5 Most Expensive Houses Sold in the US

Home sweet home, as they say, and these lavish homes sold in the United States are sweeter than ever with their extravagant price tags. It’s not a surprise that these enormous, ultra-luxury properties are located in Billionaire’s Rows in New York, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach in Florida, among many others.

In 2021 alone, at least 40 residential properties were sold for over $50 million in the country, according to data compiled by appraiser Miller Samuel. And while the housing market is facing a liquidity crunch in 2022, analysts forecast a rebound in 2023, and these million-dollar houses are proof of that growth momentum.

Let’s take a look at some of the most expensive houses recently sold in the US, shall we?

1. NYC Hedge fund baby – $238 million

Citadel hedge fund manager Ken Griffin made headlines when it was revealed that he purchased the top four floors of an unfinished building at 220 Central Park South in New York City in January 2019 for a whopping $238 million. That was surely enough to land him the record for the most expensive home purchase in US history.

Griffin, who has a net worth of $22 billion, acquired the 23,000-square-foot quadplex covering the 50^th through the 53^rd floors of the tower along Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row. He adds it to this long list of mega-mansions across the globe. Griffin’s New York property purchase eclipsed the $147-million acquisition of an East Hampton estate by another hedge fund manager Barry Rosenstein in 2014.

2. Murdoch’s Montana ranch – $200 million

In 2021, the largest real estate deal in the country is media tycoon Rupert Murdoch’s purchase of the 340,000-acre Beaverhead Ranch in Montana. The ranch, located near Yellowstone National Park, was acquired from Koch Industries subsidiary Matador Cattle Co.

Murdoch has not disclosed what he plans to do with the scenic piece of land that is surrounded by mountains and valleys. There’s no update if Murdoch has plans to be a full-time rancher, but the property came with 7,000 cow-calf pairs. Murdoch adds this picturesque land to his ranch in California and his ranch assets in New South Wales in Australia.

3. The Manor makes history – $119.7 million

In June 2019, the Mapleton Drive mansion called The Manor was sold for $119.7 million, setting a new record as the highest residential property sale in California ever. Also known as Spelling Manor because it was designed for legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling, the luxurious property is the second largest house in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and is known for being the shooting location of many TV shows and movies.

The 56,500-square-foot French chateau-style property boasts 123 rooms, including 27 bathrooms and 14 bedrooms, spanning five acres of land. To give you a better picture, The Manor is bigger than the White House.  In February 2022, the opulent estate was listed for $165 million.

4. 7-acre Malibu home – $177 million

Silicon Valley-based Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen shelled out $177 million for a seven-acre cliffside property in Malibu, California in October 2021. This is Andreessen and his wife Laura Arrillaga’s second property in Malibu.

The deluxe property sits high above Malibu’s Paradise Cove beach, encapsulating panoramic ocean views and capturing Point Dume, Catalina Island, and almost everything in between. The property contains a 10,000-square-foot main house, two guest houses, two barns, a detached screening room, a poolside cabana, and more. Formerly a luxe horse ranch, the property’s structure incorporates its equestrian roots, which seems like Andreessen and his wife decided to keep.

5. The famed Jack L. Warner estate – $165 million

It’s not a list of expensive homes if there’s no mention of Beverly Hills. The Jack L. Warner estate is a 9.4-acre property that is considered a piece of Hollywood history. It features a 13,600-square-foot mansion, two guesthouses, a pool, and a tennis court.

In February 2020, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos spent $165 million on a record deal to buy the Los Angeles property from billionaire David Geffen. Bezos even added a $10 million adjacent home to the property after the purchase.

Special mention: Bel-Air’s The One – $141 million

The 105,000-square-foot Bel Air mega mansion was on the verge of taking Ken Griffin’s spot on the most expensive US real estate deal had it not been for some ups and downs. The majestic abode, perched atop a lofty hilltop, was sold for $141 million to Los Angeles-based fashion mogul Richard Saghian. He adds this luscious mansion to his Malibu beach house and Hollywood Hills home.

The 21-bedroom property’s price tag came as a shock after it was auctioned off for less than half its $295-million list price in March 2022, considering it also came with 49 bathrooms, a 30-car port garage, a gym, a lap pool, and a four-lane bowling alley. To top it all off, the majestic property came with a hair salon, a movie theater, and a wine cellar that can house 10,000 bottles of wine. The Bel-Air mansion, which took a decade to finish, was initially planned for an ambitious $500 million listing.

Final Thoughts

2021 was a banner year for the luxury home market as luxury home sales have accelerated by 72%. And although sales have taken a dip in mid-2022 due to inflation, those luxury homes have their own opulent market, so know we’ll still keep seeing more expensive ones being sold across the country in no time.

On the other hand, if you or someone you know are considering selling or buying a luxury home in the US, our team at Shorefront Investments can help. We sell high-value properties in various parts of the country at reasonable costs and, at the same time, seamlessly buy luxury homes in any condition.

The process starts at you filling out a form or calling (850) 713-4866. From there, our team will respond to you, schedule a viewing, provide a no-obligation cash offer, and wait for you to decide.