The billion dollar house that's not quite a home

Rumors swirl about why Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani hasn't fully moved into Antilia, his outrageously ostentatious palace, although many believe it's simply bad feng shui.

Mon, Oct 24 2011 at 11:25 AM EST

Remember Antilia, Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani's 398,000-square-foot skyscraper/house on chichi Altamont Road in Mumbai?

When construction of the aggressively opulent, bigger-than-Versailles abode wrapped up about a year ago, the project managed to raise more than a few of eyebrows and not just in Mumbai, where a huge chunk of the population resides in slums. Initially touted as a feat of green home building, the Perkins + Will-designed mega-home does indeed boast some eco-features including a four-story, Hanging Gardens of Babylon-inspired living wall that keeps the structure’s interior warm in the winter and cool during the summer months. But in the end, the home’s mind-boggling square footage (features include three heliports, 150-car garage, nine elevators,

and enough guest bedrooms to make Candy Spelling weak in the knees) rendered any claims of sustainability obsolete.

Now, after all the hoopla around Antilia's completion, it turns out that Ambani and his family aren't even living in the home and plans to move in on a full-time basis are uncertain. Rumors about why Ambani would build such a pricey pad — it's the first billion dollar single-family home in the world — and then choose to use it as a pied-á-terre are varied. According to a recent article in The New York Times, one popular explanation is that the design of Antilia does not fully adhere to Vastu Shastra, an Indian architectural tradition that, when not followed, is thought to bring bad luck to a building — just think of it as the Hindu counterpart to feng shui.

You'd think that something as crucial as Vastu would be taken into account during the design of such a massive (and massively expensive) project, but it looks like some elements of the same ancient design doctrine used in building Hindu temples were overlooked.

Vastu expert Basannt R. Rasiwasia explains to the NYT that the lack of windows on the building's eastern side could play a role in Ambani's purported semi-absentee homeowner-ism:

"From the outside what I see is that the eastern side is blocked while the western side is more open. This always leads to misunderstanding between team members or sometime may create issues. This also indicates more hard work to achieve moderate success. There is more negative energy coming from the western side."

Last May, a "highly placed source" told DNA, an English-language newspaper in Mumbai, that after Antilia was furnished, "a few guests were invited for a 'housewarming' of sorts but the family horoscope and Vastu Shastra are not matching, and the family, unwilling to risk it, is trying to find a remedial way out."

Whatever the case, close friends of the Ambani family, all choosing to remain anonymous, confirm that the home's master and his family have indeed set foot inside of Antilia on numerous occasions — and have thrown several lavish parties there — but only sleep there "sometimes." Instead, they reportedly pack their bags and head back across town to Sea Wind, Ambani's slightly-more-modest, Vastu-correct 14-story home. "They live in both places," a spokesperson for Ambani's company, Reliance Industries, admits.

While I respect astrology-influenced architectural traditions like Vastu, I'm thinking that if you go out of your way to build the world's most expensive home in the middle of a city that's rife with poverty, you better damned well sleep there more than once every couple of months ... even if it clashes with your horoscope. You'd think that in this day and age and with Ambani's kind of resources, a home's off-center spiritual energy, like a leaky pipe, could be fixed.

Via [NYT]

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Inset photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Waste- a- Shastra 11/18/2011 17:37 PM

The big W in the building signifies Waste.
He got waste -u -shastra certified architects to whom maoney was not the objective.

lovestoned 11/08/2011 10:59 AM

I think they are just being too superstitious. I'm also a Hindu and I also follow same astrology thing but honestly, no one in this world would leave that luxurious building vacant!! Definitely this may effect the Climate Change aspects too in environmental way.But anyways, I've been hearing this news for about a year and its strange to know that they are not shifted yet!! But anyways, I heard that they got half a dozen of.... More

Cando 10/31/2011 12:24 PM

Could probably turn it into high end Condo's and unload this liability.

Duck Wayne 10/31/2011 11:45 AM

this is way my dump looks like after some good ol Tbell

Mayur 10/31/2011 01:20 AM

You do what you want with your money so let him do the same. What is it to you.

Elwood 10/31/2011 00:05 AM

Kinda looks like something George Lucas would throw together for Darth Vader or maybe just big stack of shipping containers. Either way, our homeowners association is not having any part of that.

Enter your name 10/30/2011 23:36 PM

Pretty ugly looking for a billion dollar house

david 10/30/2011 20:42 PM

who spends 1 billion on a home...?

not even bill gates or larry ellison are this stupid to put a billion dollars in a home!

I am not hating I understand when people work hard and they should have the right to build whatever they want. But there is a little word called modesty. Something this guy may be lacking. To build this place in an impoverished area is pretty mean. Families have no food or shelter in this same area this guy has the ability to feed these poor people for.... More

Ben 10/30/2011 16:24 PM

It's his money, and his house. Let him do whatever he wants with his own property. It's none of our business.

As for the people who just want the government to seize Ambani's assets: Just because you're not smart enough or resourceful enough to become rich yourself doesn't mean you have any right to try to expropriate someone else's assets.

The house is pretty ugly though, but if he likes that style, more power to him.

Count Boogie 10/31/2011 10:04 AM

yes...he can do whatever he wants with his money...and I can think he's a greedy douche for it...and by saying I think he's a greedy douche, maybe we change the social outlook that when you have money you should only spend it on yourself.
That way...when people DO get rich they remember that it's ok NOT to be a greedy douche...it's all just b.s...your a loser in a comments section and so am i...lol

Count Boogie 10/31/2011 10:04 AM

Dave 10/30/2011 17:03 PM

So much for living in a society or having a soul, eh? Instead of saving thousands from starving to death, build a house worth a billion dollars. Ya, sounds good to me. Jackass.

MR 10/30/2011 15:37 PM

I can't remember any infrastructure uglier than this considering the kind of money is involved.

Charles Mackie 10/29/2011 22:15 PM

Seven billion hungry people and y'all nit pic over one mans house? The end is near . . .

rajesh 10/29/2011 22:00 PM

In India the 0.01% blatantly exploit an oppressed 99.99%. This is what will happen to the US if you allow unbridled capitalism. Take heed...

do not encourage the Indian business culture to cross over here..there are Indian people on this board and in India that admire such extravagance and waste..shame on them

Anonymous 10/30/2011 22:21 PM

You should read about Indian culture vs U.S. culture. Capitalism is our strength. Anyone can rise to prosperity. We are not stuck in a caste system that holds us down.

Rajesh - THINK 10/30/2011 16:41 PM

If you think that .01% can opress 99.99%, then problem is with 99.99% not with .01%

veljo 10/29/2011 21:12 PM

rare ugly house; he maight consider asking the architect to return money received for this crap...

ryan cameron 10/29/2011 21:05 PM

he apparently paid 70 million and now its worth a billion? Who cares, he made a good deal, a massive profit, and he could sell it and give the money to the poor or use it to make even more money. Who knows.

Raja 10/29/2011 20:39 PM

This guy made his fortune on countries natural resources, he did not invent anything for the country. Govt should take tax him 70% and take over all of his assets and spend schools and infrastructure.

Repo 10/29/2011 18:26 PM

Maybe it's because it is just ugly.

Michael Masters 10/29/2011 17:57 PM

Obviously none of you have been to India. They do not open their wallets to anybody. This is the land of the untouchables. Not everybody has grown up with the things you obviously take for granted. Many of you say what you would do with the money. So go earn it and do what you want.

Perplexed 10/29/2011 15:54 PM

Although I am all for avoiding inequalities of income, such comments from US readers are hypocritical. Are you guys bothered that a foreigner has such a big home? The US has the most billionaires n the world and is the champion of unbridled capitalism. Why don't you question the rich n the US while homeless people sleep on the streets? Mr. Ambani does provide a lot of employment to people. If you were not so ignorant, you would know that his company Reliance, s one of the largest in the.... More

Anonymous 10/29/2011 18:00 PM

I'm sure it is, that's why he is so rich... all on the backs of those who have to live in slums that work for him.

nemesis 10/29/2011 10:39 AM

find it rich no pun intended the owner quotes his 'spirtuality" over the building. proves money ethics and intergrity dont go hand in hand sometimes.

Enter your name 10/29/2011 08:41 AM

Obviously there is nothing wrong with doing what you can to have a comfortable life for you and your family, but this person is truly one of the most selfish, evil people on the planet. This is like enjoying the most lavish meal imaginable, as you watch children around you cry while starving, you not only dont share with them, but you throw away all the extra, to ensure their suffering.It's totally beyond me how his family can look at him, or even how he can look at himself, in the.... More

Poorman 10/29/2011 20:19 PM

It will be easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into heaven.

sensible 10/29/2011 05:55 AM

He can burn his money any way he wants..HE IS NOT government to take care of the poor people etc..

pacman357 10/29/2011 03:25 AM

I hear they aren't living in it simply because it "smells like feet".

Joe 10/29/2011 01:13 AM

It's a 77 million dollar home, not a billion dollars.
The billion figure comes from multiplying 77 million by the increased real estate values in Mumbai since it was built.
But no one is going to pay a billion dollars for it, so the stated value is meaningless.

pacman357 10/29/2011 03:26 AM

That may be true, but they are still paying for a second home. After a couple-three hundred years, that can add up.

Rod from Fla 10/29/2011 01:02 AM

Such wealth hoarding should be illegal worldwide . How dare they do this as the poor lay starving in the shadows of this sky scraper of a home. How can they sleep at night knowing they wasted a billion dollars that could have made such a difference in millions of lives if they had a benevolent bone in there heartless body . Karma will come back on them.

AnonymousOne 10/30/2011 10:01 AM

How do you sleep at night, knowing that richer countries (especially the US) world-wide enact policies that keep poor countries poor, invade countries, kill civilians, topple elected governments, assassinate leaders....all paid for by your tax dollars. This is the world. Grow up! **** happens. Some people have billion dollar homes (well, one does at any rate)...others go hungry. Do something in your own community if it bothers you so much and stop pontificating about what others can do. If you.... More

Anonymous 10/29/2011 17:10 PM

It's done in the United States all the time. What did Candy Spelling just sell her house for? It was originally listed for $150,000,000. This man would never get a billion dollars for this house, no one in their right mind would even pay $100,000,000 so don't get yourself all worked up for nothing.

Anonymous 10/29/2011 05:49 AM

He is not government....he can burn his money any way he wants...

pacman357 10/29/2011 03:28 AM

Fortunately, we have this almost licked in the U.S. So far, we've managed to keep about 99% of the population from hoarding wealth, and with each presidential election, the gap seems to be growing. Good thing we rational, intelligent voters are allowed to steer our own destiny, no?

John 10/29/2011 00:29 AM

It's astonishing and sad that he values his ego over the lives of people living on the streets in his hometown. He could even live in a sprawling $50 million mansion and have given away $950 million to help build hospitals, shelters, clinics, etc., or found ways to give some of those people jobs so they can help themselves. I really am having a hard time putting in here how I really feel (without the moderators having to delete it. ;) ).

AnonymousOne 10/30/2011 09:57 AM

Why don't you write letters to all the billionaires in the world (most of whom still live in the U.S.) and ask them to give all their money away to the poor and outline your brilliant plan. Why just ask one of them?

Dockbob 10/29/2011 00:21 AM

Playing the devils advocate: I'm sure they hired quite a few tradespeople in the construction, architects in the design, furniture makers for the furnishings. Also, someday it will turn into a magnificent low end apartment house....much better than most anything designed to be low income housing.

Sarav Chidambaram 10/28/2011 23:46 PM

If this news is true, Ambani's are one of the worst humans in India. With Millions in poverty and living on the roadsides, these rich people who live off the poor people, will do anything to satisfy their ego. Hail capitalism

Anonymous 10/29/2011 05:52 AM

you need to ask your elected representatives to fix your economy and poverty..whom you vote ...NOT A PRIVATE BUSINESS PERSON

Thoughtful 10/28/2011 20:46 PM

I am sure there is bad karma for such wasteful opulance in the face of such poverty - even if they never sleep there.

Anonymous 10/28/2011 22:01 PM

Very true !

harinder 10/28/2011 20:14 PM

the govt should confiscate the property
turn into a hospital for the poor

ambani does not need it anyway

haeinder 10/28/2011 20:14 PM

the govt should confiscate the property
turn into a hospital for the poor

ambani does not need it anyway

matt456 10/28/2011 16:27 PM

Seriously hope the entire surrounding slum just moves in while they aren't looking, this has got to be the dumbest reason I've ever seen for not moving into a house. Stories like this go a long long way in fueling the 99%' arguments, although I don't believe the movement will have an impact at all considering all the people who can change policies are in the pockets of the 1%.

Xifter 10/28/2011 14:27 PM

Occupy Antilia!

Anonymous 10/28/2011 16:21 PM

Ditto! Many squatters and poor families would be happy to go there.

springsgranny 10/28/2011 14:14 PM

It's sinful that someone has that much money to waste while others around them are suffering. What goes around, comes around...they will know at some point.

Mind boggling! 10/28/2011 22:06 PM

It is both shocking and shameful for anyone to live in opulence when millions around (literally) do not know where their next meal will come from.

I think unfettered money numbs the mind and that is what has happened to the rich of the world, especially the ones in India. Shame on them. Shame also on tons of other celebrities and other well-known people who have a say and yet do not speak up against such a farce !