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7 Things to Know About the Coming $500 Million Mega-Mansion in Bel Air

This article is more than 8 years old.

A jellyfish aquarium, a "Monaco-style" casino, and a 180-foot infinity pool are only a few of the extravagant elements inked into the blueprint of film producer-turned-property developer Nile Niami’s greatest real estate venture, now under construction in Los Angeles.

Nicknamed “The One,” the eye-popping estate—designed by Hollywood-based architect Paul McClean (the man behind the Winklevoss twins’ 7,750-square-foot Beverly Hills digs, rentable for $110,000 a month, and this 14,219-square-foot spec house, now asking $55 million)—will soon rest on a four-acre hilltop throne in Bel Air overlooking the whole city.

Slated to become the king of modern-day mega-mansions, the bona fide behemoth—which will reportedly offer a whopping 100,000 square feet of living space—is expected to dwarf every estate not just in the City of Angels, but in the entire western half of the United States.

Read on for seven jots of gen about the up-and-coming palace, expected to boast a mind-blowing $500 million sticker price once it hits the market.

#1: The abode is chiefly tailored to relax and amuse.

Jam-packed with entertainment spaces, the home will be a veritable playground for kids and grown-ups alike. Fun-infused features include a bowling alley, billiards area, and video-game room—not to mention a tennis court, golf simulator, ballroom, nightclub, and “Monaco-style” casino.

“We envisioned the house primarily being used for entertaining on a large scale, and we explored how we could make the home as unique and flexible as possible,” McClean revealed.

A full professional wellness center—complete with a large heated spa and treatment area—will also be thrown into the mix, along with a host of relaxation and exercise rooms.

#2: It can accommodate an insane number of people (and cars).

Between the 74,000-square-foot main home, 4,000-square-foot guesthouse (which will tout its own pool and spa), and separate staff quarters, the property will consist of well over 20 bedrooms, providing ample room for residents and their guests (and guests of guests), who'll be able to park their wheels in the 30-car show garage.

Countless kitchen areas—along with a smattering of snack stations—will be scattered throughout the property, including a family kitchen (which owners can regularly use to prepare everyday meals); a commercial kitchen (tricked out with every conceivable appliance and capable of catering grand-scale events); and a full-sized outdoor kitchen off the pool deck with a sit-down bar.

#3: Its master suite will be twice as big as the average U.S. home.

Measuring in at 5,000 square feet, the estate's master suite will boast almost double the square-footage of the average American house. Pretty much a home in itself, the massive chamber is set to showcase its own living room, champagne bar, kitchenette, office space, and his-and-hers baths and wardrobes, plus a dressing area with an additional closet specifically designed to display luxury items such as shoes and purses. “There’s even an area for sleeping!” joked the architect.

To boot, the suite will be accompanied by its own outdoor terrace and private pool.

#4: The grounds will be positively overflowing.

Peppered with several indoor and outdoor pools, the planned property is beyond prepared to combat California’s scorching hot summer days. Perhaps one of the estate’s most unique facets is a water feature slated to wrap around its entryway and great lawn, which will be linked to the pool by the nightclub via two-story water wall. The nightclub natatorium will incorporate “luxury” pods that will appear to be floating within the pool, ideal for dining and entertaining.

In addition, a 180-foot infinity pool and hot tub will rest on the main terrace, (alongside a cabana, bar, and outdoor kitchen), while an indoor lap pool will lie adjacent to the wellness center and gym.

#5: It’ll be pretty green.

Wholly designed with energy efficiency in mind, the house will recycle much of its H2O, and will be outfitted with a weather-controlled, automatic irrigation system to better manage water usage. "Stormwater will be collected from all impermeable surfaces and filtered through in-ground filtration systems,” McClean adds.

Additionally, the scheme will integrate artificial turf in place of grass in order to decrease water consumption, and employ LED cove lighting (a more sustainable alternative to using multiple decorative fixtures). It'll be dotted with only gas fireplaces (to prevent the emission of air pollutants generated by wood-burning hearths); a roof blanketed with solar panels; and charging stations for electric-powered vehicles.

#6: Its command hub might remind you of the “Architect” in the Matrix.

The home’s single-room command station will boast a wide range of capabilities, including full property surveillance (to be displayed on a curved wall by six projectors). Staff members will be able to control every automated system—from lighting and shades, to climate and water features—with just a few clicks.

#7: It stands to become the third largest haven in the nation.

Despite its over-the-top splendor, the pending property won’t even come close to shattering the record for largest privately-owned residence in the U.S., a title currently held by the ~175,000-square-foot, 250-room Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, built in the late 19th Century by one of the late-and-great Vanderbilts.

Instead, Niami’s digs will have to settle for a spot directly behind the Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York (completed in 1919, the 109,000-square-foot mansion is the rumored inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby estate), ousting David Siegel’s soon-to-be 90,000-square-foot spread in Windermere from third place.

Stay tuned for updated renderings of the property, slated to be topped off in less than two years.

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