Barely a month after it was reported that a London penthouse sold for $220 million, which was then the world’s most expensive private residence, the record has been broken with the sale of $308 million for a palatial penthouse in Monaco. Called La Belle Epoque, the Monaco property has quite a history; formerly the home of billionaire banker Edmund Safra, where he was found dead after a mysterious fire that destroyed the apartment in 1999.
The three bedroom duplex penthouse offers 17,500 square ft of luxury, which includes double-height library, immense roof terraces complete with mature 15- foot trees and a dining room with a platinum leaf ceiling. The apartment’s luxe features include a panic room which is reinforced with armored glass and surveillance cameras, a cinema emerging from the walls at the touch of a finger, numerous dressing rooms and walk-in wardrobes, a recreation room with arcade video games and pool tables, a Jacuzzi and spa, and a state-of-the-art media room with distinct executive chairs that convert into beds. The penthouse was sold by Christian and Nick Candy. British developers bought the space relatively cheap after the fire from Lily Safra and hired designer Martin Kemp to supervise the $40 million renovations, including a breathtaking infinity pool.
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The new owner of the most expensive in the world is Greek billionaire Constantine Alexander-Goulandris, a close friend and business partner of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. According to Wikipedia, the US-born Alexander-Goulandris, 47, who lives in Monaco, is an influential adviser of the Saudi royal family and the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait, as well as the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and many of the world’s largest oil companies.
Aside from Abramovich, he is also close to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Although not on the Forbes list of richest people in the world, his net worth was said to be $15 billion through investments in energy and petroleum shipping and real estate, including the Olympic Tower building in New York. Aside from Monaco, Alexander-Goulandris reportedly maintains homes in Paris, London, Antibes, New York and Hawaii. He also owns one of world’s largest yachts, the 279 feet Delma – registered in Dubai and jets around on Boeing 767 and two Gulfstream G550 business jets.
