Many famous buildings worldwide have beautiful and ornate designs inside and out. Some of the priciest buildings in the world include lavish hotels, towering skyscrapers, and various residential and commercial buildings.
Below are the top ten most expensive buildings in the world.
10 Lotte World Tower, South Korea, US$3.11 Billion
Located in Seoul, South Korea, Lotte World Tower is a supertall skyscraper at 1,823 feet and spanning 123 stories. This architectural masterpiece opened to the public on April 11, 2017, and is currently the tallest building in South Korea and the fifth tallest in the world. The building boasts various functional spaces, including offices, retail stores, officetel, and the world’s highest observation decks.
It offers exciting amenities such as a glass-floored skywalk, an art gallery, cafes, a seven-star luxury hotel, and the Lotte World Mall complex, making it a one-stop hub for modern urban living. Notably, the building boasts the world’s fastest elevator, transporting people to the top in just one minute.
9 One World Trade Center, United States, US$3.80 Billion
The Freedom Tower, also known as One World Trade Center, is one of the main buildings in New York City. It stands at a symbolic 1,776 feet tall, making it America’s tallest building. This skyscraper, completed in 2012, cost $3.8 billion. It replaced the original World Trade Center’s twin towers, destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Construction of this expensive building began on April 27, 2006, to honor the old building and was completed by the US in 2013. Additionally, the One World Trade Center offers 71 floors of office space, 270000 sqft of space for the US General Service Administration, magazine publisher Conde Nast, a public lobby, and an observation deck.
8 The Cosmopolitan, United States, US$4.10 Billion
The Cosmopolitan, situated on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, is well-known for its luxurious and stylish design and exceptional bars and restaurants. It cost around $4.10 billion to construct in 2009 and consists of two high-rise towers – the Boulevard Tower and the Chelsea Tower – both art-themed.
The hotel opened to the public on December 15, 2010, and is also home to a casino, retail, and restaurant space, a massive spa and fitness center, a 3,200-seat theater, and meeting and convention facilities. Gogobot awarded the hotel the title of “The Best Hotel in the World” in 2013. Additionally, it offers an underground parking garage beneath the hotel.
7 Wynn Palace, Macau, US$4.2 Billion
Steve Wynn, a hotelier, built this exquisite resort called Wynn Palace on the Cotai Strip in Macau. The resort is 28 stories tall and includes 1,706 beautifully furnished rooms, villas, suites, meeting facilities, luxury retail, Macau’s largest spa, 13 casual and fine dining restaurants, and casino space. Its total cost was $US4.2 billion.
It also boasts many luxurious amenities like extra-wide corridors, high ceilings, mirrored walls, and imaginative culinary experiences. The most fascinating feature is the eight-acre Performance Lake, where guests can enjoy a spectacular choreographed display of water, music, and light at night. A SkyCab gondola in the resort circles the lake.
6 SoFi Stadium, United States, US$4.9 Billion
Located in Inglewood, California, SoFi Stadium is an exceptional sports venue that offers a unique entertainment experience. Built by E. Stanley Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams, this stadium results from a twenty-year deal between the Rams and Chargers. With its innovative indoor-outdoor design, SoFi Stadium features a transparent roof that helps reduce heat.
One of the standout features of the stadium is its Bungalow suites, which provide viewers with an up-close view of the turf. Costing a staggering $US 4.9 billion, this stadium is Kroenke’s vision to create an arena that celebrates Southern California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. It is also one of the world’s most expensive privately financed buildings.
5 Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore, US$4.93 Billion
Located on Sentosa Island in Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa(RWS) is a top-tier lifestyle destination resort in Asia. This impressive resort, developed by Genting Singapore for US$4.93 billion, boasts world-class attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, Dolphin Island, S.E.A. Aquarium, and Adventure Cove Waterpark.
RWS features six luxury hotels with approximately 1,600 rooms, a grand Resorts World Convention Centre, a casino, and thrilling theme parks. The integrated resort officially opened on December 7, 2012, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Genting Group Chairman Lim Kok Thay officiating. Visitors can also enjoy award-winning dining experiences at RWS.
4 Apple Park, United States, US$5.00 Billion
Apple Park is a new 175-acre corporate headquarters for Apple in Cupertino, California, USA. The main building, covering 2.8 million square feet, is considered one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the world. The campus and visitor center are open to over 12,000 employees, and the complex cost an estimated $US5.3 billion to build.
The building is an iconic symbol of Apple’s commitment to design, technology, and green energy. Its circular shape, designed by the late Steve Jobs, has earned it the nickname “Spaceship.” The building provides a perfect environment for creativity, innovation, and well-being and is a fitting tribute to Jobs, whose name graces the campus theater.
3 Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay, Singapore, US$5.5 Billion
Marina Bay Sands is a luxurious entertainment destination that caters to those who seek premier experiences. This integrated resort offers diverse attractions and facilities, intending to create a unique identity for Singapore. Unlike other buildings, Marina Bay Sands combines business and leisure in a single destination, all at US$6.33 billion.
The resort boasts three magnificent hotel towers with 55 stories and a boat-shaped sky park that adds to its grandeur. Additionally, there are crystal pavilions, a convention center, a lotus-inspired museum, and an event plaza. Visitors can also indulge in trendy celebrity chef restaurants, vibrant nightclubs, Las Vegas-style casinos, and the latest theatre performances at retail stores.
2 Abraj Al Bait, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, US$15 Billion
The Abraj Al-Bait is a unique complex of seven towers built in Makkah to modernize the city and provide better facilities for pilgrims. The government officially opened the complex in 2012, after constructing it cost $15 billion.
The complex is home to the Abraj Al Bait Mall, which has 4,000 shops, prayer rooms for up to 10,000 worshippers, the Lunar Observation Centre, and a museum of Islamic art. The Clock Tower is the central tower building, boasting the world’s largest clock face. Visitors can also enjoy a view of the courtyard of Masjid al-Haram mosque from Abraj Al Bait.
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1 Masjid al-Haram, Saudi Arabia, US$100 Billion
The Masjid al-Haram is a mosque located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia that encircles the Holy Kaaba. It is the largest mosque in the world, and millions of worshippers gather here all year round to pray and perform Tawaf. The Kaaba, the first building on earth built for the worship of Allah, is also located here.
It covers an area of 356,000 square meters and is home to several other significant sites, including the Black Stone, Maqam Ibrahim, the Zamzam Well, and the Safa and Marwa hills. The Great Mosque of Mecca is a costly building, estimated to have cost a whopping $100 billion to construct.