Though an expansive castle in San Simeon was once the largest home in California, it has since been surpassed by a modern home in Bel Air. This home, measuring over 100,000 square feet, was originally listed for $295 million, but it sold for under half the original price. Including two full bars, a cigar lounge, and a bowling alley, this home is truly massive. Find out more about the largest house in California and discover other huge homes in this state.
Los Angeles, California features some of the largest homes in the state, worth hundreds of millions.
©iStock.com/choness
What is the Largest House in California and What is its Square Footage?
Located in the city of Los Angeles, the largest house in California covers an incredible 105,000 square feet. In fact, the home is considered the largest modern home in the United States. Because it sits on a hilltop in Bel Air, one of the wealthiest areas in Los Angeles, the house is called “The One Bel Air.”
Originally, the developer of The One hoped to sell the home for half a billion dollars. However, certain shortcomings, challenges, and budgeting issues ended with the home in a bankruptcy auction, where it sold for $126 million, excluding commission fees. Purchased for a total of $141 million, the massive structure is now owned by Richard Saghian, Chief Executive Officer of the fast fashion company Fashion Nova.
The monstrous home features 21 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, and seven half-bathrooms. Many rooms throughout the house include floor-to-ceiling windows, which feature panoramic views of Los Angeles. Additionally, the wine cellar is large enough to store 10,000 bottles of wine. In the living room, the television measures practically the size of a movie screen.
Other features include a salon, spa, entertainment spaces, bowling alley, full bar, movie theatre, and nightclub. Needless to say, anyone living at The One would never need to leave. Everything that anyone could ever desire is in this mega-mansion, including a 4,000-square-foot master bedroom larger than the average-sized home in California.
Facts About The One Bel Air
- The One sold for over double the price of the highest sale at auction ever recorded in the United States.
- One space in The One is devoted entirely to candy. This full candy bar features every major candy brand.
- In addition to a full traditional bar, this home features a full juice bar, too.
- If one swimming pool isn’t enough for you, don’t worry. The One is home to five separate swimming pools – outside, inside, and on the rooftop.
- If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind features, The One has you covered. It has a full medieval-style moat enclosing its perimeter on three sides.
- Having friends over? Let them stay in the guest house, which features three bedrooms.
- Other features of The One are a tennis court, a 30-car garage, a private gym, six elevators, a putting green, and a perfect location in the heart of Los Angeles.
The aerial view of The One Bel Air shows its rooftop swimming pool, surrounding moat, and landscaping.
Where is The Largest Home in California Located?
The largest home, known as “The One”, is located in Bel Air which is in Los Angeles County in California. Bel Ar is set in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, just 12 miles west from downtown L.A. Be Air lies across from Sunset Boulevard.
Other Large California Homes
Did you know that many of the largest homes in California are in Los Angeles? These houses are stunning and sure to amaze any visitor.
Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is in San Simeon, California, located between San Francisco and Los Angeles along the coast. The castle was once the largest home in California until The One Bel Air surpassed it. George Hearst was a United States senator who purchased 40,000 acres in San Simeon for the construction of this estate. Over time, the land owned by the Hearst family grew to around 250,000 acres. One interesting fact about the castle is that it wasn’t finished until after World War II, even though it was purchased at the end of the Civil War.
Hearst Castle covers an area of 68,500 square feet, including an incredible 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens and pools. In addition, the castle showcases a diverse art collection, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and decor from across the globe. Furthermore, visitors of Hearst Castle can tour the home and ponder over the various pieces of art. Managed by California State Parks, Hearst Castle offers several types of tours, including school tours, group tours, and night-time tours.
Hearst Castle includes 165 rooms and amazing art, landscaping, and architecture.
©iStock.com/sansara
The Manor at Holmby Hills
The Manor at Holmby Hills resides in Holmby Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. The manor covers 4.7 acres with an area measuring 56,500 square feet. Many people simply refer to the home as “The Manor” or “The Spelling Manor,” named for its first owners Aaron and Candy Spelling. The home is worth an estimated $119.7 million, and it’s easy to see why. Boasting an incredible 123 rooms, this masterpiece of a mansion is fantastical. With 14 bedrooms, 27 bathrooms, a tanning room, a bowling alley, a movie theater, and a tennis court, The Manor is sure to catch anyone’s attention.
The Manor at Holmby Hills, which has an area of 56,500 square feet, is worth nearly $120 million!
Hacienda de la Paz
Covering 51,000 square feet, Hacienda de la Paz features nine bedrooms and 25 bathrooms in Los Angeles’ Rolling Hills community. While the original listing price for the home was $53 million in 2013, it sold for only $22.4 million at auction in 2018. Some amenities of Hacienda de la Paz include horse riding trails, a six-car garage, and a wine cellar. In addition, the home features a stunning ballroom and a hammam with arched ceilings and floors constructed of imported marble.
A hammam is a Turkish-style steam bath popularized by the Middle East.
The Largest Homes in California: A Comparison
| Home | Location | Square Footage | Bedrooms and Bathrooms | Indoor Amenities | Outdoor Amenities | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The One Bel Air | Bel Air, Los Angeles | 105,000 | – 21 bedrooms – 42 bathrooms – 7 half-bathrooms | – Salon – Spa – Entertain-ing spaces – Bowling alley – Full bar – Movie theatre – Nightclub | – Five swimming pools – Moat – Tennis court – Putting green | $126 million to $141 million |
| Hearst Castle | San Simeon | 68,500 | – 38 bedrooms – 42 bathrooms | – Antique furniture and decor – Extensive art collection – Theatre – Salon – Pool | – Swimming pool – Walkways – Gardens | $63.1 million to $89.75 million |
| The Manor at Holmby Hills | Holmby Hills, Los Angeles | 56,500 | – 14 bedrooms – 27 bathrooms | – Tanning room – Bowling alley – Movie theater – Library – Wine cellar | – Tennis court – Swimming pool – Fountains – Rose gardens – Citrus trees | $119.7 million to $165 million |
| Hacienda de la Paz | Rolling Hills, Los Angeles | 51,000 | – 9 bedrooms – 25 bathrooms | – Six-car garage – Wine cellar – Ballroom – Hammam | – Horseback riding trails – Swimming pool – Fruit, nut, and olive trees – Reflecting pond | $22.4 million to $53 million |
What is the Largest House in the United States?
The largest house in the United States is the famous Biltmore Estate, located in Asheville, North Carolina. George Washington Vanderbilt was born in 1862 to the Vanderbilt family, which was one of the wealthiest families during this time in America. In fact, several institutions have been named for the family, including Vanderbilt Hospital and Vanderbilt University. These structures demonstrate the incredible legacy that the family left in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Around 1888, George Vanderbilt began to purchase land for the construction of his home. By 1889, construction on the Biltmore began, and the famous home only took around six years to be completed. In 1895, construction crews finally finished the 175,000-square-foot home. The Biltmore featured 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. By 1930, following George Vanderbilt’s death, the Biltmore opened to the public. During this period, the Great Depression made preserving the home extremely difficult. However, by increasing tourism of the Biltmore Estate, the Vanderbilt family hoped to provide a stable income for the upkeep of the home.
While World War II raged on in 1942, the Biltmore protected various art pieces from the National Gallery of Art. In addition, 1963 marked the year in which the U.S. designated The Biltmore as a National Historic Landmark. Following its designation, Biltmore House opened a winery, generating even more revenue from the tourism of the estate. Furthermore, the estate included an inn and hotel for visitors touring and enjoying the Biltmore’s many amenities. Now, visitors can discover the Biltmore’s amazing history and tour its many rooms, gardens, and other fascinating features.
If you’re fond of the spooky season, you should know Biltmore Estate is one of NC’s most haunted places.
The Largest Homes in the United States: A Comparison
| Home | Location | Square Footage | Bedrooms and Bathrooms | Indoor Amenities | Outdoor Amenities | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biltmore | Asheville, North Carolina | 175,000 | – 35 bedrooms – 43 bathrooms | – Art collection – Banquet hall – Two-story library | – Gardens – Ponds – Conserva-tory | $300 million to $344 million |
| Oheka Castle | West Hills, New York | 115,000 | – 117 rooms (bedrooms unspecified) – 50 bathrooms | – Hotel rooms – Ballroom – Library | – Walkways – Ponds – Gardens – Fountains – Eight reflecting pools | $158 million |
| The One Bel Air | Bel Air, Los Angeles | 105,000 | – 21 bedrooms – 42 bathrooms – 7 half-bathrooms | – Salon – Spa – Entertain-ing spaces – Bowling alley – Full bar – Movie theatre – Nightclub | – Five swimming pools – Moat – Tennis court – Putting green | $126 million to $141 million |
| Whitemarsh Hall (demolished in 1980) | Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania | 100,000 | – 147 rooms (bedrooms unspecified) – 45 bathrooms | – Ballroom – Movie theater – Indoor fountain -Barbershop – Wine cellar – Gymnas-ium | – Swimming pool – Tennis courts – Fountains – Gardens – Walkways | Sold in 1970 for $5.632 million (calculated for inflation) |
What is the Largest House in the World?
The largest house in the world is Istana Nurul Iman Palace, located in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Also known as The Light of Faith Palace, the home boasts an unbelievable 1,788 rooms and 257 bathrooms. This home is the largest mansion on Earth, covering 2.15 million square feet! Because the Sultan of Brunei commissioned it in 1984, the palace features a mosque, a 110-car garage, stables large enough to hold approximately 200 ponies, and five swimming pools. In addition, the mosque at the palace is large enough to hold around 1,500 people.
Furthermore, the estimated value of the estate measures around 400 million U.S. dollars. Despite its massive size and incredible construction costs, Istana Nurul Iman Palace is not worth as much as some of the other largest homes on Earth. By comparison, the second-largest home in the world is Buckingham Palace in England, which is valued at around $2.9 billion.
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