PHOTOS: Top 10 Mega-Mansions of the Filthy Rich

Blogger Kenny Forder chronicles the real estate indulgences of the super wealthy on his blog, Homes of the Rich. Here are his top 10 picks.


“I’ve always had a fascination with the wealthy and how they live,” says Kenny Forder, the 21-year-old blogger behind Homes of the Rich, which he bills as “The World’s #1 Luxury Real Estate Blog.” Forder, who shares a duplex with his mom and twin sister, says he’s been going to open houses since he was 15. If that seems a bit surprising, so too might his inspiration for the blog. Despite chronicling some astonishing indulgences—15-car garages, lavish indoor spas80-foot-long discos“water sports courts”—Forder doesn’t see his popular site as political, even in the era of Occupy Wall Street. In fact, he dreams of his own abode worthy of the 1 percent. Click here to learn more, or click through this slideshow for 10 of Forder’s favorite mansions and his descriptions of them.

On his blog, Kenny Forder writes: “Dubbed the Stone Mansion, this 30,000 square foot mega mansion is located in Alpine, New Jersey and is currently on the market for $56 million. It was originally priced at $68 million.” Source: Homes of the Rich

 

On his blog, Kenny Forder writes: “Dubbed the Stone Mansion, this 30,000 square foot mega mansion is located in Alpine, New Jersey and is currently on the market for $56 million. It was originally priced at $68 million.” Source: Homes of the Rich

 

“Le Reve, a 48,000 square foot mega mansion, is located in Cumming, Georgia and cost $50 million to build. It sold for $11.5 million in 2011.” Source: Homes of the Rich

“This 48,000 square foot mega mansion, dubbed Le Belvedere, is located in Bel Air, California and was once listed as high as $85 million. It sold for $50 million in 2010.” Source: Homes of the Rich

“Located in Beverly Hills, California, this is the newly built 53,000 square foot mega mansion compound of Hyatt Hotel heir Anthony Pritzker.” Source: Homes of the Rich

“Fair Field, a 100,000+ square foot mega compound, is located in Sagaponack, New York. It is owned by billionaire Ira Rennert.” Source: Homes of the Rich

“Located in Holmby Hills, California, this is the 56,500 square foot mega mansion of the late Aaron Spelling. His widow, Candy, sold it to billionaire heiress Petra Ecclestone in 2011 for $85 million. It was once listed as high as $150 million.” Source: Homes of the Rich

“This 45,000 square foot mega mansion, dubbed Fleur de Lys, is located in Beverly Hills, California. It is on the market for $125 million.” Source: Homes of the Rich

 

“This 36,000 square foot mega mansion, called Palais des Anges, is located in Beverly Hills, California. It is on the market for $49.5 million.” Source: Homes of the Rich

 

“Versailles, a 90,000 square foot mega mansion, is located in Windermere, Florida. It is still unfinished and currently on the market for $65 million as-is. If you want it finished, it will cost you $100 million.” Source: Homes of the Rich

 

 

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WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

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