What a R1 billion apartment looks like

A number of high-value apartments are available to purchase across the world, but none quite match up to the hundred million dollar listing mark that many of the penthouses featured below reach.

South Africa has also seen some notably pricey penthouse apartments enter the market – namely, The Regent in Sandton, which lists a penthouse suite going for R45 million – but local offerings are only a fraction of the price of some international giants.

These properties show that as long as there are people with millions of dollars to spend, there will definitely be things for them to spend it on.

Unsurprisingly, many of the most expensive apartments in the world are located in New York City, in a stretch of skyscrapers along what is known as “billionaire’s row”.

These luxury high-rise apartments overlook Manhattan’s Central Park, offering perhaps the most scenic views the city has to offer – from 90 stories up.

So what does a billion rand penthouse look like?

Pierre Hotel Penthouse – $95 Million – R1.01 billion

Sitting high above the Pierre Hotel in New York (41 floors, to be exact), this pricey penthouse covers 12,000 square feet over three floors, and features five bedrooms, six bathrooms and maid quarters and four terraces offering 360 degree views of Central Park and the surrounding city.

The home was originally listed at $125 million, but is available for a discounted rate of only $95 million.

CitySpire Penthouse – $100 Million – R1.15 billion

Punting opulence, the CitySpire penthouse in New York covers 8,000 square feet of space over 3 floors. It has 6 bedrooms, 9 baths, a private elevator, a wine cellar, maid quarters, a guest apartment and even more space outside, offering 360 degree views.

All this, for a mere $100 million.

One57 Penthouse – $100.5 Million – R1.16 billion

The One57 penthouse sale officially closed at $100.5 million, making it the only New York property listed here to actually sell for over $100 million (the other prices are listing prices).

The duplex penthouse covers 11,000 square feet, has six bedrooms and its own indoor movie theatre. Another One57 penthouse apartment was also sold for $90 million.

520 Park Avenue Penthouse – $130 million – R1.5 billion

The still-in-development 520 Park Avenue tower in New York is listing its top spot at $130 million – the highest priced penthouse listing in New York.

The massive home will cover 12,000 square feet, and will feature a lot of marble, fine wood finishings and old-school opulence, if the renderings are anything to go by. The development is only expected to be complete in 2017, however.

One Hyde Park Penthouse – $200 Million – R2.3 billion

The One Hyde Park penthouse, located in London, stretches two floors, and covers 17,000 square feet. According to the developers – the apartments are sold bare (no rooms, no walls, nothing), and can be designed according to buyers’ needs.

One of the four penthouse apartments was sold to an Eastern European buyer for 140 million pounds ($) making it by far the most expensive penthouse apartment in Britain. Another One Hyde Park penthouse was purchased for 136 million pounds in 2011.

The images below are 3D Visualisations of potential space fillers, by JustViz.

Monaco’s Tour Odeon Penthouse – $400 Million – R4.6 billion

With the crown title of “the world’s most expensive apartment”, the penthouse of the Odeon Tower in Monaco is possibly the epitome of luxury.

The five-floor apartment offers 35,000 square feet of space, floor-to-ceiling windows, and glass balconies looking out onto the city of Monaco and the surrounds. Spas, 24-hour services, caterers, and even its own water slide. For the asking price of around $400 million, you should expect only the best.

(1 USD = 11.56 ZAR)

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