[imagesource: Hilton & Hyland]

Villa Firenze is one of the most expensive homes in the world, and it’s heading to auction, at a starting price of $160 million (around R2,4 billion).

This might interest you if you have that kind of cash stashed away, and really want to live in Beverly Hills (or Bel Air, where you can be Trevor Noah’s neighbour).

The rest of us are just here to snoop around, which is one of the benefits of a mansion like this going on the market.

The super-rich usually put a lock on their privacy so this is the closest we’ll get to being inside a beast of a house like this one.

So, without further ado, Robb Report is here to give us a guided tour through how the other half (or rather, 0,1%) lives.

The mansion, which is nestled away in a gated community to keep the riff-raff out, is set to be the priciest house ever sold at auction when it goes under the hammer later in January.

It can be accessed via its own road, and the gate is guarded, obviously.

The driveway takes you up to an open courtyard and motor court, with space to park 30 cars.

The property, a compound made up of a main house and three guest cottages, has more than 20,000 square feet of living space with a whopping total of 13 bedrooms, 17 full baths and eight half baths.

It sits on more than nine acres of primo real estate in North Beverly Park, with a running trail along the estate’s perimeter.

Marble flooring, tall columns, and cathedral ceilings add to its Mediterranean vibe.

Finishes such as vaulted ceilings, carved moldings and more were some of the signature touches added by architect William Hablinski when the home was originally built—it took five years—in 1998.

Fireplaces add interest to both public and private rooms. The primary suite includes the usual feels—multiple walk-in closets plus a dressing room.

The property is also equipped with a massive pantry, a home gym, a craft room, a video-gaming room, five home offices, and staff quarters.

The fun continues outside because there’s no point in having staff if they can’t serve you cocktails next to the resort-style pool or in the jacuzzi.

Formal gardens and a fountain are part of the four acres of manicured lawn. There’s also a sports field, a tennis court, a basketball court, a fenced dog run and a six-car garage. Security patrols the property 24/7.

Neighbours include Denzel Washington, Sylvester Stallone, and Eddie Murphy.

If you care, the auction is set to happen over a period of eight days from January 26, 2021.

Let’s finish with a video tour of sorts:

[source:robbreport]