We see pictures of the world's most richest individuals in the news and magazines, but off camera, what type of lives do they lead? Are their homes all glitz and glamor, or retreats from an otherwise demanding daily life.
From Omaha, Nebraska, to London, England, here are the homes of some of the world's most well known billionaires. Some of these digs are exactly what you'd expect, while others are quite surprising.
Bill Gates:
Who could talk billionaires without mentioning Bill Gates. Even in a tumbling economy that has seen the rise and fall of numerous financial titans, Bill Gates has retained his billionaire status with a net worth of about $40 billion. His home, though not garish, is definitely his castle. At 66,000 square feet, this hillside fortress in Medina, on the shore of Lake Washington is virtually surrounding with mature trees and forest except for a cleared lawn area by the lake. Complete with a 60 foot swimming pool, with underwater stereo system, and 1,000 square foot dining room, we're certain Bill has all the comforts of home after a busy day at the office.
Warren Buffett:
Although his fortune took a $25 billion dollar loss during the recession, investment mogul Warren Buffett is still up there as the world's second richest man. His unpretentious home reflects an owner who still appreciates the value of a dollar. He resides in the same grey stucco, Omaha, Nebraska house he bought in 1958 for $31,500.
Lakshmi Mittal:
Mittal's home is a far cry from our former billionaire, with a residence that reflects his status as the wealthiest man in Britain, and Chairman and CEO of Mittal Company, the largest steel provider in the world. His townhouse at Kensington Palace Gardens was purchased for $128 million in 2004. After a tough day at the office, Mittal retires to the "Taj Mittal", complete with 12 bedrooms, indoor pool, Turkish baths, and 20-car garage. Sometimes he even fires up the barbeque and invites over neighbor, the Sultan of Brunei to join him.
Paul Allen:
Paul Allen, owner of the Portland Trailblazers and co-founder of Microsoft, has remained close to his childhood roots near Seattle. His 10,000 square foot estate is located on Mercer Island, on the shores of Lake Washington. His waterfront home provides the perfect facilities to dock his yacht (the world's largest), complete with helipad.
Michael Dell:
Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computers was a billionaire before he turned 40. His 33,000 square foot Austin, Texas mansion sits on a hilltop on 60 acres. Looking more like a college than a house, Dell's home features eight bedrooms, 21 bathrooms, a conference room and home gym.
Larry Ellison:
You would expect that the richest man in California, and co-founder of Oracle would have a home reflecting this status, and Larry Ellison's $65 million Malibu pad does not disappoint. In 2004, he purchased five beachfront properties (including one house, just for the pool), to create a private oceanfront compound. In keeping with his reputation for extravagance, the estate included a million dollar entertainment system that features a massive video projector at one end of a drained swimming pool, using the enormous hole as a giant subwoofer.
Prior to building his Malibu home, Ellison constructed a $200 million Japanese palace styled home in Woodside, California, complete with its own 2.3 acre lake.
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