The World’s Most Expensive House
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” [John 14:2]
According to Forbes magazine, the 27-story skyscraper built in Mumbai, India, is one of the world’s largest and costliest homes. Mukesh Ambani, ranked by Forbes with a net worth of $43 billion, is building an eye-popping home that, when finished, will be 550 feet high with 400,000 square feet of living space. The Ambanis’ home, called The Antilia, will have no two floors alike in either plans or materials.
The first six stories will be dedicated to parking lots, with 168 parking spaces to pamper the many imported cars of family and guests, along with space for the 600 servants and workers. Of course, on days when the traffic is bad, they can use the helicopter pad on the roof. The Antilia’s living quarters begin at a lobby with nine elevators to access the 20 palatial floors above. The Ambanis plan to occasionally use the residence for corporate entertainment, so they have one floor with a formal ballroom complete with crystal chandeliers covering 80 percent of the ceiling and silver staircase. Another floor holds the wine room and theater.
One floor features an ice room where residents and guests can escape the tropical heat to a small, cooled chamber dusted by manmade snow flurries. For more temperate days, the family will enjoy a fourstory open garden with a swimming pool surrounded by flowers, trees, and lawns with hanging hydroponic plants. The four floors at the top house the luxurious living quarters for the family that will provide a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and city skyline. The cost to build this skyscraper palace ranges between $500 million and $2 billion.
But this is nothing compared to the mansions Jesus has prepared for us. In quoting Isaiah 64, Paul writes to the believers in Corinth about heaven: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1.Corinthians 2:9). The costliest buildings of Earth fade in comparison to the heavenly mansions being made for us by the hand of God. More than that, we will be able to abide with Christ forever.
