The World’s Top 10 Most Expensive Buildings

When you come from a small city, even buildings that are higher than just a few stories can truly astonish you. On the other hand, when you come from a big city, you aren’t easily impressed with tall buildings. However, there are still a few that make you step back and say, “Wow”. These buildings light up the sky and seem to touch the heavens; they are the most incredible and most expensive buildings in the entire world.

When it comes to the most expensive buildings, this list might surprise you. Naturally, you would think that the tallest building in the world would cost the most. Oddly enough, that’s not the case. Instead, the most expensive buildings on this list have an incredible architectural design and are filled to the brim with over the top amenities.

One thing that might not surprise you is that a lot of these buildings are located in the same city. No, it’s not New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. It’s Las Vegas, Nevada. If you have ever flown in at night to Las Vegas, you have seen all of these massive and luxurious buildings from the sky.

Which buildings in Vegas (and the rest of the world) are the most expensive? Here are the top 10, each of which cost over $1 billion to build, starting with the least expensive.

#10 – Antilia ($1 Billion)

One thing you will notice about the Antilia, compared to the other buildings on this list, is that it is actually someone’s home. That’s right, $1 billion was spent just to build a home for Mukesh Ambani (and for the rest of his family, we assume) in Mumbai, India. Ambani has a net worth of $20 billion, so this home of homes only made a five percent dent into his net worth.

The Antilia looks like a hotel but is only home to this one family; however, it employs as many people as a small hotel. With nearly 30 stories, staff members tend the gardens and oversee the maintenance of the building. Ambani’s home sits almost 600 feet above the rest of Mumbai and offers outstanding views. After three years of building, Ambani and his family enjoy all the perks of the Antilia, including a gym, pool, and room for over 150 cars.

#9 – Burj Khalifa ($1.5 Billion)

Back when the Burj Khalifa was under construction, it was known as the Burj Dubai. The project started in 2004 and wasn’t completed until the early part of 2010. During construction, the Burj Khalifa set the record for the tallest structure ever created by man. It’s surprising that the Burj Khalifa is not the most expensive, but office space, it seems, is much cheaper to build than high rises that feature extravagant amenities.

There are thousands of condos within the Burj Khalifa with prices increasing with each level. It is also home to nine hotels. As Dubai works to become the Las Vegas of the Middle East, the Burj Khalifa serves as the jewel of the desert. With all of its beauty, the $1.5 billion price tag does not include the water fountain located inside the building that cost nearly a quarter billion to construct. Besides being one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Burj Khalifa is also known for having the fastest elevators.

#8 – Bellagio ($1.6 Billion)

The first building in this list located in Sin City, the Bellagio is one of the many resorts on the Vegas strip with a hotel and casino under one roof. The Bellagio is not the biggest on the strip nor is it the newest, but it stands out from the rest as it was based off of a lake setting in Italy and was finally finished in 1998 after years of construction.

One of the most expensive features of the Bellagio is the main attraction that has drawn tourists for over two decades: the fountains. The same engineers that constructed the fountains outside the Burj Khalifa constructed the Bellagio fountains. To sit next to the button that allows you the power to shoot off the fountains at your discretion costs over $100,000. With over 3,000 rooms in the hotel, there is usually always a vacancy.

#7 – Taipei 101 ($1.76 Billion)

When this building was under construction, it was known as the Taipei World Financial Center, but that just wasn’t as catchy as Taipei 101. The creators of the Taipei 101 had the record for the world’s tallest building for six years when it opened in 2004. The Burj Khalifa later topped that mark.

Are you curious about the name? The 101 in Taipei 101 actually refers to the amount of floors that are within the building. Taipei wanted to show that they were evolving in the world of technology, and thought that building a structure of beauty was the means to do so. There are some critics who say that it resembles Chinese food boxes stacked atop one another, but we think it looks amazing.

#6 – The Palazzo ($1.8 Billion)

There are probably hundreds of pizza places named “The Palazzo”, but this Palazzo is a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip. Much like The Bellagio we mentioned earlier, the Palazzo has a theme of Italian culture. This one, however, is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and opened in late 2007.

The hotel doesn’t have some of the cheaper rooms that visitors of Vegas are accustomed to; instead, every room in the hotel is a suite, which means higher prices. With the record for the largest hotel complex on Earth, you can tell that the place cost $1.8 billion as soon as you enter the lobby, which features an enormous dome and fountain. If you are in the market for a Lamborghini, there’s a dealership right inside, too.

#5 – The Venetian Macao ($2.4 Billion)

While this fancy hotel might not be in the city of Las Vegas, it was built in Macau, China by the company we mentioned earlier, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Since China is a fast growing country, the Las Vegas based Sands Corporation saw an opportunity to cash in on the new wealth of China. Macau became the first destination they targeted, finally completing the project in August 2007.

While the hotel itself is one of the largest (with over 3,000 rooms), the casino is actually the largest in the world. The Venetian in Las Vegas has a very similar look to that of the Venetian Macao, which is where the design originated. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The Venetian in Macao has been home to some of the larger sporting events thanks to the full size Cotai Arena located within the resort and even features a river complete with a gondola.

#4 – The Wynn Las Vegas ($2.7 Billion)

Steve Wynn is one of the most successful casino developers in all of Las Vegas. His crowning achievement was the completion of the Wynn Las Vegas in April of 2005. The property became the flagship of Wynn’s estate, taking up a massive 215 acres. While there aren’t as many rooms as others on this list, at 2,700, there are plenty of other features that make the Wynn a huge attraction.

There are nine full sized restaurants within the Wynn, and even a large lake and golf course. If golf isn’t your thing and you’d rather party, there is no need to worry as there are five nightclubs in the building. Can you imagine the size? Five nightclubs and a golf course. No wonder why the Wynn was so expensive! We can’t forget to mention that some of the restaurants have received great international ratings, as well as the hotel.

#3 – The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas ($3.9 Billion)

The Cosmopolitan is one of the youngest buildings on this list, ranking as the most expensive in the city of Las Vegas and in the Western hemisphere. Opening in the final weeks of 2010, the Cosmopolitan (or Cosmo, for short) is situated on the south side of the Bellagio resort and has an almost identical number of rooms and casino floor space.

If you have ever worked in construction, you know how difficult and expensive it can be to build a deck on the outside of a room. Imagine doing this 3,000 times over. Things can get a bit pricey! Like the Wynn, the Cosmo has nightclubs but, it also features day-clubs because only in Las Vegas is day-drinking not frowned upon. Feel free to take a few sips and a dip, relax and stay a while!

#2 – Emirates Palace ($6 Billion)

The Emirates Palace was officially opened in 2005 but it wasn’t until the next year that many areas of the building finally opened to the public. Arabian culture has become very high class and this building is the showcase of that lifestyle, coming in as the most expensive in the United Arab Emirates. There are fewer rooms in the Emirates Palace, with less than 400 compared to the thousands we have seen from our friends in Las Vegas.

While the palace itself was massively expensive, the real estate on which it is located cost a nice chunk of change, since there is a private beach nearly a mile long. If you want one of the suites in the Emirates Palace, you’ll have to pony up a lot of cash. These suites boast walls (and a dome) that are plated in gold. There’s even a concert venue that can hold up to 15,000 people and full size athletic events. Unlike the other buildings on this list, it was actually the government that built this jewel.

#1 – Marina Bay Sands ($8 Billion)

The final and most expensive building on our list is the Marina Bay Sands Resort, which covers nearly 40 acres and was put together by none other than the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The building was completed in early 2010, but it wasn’t until 2011 that the resort had its grand opening.

To say the building has a distinct look would be a massive understatement. There are three towers that make up the resort and a large deck that spans across the top of all three, making it resemble an upside down cruise ship. You get the whole package at the Marina Bay Sands Resort, with over 10 restaurants, a dozen attractions and a beautiful view of the Marina Bay. The shopping center has a river that runs into a cul-de-sac with a large concave dome hanging overhead. The construction and land make it the most expensive in the world, but is it your favorite on the list?

#9 – Burj Khalifa ($1.5 Billion)

Back when the Burj Khalifa was under construction, it was known as the Burj Dubai. The project started in 2004 and wasn’t completed until the early part of 2010. During construction, the Burj Khalifa set the record for the tallest structure ever created by man. It’s surprising that the Burj Khalifa is not the most expensive, but office space, it seems, is much cheaper to build than high rises that feature extravagant amenities.

There are thousands of condos within the Burj Khalifa with prices increasing with each level. It is also home to nine hotels. As Dubai works to become the Las Vegas of the Middle East, the Burj Khalifa serves as the jewel of the desert. With all of its beauty, the $1.5 billion price tag does not include the water fountain located inside the building that cost nearly a quarter billion to construct. Besides being one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Burj Khalifa is also known for having the fastest elevators.

#8 – Bellagio ($1.6 Billion)

The first building in this list located in Sin City, the Bellagio is one of the many resorts on the Vegas strip with a hotel and casino under one roof. The Bellagio is not the biggest on the strip nor is it the newest, but it stands out from the rest as it was based off of a lake setting in Italy and was finally finished in 1998 after years of construction.

One of the most expensive features of the Bellagio is the main attraction that has drawn tourists for over two decades: the fountains. The same engineers that constructed the fountains outside the Burj Khalifa constructed the Bellagio fountains. To sit next to the button that allows you the power to shoot off the fountains at your discretion costs over $100,000. With over 3,000 rooms in the hotel, there is usually always a vacancy.

#7 – Taipei 101 ($1.76 Billion)

When this building was under construction, it was known as the Taipei World Financial Center, but that just wasn’t as catchy as Taipei 101. The creators of the Taipei 101 had the record for the world’s tallest building for six years when it opened in 2004. The Burj Khalifa later topped that mark.

Are you curious about the name? The 101 in Taipei 101 actually refers to the amount of floors that are within the building. Taipei wanted to show that they were evolving in the world of technology, and thought that building a structure of beauty was the means to do so. There are some critics who say that it resembles Chinese food boxes stacked atop one another, but we think it looks amazing.

#6 – The Palazzo ($1.8 Billion)

There are probably hundreds of pizza places named “The Palazzo”, but this Palazzo is a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip. Much like The Bellagio we mentioned earlier, the Palazzo has a theme of Italian culture. This one, however, is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and opened in late 2007.

The hotel doesn’t have some of the cheaper rooms that visitors of Vegas are accustomed to; instead, every room in the hotel is a suite, which means higher prices. With the record for the largest hotel complex on Earth, you can tell that the place cost $1.8 billion as soon as you enter the lobby, which features an enormous dome and fountain. If you are in the market for a Lamborghini, there’s a dealership right inside, too.

#5 – The Venetian Macao ($2.4 Billion)

While this fancy hotel might not be in the city of Las Vegas, it was built in Macau, China by the company we mentioned earlier, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Since China is a fast growing country, the Las Vegas based Sands Corporation saw an opportunity to cash in on the new wealth of China. Macau became the first destination they targeted, finally completing the project in August 2007.

While the hotel itself is one of the largest (with over 3,000 rooms), the casino is actually the largest in the world. The Venetian in Las Vegas has a very similar look to that of the Venetian Macao, which is where the design originated. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The Venetian in Macao has been home to some of the larger sporting events thanks to the full size Cotai Arena located within the resort and even features a river complete with a gondola.

#4 – The Wynn Las Vegas ($2.7 Billion)

Steve Wynn is one of the most successful casino developers in all of Las Vegas. His crowning achievement was the completion of the Wynn Las Vegas in April of 2005. The property became the flagship of Wynn’s estate, taking up a massive 215 acres. While there aren’t as many rooms as others on this list, at 2,700, there are plenty of other features that make the Wynn a huge attraction.

There are nine full sized restaurants within the Wynn, and even a large lake and golf course. If golf isn’t your thing and you’d rather party, there is no need to worry as there are five nightclubs in the building. Can you imagine the size? Five nightclubs and a golf course. No wonder why the Wynn was so expensive! We can’t forget to mention that some of the restaurants have received great international ratings, as well as the hotel.

#3 – The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas ($3.9 Billion)

The Cosmopolitan is one of the youngest buildings on this list, ranking as the most expensive in the city of Las Vegas and in the Western hemisphere. Opening in the final weeks of 2010, the Cosmopolitan (or Cosmo, for short) is situated on the south side of the Bellagio resort and has an almost identical number of rooms and casino floor space.

If you have ever worked in construction, you know how difficult and expensive it can be to build a deck on the outside of a room. Imagine doing this 3,000 times over. Things can get a bit pricey! Like the Wynn, the Cosmo has nightclubs but, it also features day-clubs because only in Las Vegas is day-drinking not frowned upon. Feel free to take a few sips and a dip, relax and stay a while!

#2 – Emirates Palace ($6 Billion)

The Emirates Palace was officially opened in 2005 but it wasn’t until the next year that many areas of the building finally opened to the public. Arabian culture has become very high class and this building is the showcase of that lifestyle, coming in as the most expensive in the United Arab Emirates. There are fewer rooms in the Emirates Palace, with less than 400 compared to the thousands we have seen from our friends in Las Vegas.

While the palace itself was massively expensive, the real estate on which it is located cost a nice chunk of change, since there is a private beach nearly a mile long. If you want one of the suites in the Emirates Palace, you’ll have to pony up a lot of cash. These suites boast walls (and a dome) that are plated in gold. There’s even a concert venue that can hold up to 15,000 people and full size athletic events. Unlike the other buildings on this list, it was actually the government that built this jewel.

#1 – Marina Bay Sands ($8 Billion)

The final and most expensive building on our list is the Marina Bay Sands Resort, which covers nearly 40 acres and was put together by none other than the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The building was completed in early 2010, but it wasn’t until 2011 that the resort had its grand opening.

To say the building has a distinct look would be a massive understatement. There are three towers that make up the resort and a large deck that spans across the top of all three, making it resemble an upside down cruise ship. You get the whole package at the Marina Bay Sands Resort, with over 10 restaurants, a dozen attractions and a beautiful view of the Marina Bay. The shopping center has a river that runs into a cul-de-sac with a large concave dome hanging overhead. The construction and land make it the most expensive in the world, but is it your favorite on the list?