The New Feudalism

A Prince’s Home in Aspen, for a Kingly Sum

By Headwaters News, 7-02-07

What will $135 million buy you in the Aspen housing market?

Plenty, but you'd better be a multibillionaire if you want a peek at this property, which is being billed as the most expensive single-family residence on the market in the U.S. The New York Times reports that the Hala Ranch, just minutes away from downtown Aspen and owned by one-time Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar bin Sultan, includes 95 acres of land and a 56,000-square-foot home. That's larger than the White House.

Joshua Saslove, the broker who is handling the sale of the ranch, said he's had about 1,000 calls on the property, and thus far only 11 have qualified to be worthy of a first-hand look.

But as long as we're keeping a tally, is it really the most expensive home in the country, or even in the Rockies? As reported by Forbes.com in January, timber and real estate baron Tim Blixseth is building--and planning to sell--what Forbes declared "The WORLD's Most Expensive House." It's only 53,000 square feet, but it does sit on 160 mountaintop acres at the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club, and offers a private chairlift-like gondola to whisk the lucky homeowner to the top of the slope. Construction was expected to begin this June, and be completed within 15 months.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.