The size is just as mind-blowing as the price. Known as "The One", the Bel Air home made the claim to be the most expensive home in America when created. After all the hype, the mansion found itself heading to the auction block for a fraction of the price.

The 105,000 square-foot Los Angeles megamansion, located on Airole Way, was listed on Friday, January 7th, for $295 million, making it the most expensive listing in the U.S. If the price seems insane, you're right, but let's take it a step higher. The home was built to have an asking price of $500,000,000. Not only was the asking price millions less, but the home found its way to an online auction as part of the selling process.

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According to CNBC, the passion project of former film producer turned real estate developer, Nile Niami, was built to be “the biggest, most expensive home in the urban world", but it didn't work out that way. For the record, it is ONE of the largest privately-owned mansions but falls behind the Biltmore Estate in North Caroline at 178,926 square feet, and Oheka Castle in New York measuring 109,000 square feet.
The home, which was set to originally hit the market back in 2017, was plaqued by repeated delays, funding problems, and changing plans. The result? Niami defaulted on more than $165 million in loans and debt, and the home went into receivership.

The home eventually sold back on March 3, 2022, for $126M plus closing costs and premiums, bringing the total price to just over $141M. That's a far cry from the big ticket price of $500,000,000, but was it all worth it?

What is "The One"?

It's like nothing you have ever seen, and too much to truly explain. Perched high above the city, the 105,000 square foot masterpiece contains everything you could dream and things you couldn't fathom. Here's a brief rundown:

  • 21 bedrooms / 42 bathrooms
  • 5000 square-foot Master Bedroom with private pool
  • 6 Elevators
  • 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Mountains.
  • 5 pools, including a massive moat that runs around the property
  • 30 car garage
  • Nightclub with private entrance with both indoor & outdoor seating
  • 10,000-square-foot sky deck & 400-foot private outdoor running track with a glass-walled view of the city
  • Private home theater that seats 40 people
  • 10,000-bottle wine cellar
  • Private salon & spa

That's just the beginning. So the question is, was Niami a visionary, or flamboyantly crazy? Either way, "The One" is one you need to see to believe.

Take a look inside of an American architectural marvel.

'The One': Look Inside the Most Expensive Home in America

When producer, turned real estate developer, Nile Niami bought a parcel of land overlooking L.A. back in 2012 for $28 million, his plan was to build the “biggest and most expensive modern home in America,” with an eventual asking price of $500 million. The project has taken over 10 years, and now due to the owner defaulting on upward of $165 million of loans and debts, the massive estate has gone into receivership and is now on the market for $295M. Bosting 21 bedrooms and 42 bathrooms throughout its 105,000 sq. feet space, the mega-mansion is filled with a slew of insanely cool extras and amenities. Did we mention 5 pools, a 5000 sq. ft. bedroom, 10,000 bottle wine room, nightclub, full-service salon and spa, 10,000-square-foot sky deck, 400-foot private outdoor running track with a glass-walled view of the city? The home is truly a masterpiece that has to be seen to be believed.

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