The Undisputed King: Unveiling The Biggest House In The US And The Modern Mega-Mansion That Sold For $126 Million

As of late 2025, the title for the biggest house in the United States remains a fascinating split between historical grandeur and modern, record-breaking opulence. The undisputed, all-time champion by sheer square footage is a Gilded Age masterpiece, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, which has been maintained by the descendants of its original owner for over a century. However, the world of luxury real estate often focuses on the largest *modern* private home, a title recently held by "The One" in Bel Air, a colossal property whose sale captured global headlines and redefined the scale of billionaire homes. The distinction is crucial: one is a historic landmark and museum, while the other is a cutting-edge, newly-built mega-mansion. This article dives deep into the two properties that hold the top spots, exploring their history, size, and what makes them the largest private residences in America today, along with a list of other colossal contenders that complete the list of the largest homes in the nation.

The Undisputed Champion: Biltmore Estate Profile

The Biltmore Estate is not just the largest house in the US; it is a monument to the Gilded Age and the immense wealth of the Vanderbilt family. Its scale is so massive that it dwarfs almost every other private residence ever constructed in America.

• Official Name: Biltmore Estate (Biltmore House)
• Location: Asheville, North Carolina
• Square Footage (Main Residence): 178,926 square feet (16,622.8 m²)
• Architectural Style: Châteauesque (French Renaissance)
• Original Owner: George Washington Vanderbilt II
• Year Completed: 1895
• Current Status: Privately owned by The Biltmore Company (descendants of the Vanderbilt family) and operated as a historic house museum and tourist attraction.
• Number of Rooms: 250
• Key Features: 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, a 70,000-gallon indoor swimming pool, a two-story library with 10,000 volumes, a bowling alley, and an immense four-acre pleasure garden.

The Biltmore Estate was the vision of George Vanderbilt, who hired renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design his summer home. The sheer size of the Biltmore House—nearly 179,000 square feet—sets it apart in the history of American residential architecture. Today, the estate continues to be a profitable, working estate, managed by Vanderbilt’s descendants, making it a truly unique piece of American history that remains privately held.

The Modern Record-Breaker: The One in Bel Air

While Biltmore is the historical giant, the title of the largest *modern* mega-mansion belongs to "The One" in Bel Air, California. This property represents the peak of contemporary luxury real estate, built to a scale that rivals small commercial buildings.

The One is a sprawling compound situated on a four-acre promontory in the exclusive Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. Its immense size and over-the-top amenities were designed to set a new global standard for luxury. The mansion's total size is a staggering 105,000 square feet, making it one of the largest private homes ever built in the state of California.

The estate gained notoriety not just for its size, but for its dramatic financial journey. Originally envisioned and listed for a colossal $500 million, the property ran into financial trouble and was eventually sold at a bankruptcy auction. This highly publicized event provided a fresh and newsworthy update to the "biggest house" narrative.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

The One's Sale and Features

In a major real estate event, The One was sold at auction in 2022 for $126 million (with the total price reaching $141 million with fees), setting a new record for the most expensive home ever sold at auction in the US. The buyer was Richard Saghian, the CEO of the fast-fashion company Fashion Nova. This purchase cemented The One’s status as a top-tier billionaire home.

The features of this modern marvel are as excessive as its size, designed for the ultra-wealthy seeking unparalleled luxury and amenities:

• 21 bedrooms and 42 bathrooms.
• A 30-car garage for a collector's fleet.
• Five swimming pools, including an indoor spa and several infinity pools with sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles.
• A 400-foot outdoor running track.
• A 10,000-square-foot sky deck.
• A home movie theater that seats over 40 guests.
• A dedicated bowling alley and a private nightclub.

Other Colossal Contenders: America’s Largest Mansions

To establish topical authority, it is important to recognize that several other estates rival the Biltmore and The One in size and historical significance. These properties, often referred to as "megamansions" or "super-homes," showcase the extremes of American luxury.

Shadow Brook (174,240 sq ft)

Located in the beautiful landscape of New Jersey, Shadow Brook is a historic estate that once rivaled the Biltmore in size, listed at approximately 174,240 square feet. It was originally a private residence but has undergone various transformations throughout its history, including being used as a corporate headquarters, which sometimes complicates its exact classification as a current "private home."

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

Lynnewood Hall (109,848 sq ft)

Located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, Lynnewood Hall is another Gilded Age giant, clocking in at nearly 110,000 square feet. Built for industrialist Peter A. B. Widener, the mansion is currently in a state of disrepair, but its sheer size and historical importance keep it on the list of the largest houses in the US.

Oheka Castle (115,000 sq ft)

Oheka Castle on Long Island, New York, is a spectacular estate measuring around 115,000 square feet. Built by financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn, it is one of the most prominent examples of the French château style in America. Like Biltmore, it is no longer a purely private residence; it operates as a luxury hotel, event venue, and conference center, but its residential-scale footprint is undeniable.

Versailles (90,000 sq ft)

This massive, still-under-construction Florida mansion, owned by David and Jackie Siegel (featured in the documentary The Queen of Versailles), is planned to reach approximately 90,000 square feet. Located in Windermere, Florida, the estate is an ongoing megaproject that, when completed, will be one of the largest private residences in the entire state and a testament to modern American excess, featuring 13 bedrooms, 23 bathrooms, and multiple elevators.

The Evolution of the American Mega-Mansion

The history of the biggest house in the US reflects a transition from the old-world aristocratic estates of the Gilded Age to the glass-and-steel compounds of the modern tech and fashion elite. The Biltmore Estate was built to showcase inherited industrial wealth and a taste for European history, while The One was built purely to maximize views, amenities, and market value for the new generation of billionaires.

The term "biggest house" is therefore a matter of context. If you are discussing the largest single-family residence ever constructed and still privately controlled in the US, the Biltmore Estate is the clear and perennial winner. If you are interested in the largest, newly constructed, and fully residential mega-mansion, The One in Bel Air is the modern benchmark. The continued construction of immense homes like the Versailles mansion suggests that the race for the largest private residence in the US is far from over, with the square footage of these exclusive properties continually pushing the boundaries of residential architecture.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

These massive homes, from historic castles to modern compounds, serve as powerful symbols of wealth, architectural ambition, and the enduring American fascination with the ultimate private residence. They are more than just houses; they are self-contained worlds built for the nation's wealthiest families and individuals, complete with every conceivable luxury and amenity.