Indian Billionaire Builds World's Most Expensive Home
Flouting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call for India's new business elite to be "role models of moderation," Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries has built a 27-story state-of-the-art building worth $1 billion in the heart of Mumbai. They say no man is an island—however, Ambani just built himself one.
The building, constructed on one of Mumbai's most affluent streets, features three helicopter pads, underground parking for 160 cars, a gym, a dance studio, a ballroom, lounges, a 50-seat movie theatre, an elevated garden with enough room to plant some trees, and a staff of 600 to maintain all facilities.The staff will cater to the needs of Ambani, his wife Neeta, their three children, and his mother.
Forbes.com labels the private residences the "world's most expensive" due to Mumbai's astronomic land and property prices. Some critics say that it has come as a surprise that Ambani, known as one of the more quiet and down- to-earth of the world's billionaires, would display his wealth in such a public way.
Here's one way of looking at it: As the Chairman of one of the world's most respected companies, Ambani employs almost 25,000 employees in India alone, and is putting another 600 to work.
Mukesh Ambani is an honoree at Asia Society's 2010 Annual Dinner. Click here for ticketing details and more information.