Welcome to Villa Firenze, a $160 Million Masterpiece
One of the most expensive homes in the world is up for sale at $160 million.
Located in Beverly Hills, California, and known as Villa Firenze, the megamanion is a four-building compound with over 30,000 square feet of living space.
It's a ridiculously huge property with a ridiculously large price tag. Do you want to see inside? Of course, you do. Come take a tour of this lavish Mediterranean property.
It's Been on the Market for a Long While
Villa Firenze has been on the market since July of 2017, when it was first listed for $165 million.
Perhaps feeling this was a bit much, the owners knocked $5 million off the price tag in January 2020.
It's in a Very Expensive Zip Code
The address is 67 Beverly Park Court in the 90210 zip code of Beverly Hills.
That's a very respectable neighborhood that sits between Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive in the hills above Los Angeles.
It's also adjacent to Franklin Canyon Park, if you ever get tired of hiking around your own massive grounds.
It's Up for Auction
After sitting on the market for over two years, the owner decided to put it up for auction. There is no reserve price, but a $100,000 bidder deposit is required. You could call it a "Firenze" sale.
You could, although Firenze means Florence in Italian, so you would be both making a lame joke and talking nonsense.
It's Owned by One of the Richest Men in the World
Villa Firenze was custom-built for Steven Udvar-Hazy, who is worth $4 billion and one of the richest people in the world.
Per Forbes, Udvar-Hazy is a Hungarian immigrant who created the airplane leasing industry. That is to say, he buys airplanes and leases them out to airline companies.
He immigrated to New York at a young age and one of his first jobs was packing boxes in a warehouse for 30 cents an hour.
It Took Five Years to Build
The villa was built over the course of five years by William Hablinski Architecture and was finished in 1998.
It's the biggest property in North Beverly Park and has nearly 10 acres of prime real estate.
When Keeping it Real Goes Right
The entire first floor is made with limestone imported from France.
According to Christies Real Estate, William Hablinski created this home to be as close to an authentic Italian villa as possible.
The guiding principle was "keeping it real."
The House Is Huge
Just the main home is 28,660 square feet and has eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
A two-story guest house is about 3,000 square feet, while the square footage for the detached staff quarters, guest cottage, pool house and cabana have an unlisted square footage.
It's well over 30,000 square feet in total.
No Expense Spared
Hablinski enlisted master craftsmen to build the home's fine details.
They used traditional, old-world techniques like hand-mixing plaster colors and troweling the plaster by hand.
Built for Families and Family Parties
According to Christie's, the house was built "for family comfort and gatherings, but also for entertaining."
There's enough room for the whole family.
And an entire extended family.
The Dining Room Is Magnificent
What's on the menu? Whatever you want.
Anything would taste good in this dining room.
Archways and Columns for Days
It's like being in a very, very wealthy part of Italy, with oodles of marble archway, columns and built-in bookcases throughout the home.
It looks like something a modern Roman emperor would have built for himself.
A Wing for the Master's Chambers
We're not sure that this is the master bedroom — chances are it isn't — but one entire wing of the home has been dedicated to the master suite.
Famous Neighbors
North Beverly Park is home to extremely wealthy businesspeople and famous actors.
Sylvester Stallone (who just purchased a $35 million home in Palm Beach, Florida) has his main house here.
So does Rod Stewart, Mark Wahlberg, Barry Bonds, Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington and a number of Saudi princes.
How Much Is the Mortgage?
If somehow you were to obtain a 30-year fixed loan with a 3 percent interest rate, living in this home would cost you about $583,000 a month in mortgage payments, not including property tax.
That's including the 20 percent down payment of $32 million.
Amazing Architectural Details
The home was built in the Tuscan style with Renaissance features.
Like that fireplace, which has some kind of Roman-style relief.
Built in the Renaissance Style
The Renaissance originated in Florence in the early 14 century and gave birth to a new style of architecture.
Renaissance architecture is characterized by having arches, tunnel vaults, domes and columns, with marble and limestone being the prime building blocks.
Coffered ceilings also have their roots in ancient Roman architecture.
The Office Just Makes You Feel Wealthy
Villas originated in ancient Rome under Emperor Hadrian in the first century.
He built a 300-acre villa estate "combining the functions of imperial rule (negotium) and courtly leisure (ortium)," according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Imaginative Roots
Hadrian's villa estate was discovered in the 15th century.
The villa had fallen into ruin, so Renaissance-era architects reimagined what their splendor may have been like by reading passages from ancient texts.
The Kitchen Is One of a Kind
Some early examples of Renaissance-style Italian villas are Villa Farnese and Villa Giulia.
The kitchen (we think it's the kitchen) features a mile-long marble countertop, old world-style cabinets, a decorative skylight and a range that has been styled like the fireplace mantles.
Living Large. And Why Not?
At $160 million, the estate comes to a price-per-square footage of $5,583, just for the main home's 28,660 square feet.
Warm Colors to Heighten Emotions and Passion
According to Christie's, the interior decorations were done by Raymond J. Rippy of the San Diego-based interior design company Interspec.
He chose "a neutral palette punctuated by rich natural wood and golden fittings" to create warmth.
The Master Closet Is Bigger Than Some Houses
The master closet is just enormous.
It's like having your own little department store, just more comfortable.
The Bathroom Is All About Comfort
We can't say for certain whether or not this is the master bathroom, but it would be in any other house.
The niche above the bathtub mirrors the same kind prominent in Renaissance architecture, which is where statues were typically displayed.
You Can Never Have Too Many Living Areas
There are so many living areas in this place that it's difficult to figure out what's what.
It seems like every room has a huge fireplace.
This one is more rustic.
Additional Features Complete the Palatial Ambiance
Not every amenity is featured in the listing photos.
There is also a walk-in pantry, gym, craft room, 1,000 square-foot Mezzanine storage, video game room and a total of five offices in the main house.
Expensive, But Not the Most Expensive
Even if Villa Firenze sells for its asking price, it will still be $78 million short of the most expensive home ever sold in America.
That crown belongs to a 24,000-square-foot apartment near Central Park in New York City.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin purchased it for $238 million in early 2019.
The Pool Is Massive
Outside, the Mediterranean-style pool is surrounded by tall palm trees.
It's a very large pool with two guest cottages and a cabana (with a kitchen) flanking three sides.
Living in the Mediterranean Life
The guesthouses include two master suites with outdoor patios and full kitchens and great rooms.
Above the ADA-equipped pool house is a caretaker suite.
Safe and Secure Around the Clock
The property is under 24/7 security patrols. The perimeter of the property, the home's entire exterior and the property's entrance are surveilled by a digital camera system.
Take a Jog Around the House. Literally.
The property has a jogging path on the property, too.
And would-be owners who also love dogs are in luck: There is a dog run as well.
The Lawn Is Four Acres
Just the lawn itself is four acres.
There are three formal fountains, a lighted tennis court, gardens, a sports field and several garages, including a separate one for servants.
Home Sweet Megamansion
The home has its own, very long, gated driveway and is located 10 minutes from Rodeo Drive. Los Angeles International airport is 14 miles away.
No private helipad, though. Probably because of local zoning laws.
The Motor Court Fits 30
The motor court has enough room for 30 cars.
The grounds are expertly manicured and feature an arbor and orchard for when its time to ponder what else you could spend your money on.
Related:Most Incredible Megamansions in the World