The palatial estates of America's wealthiest citizens come with sprawling residences, lavish interiors and decadence like you've never seen before. With owners ranging from a Gilded Age railroad baron to a former president, each one comes with its own tale behind the dream – or folly – that led to its creation.

Click or scroll on to tour the biggest billionaire mansions across the United States, complete with infinity pools, golf courses, secret roof terraces and even a flock of swans...

When it hit the market in 2019, Casa Encantada was the most expensive property in America, listed for a whopping $250 million (£196m). Since then, it has been on and off the market, with varying price tags.

At 40,000 square feet (3,716sqm), the majestic mansion sits on 8.4 acres (3.4ha) of land in the high-end Los Angeles enclave of Bel-Air. It also features all the billionaire bling a wealthy VIP could wish for.

The elegant pad was designed by famed architect James E Dolena in 1937 for Hilda Weber, the widow of a multi-millionaire glass manufacturer. Weber sold it in 1950 for $225,000 (£176k) to hotel magnate Conrad Hilton (pictured), the great-grandfather of Paris Hilton, reported luxury real estate news site Mansion Global.

After Hilton passed away in 1979, American businessman and billionaire David Murdock bought the place. He paid $12.4 million (£9.7m), which was a record price at the time.

The main home boasts an impressive 60 rooms, each carefully crafted to enjoy views of the city, ocean or gardens.

Restored to its original glory by Peter Marino, in the Deco Hollywood style of the original interior designer, TH Robjohns Gibbons, the property is both traditional and flawless in its finish.

Inside, there's a dramatic entrance with a 14-foot (4.3m) ceiling, a striking lounge, a luxurious kitchen, a formal dining room and a grand office with a marble fireplace, built-in bookshelves and floor-to-ceiling windows. French doors lead out to private patios, providing a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

The lower level was designed for entertaining, while the second storey features more comfortable family living quarters, as well as opulent home-working spaces.

Outside, there’s a pool pavilion that doubles as a professional movie theatre, an Art Deco cocktail bar, landscaped gardens by Benjamin Purdy, a 60-foot (18.3m) swimming pool, an illuminated tennis court with a viewing pavilion, a sports court and vast lawns. There’s also a guest house that sits alongside the manager's quarters. 

Despite the home’s beauty and scale, it has struggled to find a buyer. The pad was still for sale in April 2025 with Carolwood Estates for the reduced price of $175 million (£137m).

A Maltese-inspired mansion, Villa Vittoriosa is reported to be the biggest family residence in the state of Georgia. Built in 1994 and designed by Atlanta architects PFVS, the former home of boxer Evander Holyfield stands on a vast estate, which includes a 4,000-square-foot (372sqm) guest house and a seven-stable barn.

The home was bought by hip-hop artist Rick Ross in 2014 for $5.8 million (£4.5m). Ross often shares the trappings of his extraordinary life, including photos of his home, via Instagram.

Evander Holyfield, boxing's only four-time world heavyweight champion, waved goodbye to Villa Vittoriosa after falling behind on payments totalling $14 million (£11m), prompting his bank to foreclose on the property.

The home was sold at public auction in 2012 for $7.5 million (£5.9m) and was bought by J P Morgan Chase, but Holyfield, who is known as 'The Real Deal', continued to live there while trying to reach an agreement with the bank. Sadly for the champ, a deal couldn't be reached, and he moved out a month later.

Now retired, he has an estimated net worth of 'just' $1 million (£779k).

In contrast, the home's current owner, Rick Ross (right), has a net worth of around $150 million (£118m). This grand entrance hall features an impressive domed ceiling and marble floorwork, which extends from the centre of the room. Dual staircases lead down from the balcony, surrounded by gold-embellished Roman-style pillars, which frame a gold statue of an eagle. 

The interior, which was used to film parts of the 2018 movie Superfly, is apparently "very rapperesque",  the film's production designer told architecture magazine Architectural Digest. "There were hundreds of photographs of Rick Ross everywhere and gold records... The dining room table was absolutely immaculately set out with beautiful plates and cutlery. It was very expensive stuff.”

There are a total of 12 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms, as well as a bowling alley and a dining room fit for 100 guests. The walls of the interior living spaces are wood-panelled and ornate, while a long indoor swimming pool flanked by marble and mirrors offers a luxurious spot for a dip.

Meanwhile, the enormous house sits in equally impressive grounds, which include a monogrammed forecourt with its own fountain surrounded by manicured topiaries.

Outdoors, the grandeur of the property becomes clear, with the vast white mansion nestled among sprawling grounds that span over 100 acres (41ha).

The outdoor pool is allegedly one of the largest private swimming pools in the United States and is overlooked by multiple balconies on the main house. 

Undeniably one of the most exquisite (and expensive) residences in all of Los Angeles, The Angelo Estate is located on an elevated, six acre (2.4ha) lot in glitzy Beverly Hills. It was on the market in April 2025, with Westside Estate Agency, for $175 million (£137m).

The spacious spread was designed by master architect Ed Tuttle in 2012 and has been described by the listing agents as “truly one of the great estates in all of America”.

The estate was built by Anthony Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, and his wife, Jeanne. Pictured here with his daughter, Lizzy, Anthony is worth a staggering $4.1 billion (£3.2b), according to Forbes, so no expense was spared during construction.

However, after 30 years of marriage, Anthony and Jeanne began divorce proceedings in October 2024. The same month, the property was listed for sale with a $195 million (£150m) price tag.

Formed from steel, glass and limestone, the mega-mansion has parking for up to 100 cars, as well as a magnificent open courtyard with fountains.

At the back, you’ll find a green marble infinity pool, an outdoor kitchen and a lighted tennis court. And that's just for starters...

The property is made up of three structures, spanning a colossal 50,000 square feet (4,645sqm). There's the main house, a two-storey guest house and a separate apartment.

The front door of the main house opens into a gorgeous foyer, reminiscent of IM Pei’s iconic Louvre entrance. The space flows through to beautiful living rooms, a chef's kitchen, a formal dining room and a library.

There are 16 bedrooms and 27 bathrooms across the buildings and every single space is majestic, with contemporary art, white oak timber accents, limestone walls, statement fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame incredible views.

The house even has a nightclub, a movie theatre, a games room, a bowling alley, a wellness centre, a gym, a wine cellar and an art gallery. Of course, an estate such as this requires top-tier protection and as such, it comes with state-of-the-art security, including a panic room.

The Manor is one of the grandest private residences in the world. Sitting on nearly five acres (2ha) of land in Holmby Hills, the marvellous mansion with celebrity credentials borders the LA Country Club.

Spelling Manor, as it used to be known, was built in 1988 by legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling and his wife Candy (pictured). Aaron, who produced Charlie's Angels, Dynasty and Beverly Hills 90210, died at home in 2006, prompting Candy to sell the famed mansion, which she documented in an HGTV special called Beyond Spelling Manor. 

Petra Ecclestone, the daughter of controversial ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, bought the house for $85 million (£67m). Later, Canadian billionaire and Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz snapped it up for $120 million (£94m) in an all-cash deal, making it briefly the most expensive home ever sold in Los Angeles County.

The home hit the market again in 2022 at $165 million (£129m) when former couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck (pictured, inset) took a look around as they searched for their newlywed love nest. 

The house has a jaw-dropping 123 rooms, with 14 bedrooms and 27 bathrooms across its 56,500-square-foot (5,249sqm) floorplan. In fact, the vast property is 1,500 square feet (139sqm) bigger than the White House.

The approach to the home is breathtaking, with a winding driveway leading up to a circular courtyard, with a fountain and enough space for 100 cars. Inside, the hallway has an impressive double staircase and a dramatic 30-foot-high (9m) ceiling, giving off a glitzy Old Hollywood vibe.

Complete with Italian limestone floors, the grand formal living room is flanked by arched French doors that look out over the garden.

The space's neutral colour scheme is paired with luxurious furniture, intricate ceiling mouldings, plus a grand piano and chandelier, of course.

Naturally, the mansion is packed with plush amenities, from the projection room, bar, family room and library to the fully-equipped beauty salon with massage and tanning rooms.

There's also a bowling alley, games room, solarium, aquarium and nightclub. It's no wonder this over-the-top mansion requires a staff of 50 to keep it running! Still for sale in April 2025, this time with Carolwood Estates, the home was priced at $137.5 million (£108m).

Formally known as Le Palais Royal, this mega-mansion in Florida is one of America's most expensive homes, having been listed for $159 million (£125m) in 2016.

Located in Hillsboro Beach, the mansion was modelled on the Palace of Versailles in France. However, after languishing on the market for some time, the property was finally sold for $42.5 million (£33m) in 2018. Despite being significantly lower than the original listing price, it was reportedly the highest price a US home had ever sold for at an auction at the time.

The home was built by construction tycoon Robert W Pereira (pictured here with his family in 2017), who started the project in 2006, finally finishing it in 2015. Estimated to be worth around $500 million (£392m), Pereira made his huge fortune from asphalt paving and by building bridges and train stations. 

Looking to build something spectacular, Pereira cut no corners during the build, and nothing was too expensive. But, after spending an extraordinary amount of time and money on the home, it came as a surprise when Pereira sold it in 2018 to Teavana founder Andrew Mack for $42.5 million (£33m) – over $100 million (£78m) less than the original listing price.

With such provenance, it'll come as no surprise that the house is decked out with the most luxurious materials imaginable.

The entrance, for example, features a marble staircase, wrought-iron railings and gold-leaf accents. It took two years to finish, at a reported cost of $2 million (£1.6m). The gold leaf doesn’t stop there, either, as the mahogany kitchen cabinets are also adorned with the opulent finish.

The extravagant house has 11 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms, with four of the bathrooms offering luxurious Jacuzzis – the perfect vantage point from which to admire the home's 465 feet (142m) of beachfront or even keep an eye on the yacht in the private dock!

The master suite takes up the entire south wing of the massive house. So, why did Pereira give up such an incredible home? To travel! It's reported that the millionaire and his family were spending much of their time on their newly refurbished 206-foot (63m) superyacht.

Outside, the mansion is just as fabulous. A 4,500-square-foot (418sqm) infinity pool with six cascading waterfalls is complemented by an LED-lit waterslide.

Meanwhile, a firepit stands in the middle of the pool, while an infinity-edge hot tub sits above on a plinth. And that’s not all – the house is also said to have the world's first residential 3D IMAX theatre. Definitely one of the most lavish home features money can buy!

Completed in 1903, Blairsden was built by C Ledyard Blair, an investment banker and yachtsman. It sits on 34 acres (14ha) of land overlooking the Somerset Hills, just 47 miles (75.6km) from New York City.

The palatial home was designed by prominent architectural firm Carrère & Hastings – who designed the New York Public Library and the Frick mansion – and took five years to build. Today, it's owned by T Eric Galloway, a New York developer, who purchased it for $4.5 million (£3.5m).

C Ledyard Blair was the grandson of railroad magnate John Insley Blair, one of the wealthiest men of America's Gilded Age. 

Ledyard set about building Blairsden in 1897, and he spared absolutely no expense. He levelled off a hilltop peak to make space for the enormous house and its even larger gardens and bought and uprooted mature maples and boxwoods from other properties. The weight of these loads “broke every bridge in Somerset County”, according to one historian. We can see the impressive effect it had in the photo on the right.

While it's believed Blairsden held a special place in his heart, Blair had homes in Newport, Bar Harbor, Bermuda and a 66-room limestone mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side, which he built in 1917. It was demolished just 10 years later to make room for an apartment block, which still stands today.

Entering Blairsden is like stepping into a time warp home. The tapestry-draped walls of the grand hall are made of stone, while marble archways open out into various reception rooms.

A vast staircase leads up to the first floor, which C Ledyard Blair and his family used as their living area.

More like a grand stately home than a modern mansion, the interior includes marble columns, detailed mouldings and elaborate fireplaces that wouldn't look out of place in a castle. Just look at that incredible ceiling!

Outside, you'll find tennis courts, extensive rose gardens, tiered terraces and a tranquil lake, where C Ledyard Blair threw lavish weddings for each of his four daughters.

If that wasn't enough, beneath the home, there's also a vast basement which houses a pool, Turkish baths and a squash court. Find out more via Historical Homes Of America, Inc.

After leaving the White House in January 2021, Donald Trump moved back into his magnificent Mar-a-Lago estate in the ultra-exclusive enclave of Palm Beach. The enormous estate operates partly as his private residence and partly as a private members' club and golf course. Indeed, Trump spent much of his first term as President at Mar-a-Lago, making executive decisions, playing golf and hosting political events there.

It has also been named in several legal cases over the years. According to the former federal indictment against the US President, Trump allegedly stored classified White House documents there after leaving office.

But this storied mansion estate had a rich history even before it became Trump's Florida HQ. Let's take a look around...

Mar-a-Lago was constructed between 1924 and 1927 for the flamboyant socialite, art collector and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post. She inherited her father's cereal empire in 1914, at the age of 27, following his tragic suicide.

Post's fortune went on to peak at $250 million (£196m), an estimated $8 billion (£6.3bn) in today's money, making her one of the wealthiest women in US history. So, of course, she spared no expense on her palazzo by the sea.

In 1921, Post hired renowned Gilded Age architect Marion Sims Wyeth to design a miraculous winter retreat in Palm Beach. Fearing the property would be demolished after her death, the heiress bequeathed Mar-a-Lago to the nation to serve as a permanent 'Winter White House'. 

The federal government were initially lukewarm about the proposal but accepted the gift in 1972, after Post agreed to cover the maintenance costs. She died the following year.

After ballooning costs made Mar-a-Lago a financial liability, President Carter handed the estate back to the Post Foundation in 1981. 

A young real estate tycoon by the name of Donald J Trump offered the Post family $15 million (£11.8m) for the estate, according to the British newspaper The Independent. When they refused, Trump reportedly bought a strip of adjacent land and threatened to build on it, blocking Mar-a-Lago's view of the water and massively reducing its worth.

His ploy worked, and he eventually snapped up the estate in 1985 for a much-reduced $8 million (£6.3m). Years later, when Trump became US President in 2017, he fulfilled Post's dying wish for Mar-a-Lago to become the Winter White House.

Surprisingly, little has changed between the home's inception and its appearance today. Trump clearly shares Marjorie Post's love of gold. A staggering 600 workers, including 300 artisans from Europe, were hired to build Mar-a-Lago.

The Dorian stone used for the exterior was imported from Italy in three boat-loads and tens of thousands of antique tiles dating from as far back as the 15th century were acquired from a prominent collector and castle in Cuba. Fixtures were plated in gold, which Post thought was easier to clean.

When all was said and done, the project went eight times over budget, with the final bill coming in at $7 million (£5.5m), a hefty $128 million (£100m) in today's money.

These days, the 20-acre (8.1ha) estate hosts grand functions in its palatial ballrooms, including fundraising events for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

Most recently, the lavish property's valuation was a key part of Attorney General Letitia James’s lawsuit against the Trump Organization. In February 2024, a judge ordered Trump to fork over $355 million (£278m) after finding he had lied about his wealth for years.

It seems the storied estate is set to hit the headlines for months – if not years – to come.

In 1919, American newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst designed this estate on his ranchland overlooking the village of San Simeon, California. His plans came to fruition over the next 28 years, with the aid of renowned architect Julia Morgan. 

By 1947, the hilltop complex included a main building with two towers, three guest houses and 127 acres (51ha) of terraced gardens, fountains and pools.

Born in 1863, Hearst (pictured) was the son of wealthy parents, who first took him to Europe when he was 10 years old. There he was inspired by the grandeur and greatness of the continent's historic art and architecture, igniting in him the desire to one day build something as grand for himself.

After earning a fortune in publishing, Hearst set about building a castle to enjoy with his five sons – and his film star mistress, Marion Davies. Like many tycoons of the age, he was a voracious art collector, owning works by van Dyke and Gérôme, as well as interesting objects such as George Washington's waistcoat and Thomas Jefferson's bible.

During his lifetime, Hearst was famously immortalised by Orson Welles in Citizen Kane, often cited as the greatest film ever made. Although he lived in his castle during its construction, he died in 1951, and it was never fully completed.

Hearst called the estate 'La Cuesta Encantada' (The Enchanted Hill). Pictured here is the extravagant living room, dripping with antiques and intricate details.

Unless hosting private functions, Hearst Castle is open for public tours, such as the Grand Rooms Tour or Julia Morgan Tour, which offers insight into the first certified female architect in California.

At the heart of Hearst’s private suite, found on the third floor of ‘Casa Grande’, lies the sumptuous Gothic Study where, according to the official Hearst Castle site, he would preview the newspapers each night before the presses ran. That's no mean feat – at his peak, Hearst owned over two dozen papers.

The suite sits within the main building of the San Simeon hilltop estate, boasting concrete arches decorated by Camille Solon between 1934 and 1935, and an intricate Spanish ceiling that dates back to the early 1400s.

The famous outdoor ‘Neptune Pool’ at Hearst Castle was built between 1924 and 1936. It holds 345,000 gallons (1.3 million litres) of water and is surrounded by parts of a Roman temple, decorated with classical-style sculpture.

In Hearst's day, it was kept warm via an oil-burning heating system. It's easy to see why it's been described as "the most sumptuous swimming pool on Earth".

Decorated with eight statues of Roman and Greek gods, goddesses and heroes, the pool is said to take direct inspiration from ancient Roman baths. Decorated with blue and orange tiles, and even clear tiles containing fused gold, the designs were inspired by the 5th century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy.

Lynnewood Hall, on the outskirts of Philadelphia, is considered to be one of the greatest surviving Gilded Age mansions in the US, described as "the last American Versailles" due to its architectural grandeur and beauty.

It is also one of the country's largest homes. Measuring 10,000 square feet (9,290sqm), the palatial property also stood on a staggering 480-acre (194ha) estate when it was first constructed.

The mansion was built between 1897 and 1900 for tycoon and prolific art collector Peter Arrell Browne Widener, who is now recognised as one of the richest Americans in US history. This picture of him was painted by the notable English artist John Singer Sargent.

Sadly, Widener lost his wife, Hannah, in 1896. After this, he decided he no longer wanted to reside in their townhouse on Broad Street, Philadelphia. Instead, he chose to build the perfect rural retreat. For the task, he hired American architect Horace Trumbauer, asking for somewhere 'comfortable' for him and his children to live.

Trumbauer is said to have been inspired by two impressive properties, Prior Park in Bath, England, and Ballingarry in New Jersey, USA, and chose to design Lynnewood Hall in a T-shape, constructing it from limestone. 

It is thought that the house cost $8 million (£6.3m) to build, the equivalent of about $303 million (£238m) today. In total, it has 110 rooms, of which 55 are bedrooms and 20 are bathrooms. There's also a private art gallery, a ballroom large enough for 1,000 people and a colossal foyer that looks like a museum entrance, captured here by photographer Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast.

Widener used his wealth to create a truly remarkable property that was decorated with the finest furnishings, materials and fabrics, including silks, gilded mouldings and Persian rugs. Two interior designers helped him to kit out Lynnewood Hall: Parisian firm Jules Allard et Fils and US-based designer William Baumgarten, who had a hand in the interiors of the Vanderbilt mansion on New York's Fifth Avenue.

He also decorated the walls with important works of art by the likes of Raphael, Rembrandt and Donatello. In its heyday, the Hall required 37 permanent staff members to run it and a further 60 employees to look after the grounds.

Widener and his family lived at Lynnewood Hall for 15 years, but after persistent spells of poor health, Widener passed away at the property in November 1915, at the age of 80. His eldest son, George Dunton Widener Sr, should have inherited the property, but sadly, three years earlier, he had been a victim of the fateful Titanic, which sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean after colliding with an iceberg.

Widener’s only surviving child, Joseph, took on the estate, but he passed away in 1943. Neither of his children wanted to take on the epic responsibility of Lynnewood Hall, and it was left abandoned for decades. Luckily, it was rescued by the Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation (LHPF) in June 2023. Its mission is to restore the property to its former glory, and the project is currently underway.

OHEKA Castle is considered to be the largest private home in New York. Nestled in West Hills, a hamlet in Suffolk County, the home was once the party destination during the Gilded Age and hosted many of the era's biggest stars.

It is said to have inspired the glamorous mansion in F Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel, The Great Gatsby, and has appeared in many TV shows and movies, including Citizen Kane, Succession and Gossip Girl. It was also used as the location for Taylor Swift’s Blank Space music video.

The property was the creation of the so-called 'King of New York', German Jewish financier Otto Hermann Kahn, pictured here with Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin. Kahn was best known for reorganising the Union Pacific Railroad with rail tycoon E H Harriman. 

The businessman and philanthropist purchased 443 acres (179ha) of land in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, in 1914, paying $1 million (£767k) for the privilege. That's more than $31 million (£24m) in today’s money. The banker set about building his dream home on the site. It was completed in 1919.

Kahn forked out a staggering $11 million (£8.6m), equivalent to $210 million (£165m) today, to build the French château-style residence, which was made of steel and concrete.

At 109,000 square feet (10,126sqm), the home was, and still is, the second-largest ever built in the United States. The 127-room castle had more than 100 staff members, who used a network of secret passageways and tunnels to remain out of sight.

Kahn decorated the castle's interiors in true opulent style. He opted for a spectacular 24-foot-high (7.3m) ballroom, a grand dining room, a stunning entrance foyer with a handcrafted wrought iron staircase, a library and more than 34 bedrooms. 

The home has 39 working fireplaces and 222 windows. Of course, the exterior is just as remarkable. Outside, there are numerous fountains, 10 reflecting pools, endless statues and tree-lined pathways, as well as a long driveway lined with manicured red cedar trees.

There's also a private airstrip, one of the largest private greenhouse complexes in the country, as well as stables, orchards, tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool and even an 18-hole golf course. 

Kahn and his family enjoyed OHEKA for just 15 years before Otto sadly died of a heart attack in 1934. Soon after, the family sold the castle to the Welfare Fund of the Sanitation Workers. It became a retirement home for the sanitation workers of New York City.

Today, OHEKA is owned by property developer Gary Melius, who lives in the mansion. He offers tours of the home and has also turned part of the building into a luxury hotel and wedding venue.

Home to one of the world's most famous families, Biltmore in North Carolina was built for George Washington Vanderbilt II in the late 19th century.

The colossal Gilded Age mansion, which is still owned by descendants of the Vanderbilt family, sprawls over 175,000 square feet (16,258sqm).

Pictured here in 1900 with his daughter Cornelia, George Washington Vanderbilt II was a prominent art collector and heir to the huge Vanderbilt steamboat and railroad fortune. In 1888, at the age of 26, George set about building the thing he would become best known for: the enormous Biltmore estate.

He bought 125,000 acres (50,585ha) of woodland in Asheville, North Carolina, and cleared a space for the site, employing architect Richard Morris Hunt to design the vast home and the 'father' of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmstead, to plan the extensive gardens. Together, they created one of the best-known and most striking estates in US history.

Vanderbilt has one more claim to fame, though. He and his wife Edith narrowly missed perishing on HMS Titanic after they changed their ticket at the last minute to sail instead on the doomed vessel's sister ship, the Olympic. Sadly, one of their servants, footman Frederick Wheeler, who was travelling on the Titanic with the Vanderbilt's luggage, died in the disaster.

The gigantic house, which was modelled on the Château de Blois in France's Loire Valley, was built over six years by thousands of workers and features more than 250 exquisitely decorated rooms. The epic mansion is now open to the public 365 days a year.

The largest room in the house, the medieval-style banquet hall, seriously wows with a towering, seven-storey ceiling, intricately carved wooden panelling and a vast dining table that seats up to 30 guests. 

Vanderbilt travelled throughout Europe and Asia, collecting fabulous antiques and paintings for his country home.

Needless to say, Biltmore is a treasure trove of art and works by the likes of Renoir and Sargent hang on its walls, as well as a selection of breathtaking 16th-century tapestries. It's without doubt the biggest house in America and it's arguably the best!

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