Encomium
Named Villa Le Cedres, the 10-bedroom property in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, south of France, aptly dubbed billionaires’ playground, has emerged world’s most expensive villa as it is put up for sale at €1 billion (N368 billion at official rate).
The property, with an Olympic size swimming pool, has five acres of manicured lawns.
Here are quick facts about the villa :
1. The villa was last owned by Suzanne Marnier-Lapostolle, a member of the illustrious Grand Marnier dynasty whose brands of liquor are serenaded across the globe. They bought it in 1924
2. The villa used to be the former home of Belgium King Leopold II
3. It is located in a peninsula in the south of France favoured by billionaires
4. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, adulated actors, once stayed there
5. The property was built in 1830, has 35 acres of botanic gardens, 15000 plants, 20 green houses, winter garden, chapel and stables
6. Neighbours of the villa include famous British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and American mogul Paul Allen
7. Grand Marnier, started in 1827 by Jean-Baptiste Lapostelle, was bought by Campari in March 2016, and now selling the property
8. 15 professional gardeners maintain the grounds
9. The peninsula, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has a population of only 2000
10. The proceeds from the sale will be distributed among shareholders
11. The grounds and pool area was designed by the man behind the gardens of Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysees
12. The area is the second most expensive in the world after Monaco (also in France)
