home, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, India, is often cited as the world’s largest private residence based on the sheer size of its entire estate complex. This historic mansion is a colossal example of Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture. The palace is the current residence of the Gaekwad dynasty, the former ruling Maratha family of Baroda State. It was commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890.

A 700-Acre Historic Marvel

The distinction here is crucial: while its interior floor space (estimated at over 170,000 square feet) is smaller than Antilia, the entire complex is what sets it apart. The estate is a sprawling historic landmark that dwarfs nearly every other home on the planet.

• Owner: The Gaekwad dynasty.
• Location: Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
• Estate Size: The palace complex spans a massive 700 acres (over 30 million square feet).
• Comparison: The estate is reportedly 36 times the size of Buckingham Palace in London.
• Unique Features: It includes multiple buildings, a golf course, a museum (the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum), and a zoo, all within the private complex.

For those who measure the "biggest house" by the total private land area it occupies, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace complex is the clear winner, making it one of the most fascinating and largest private residences ever constructed.

The Largest Modern Mega-Mansion: The One (Bel Air, USA)

To complete the list of contenders, we must look at the largest purpose-built, modern mega-mansion in the United States, a category that often captures the public imagination. That title belongs to "The One" in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California. Completed in the 2020s, The One was originally marketed as the largest and most expensive modern home in America, with an initial asking price of $500 million. Though it sold for a significantly lower amount at auction, its size remains a testament to contemporary luxury architecture.

The Ultimate Spec House

The One is a hilltop estate that broke real estate rules with its sheer scale and amenities. As a spec house (built without a specific buyer in mind), it was designed to be the ultimate party palace and luxury compound.

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• Owner: Richard Saghian, CEO of Fashion Nova.
• Location: Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA.
• Size: 105,000 square feet.
• Rooms: 21 bedrooms and 49 bathrooms.
• Unique Features: A 5,000-square-foot master suite, a sky deck, five swimming pools, a 30-car garage, a bowling alley, a private nightclub, and a 400-foot-long outdoor running track.

While smaller than the historic palaces and Antilia, The One is a dominant force in the luxury real estate market and stands as the largest modern home in the Western world, showcasing the extreme scale of contemporary mega-mansion construction.

Understanding the True Scale of the World’s Largest Homes

The debate over the "biggest house on the planet" ultimately comes down to a matter of classification. * The Largest by Floor Area (Palace): Istana Nurul Iman (2,152,782 sq ft). This is the official world record holder. * The Largest Private Home (Vertical): Antilia (400,000 sq ft). This is the largest, most expensive private residence not used as a government palace. * The Largest Private Estate (Land Area): Lakshmi Vilas Palace (700 acres). This colossal complex is the largest by the total area of the private compound. These residences, from the royal palace of the Sultan of Brunei to the private skyscraper of Mukesh Ambani, represent a fascinating look into the world of ultra-luxury real estate and the lengths to which the world's wealthiest will go to create their ultimate, private domains. The sheer size of these homes and their over-the-top amenities are what continue to capture global curiosity in 2025.

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