The very name of a castle could not help but remind you of fairy tales, old kings and queens, and high walls of stone in between, enclosing moats. The most costly castle in the world is the castle of a king or ruler, who has his crown on his head, right? Well, not quite so. Not the king or the crowned head of state is the owner of the most expensive castle in the world, but a businessman who has a passionate love affair with the lavish.

So, Who Owns It?

The difference (and expensive price tag) is that of Mukesh Ambani, an Indian billionaire and chairman of Reliance Industries. Although the primary residence of Ambani, Antilia, is not an actual castle, it is easily superior to the majority of ancient castles in terms of luxury, value, and size. And now, before you are swearing, “Hold me up, that is not a castle, but a skyscraper! A castle does not always refer to an old stone-built structure having a drawbridge and a dungeon.

A castle is merely a piece of the affluence, high-end, and opulence. And Antilia has all those boxes–only with a new design rather than the old architecture. However, when you are a purist and want to find a truly ancient, old-fashioned stone castle with a royal atmosphere, there is nothing to worry about. We’ve got that too.

The Real Kingdom Crown: Chate Louis XIV

You know the most costly old castle in the world: Chate Louis XIV–and what? And neither is that the property of a king.

On the outskirts of Paris, France, stands this beautiful 17th-century-like masterpiece, which was constructed in the 21st century. Mimicking a castle of King Louis XIV himself, it is equipped with gold-leaf fountains and marble statues, a personal movie theater, a moat (the outside one), and an underground club. And the owner of this golden mansion, allegedly? Mohammed bin Salman, who is the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

Yes, not a king, but a royal. In 2015, a residential property of Château Louis XIV was sold and became the most expensive to date at a record price of 301 million. The purchaser could not have been identified, but the investigative journalists were also able to later trace the sale to bin Salman as one of the wealthiest and most influential individuals in the world.

Why is Château Louis XIV so costly?

This is why this castle is so queer (and even indignant):

It is like the ancient times, and yet not the ancient times. The artisans used both primitive and the latest possible craftsmanship. Hence, it is similar to Versailles, only with everything a billionaire in 2025 would wish to see, such as an elevator, the most exquisite security, a wine cellar of 3,000 bottles, and even a meditation room of the latest model. It’s dripping gold. Literally. The gold leaf is used to cover the fountains, ceilings, and even some doors. The ceiling frescoes and the museum-worthy murals are hand-painted.

More Than a Vanity Purchase

To an individual such as Mohammed bin Salman, this castle is not just a home. It is a status symbol, a symbol of power, prestige, and influence internationally. To some extent, it is the new monarchy with its own rules, but money prevails over titles. However, there are benefits to having a castle such as this: prestige, a slice of history (albeit a new one), and the ultimate dinner party boasting rights.

Celebrity Mentions of Castle Game

As a joke, some of the other castles also have eye-popping prices:

• Windsor Castle, England. Not on sale, though worth over $230 million.

• Ashford Castle, Ireland- Once a royal palace, this time around it has been turned into a luxury hotel with a valuation of over a hundred million dollars.

•  Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany- The fairytale castle that Disney took the logo from is invaluable as far as beauty and the money of tourism is concerned.

Final Thoughts

New but charged with the energy of the old-world aristocracy with 21st-century amenities, Chate Louis XIV is an all-inclusive establishment. And when you ask what that tells you about the world today, it is that actual power has come out of crowns and coats of arms, and into pockets, able to buy today castles with moats and marble… without a kingdom to rule over.