A peek inside Florida’s lavish ‘Palace of Versailles’, which sold for US$115 million less than its asking price

Imagine waking up in a 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square-metre) French-inspired chateau on the calm Atlantic shores of Florida.

For the new owners of Playa Vista Isle, that is more of a reality than a dream.

Once the most expensive home in the United States, Playa Vista Isle, in Hillsboro Beach, was sold in November 2018 after a bidding war between 11 would-be buyers.

According to property records, it sold for US$42.5 million, more than US$100 million less than its asking price of US$159 million.

A peek inside the US$6 million floating home that can withstand a hurricane

Still, the sale price reportedly broke a record as the highest price ever paid for a US home sold at auction.

Property records also show the buyer is Oppornova, a Delaware-based company affiliated with Andrew Mack, co-founder of the tea company Teavana, which was acquired by Starbucks in 2012.

The mansion has 11 bedrooms, 22 bathrooms and features fittings containing US$3 million worth of 22-carat gold leaf.

It was modelled on the Palace of Versailles and is essentially the mega-mansion of your French royalty dreams.

Check out the home and its expansive grounds

The five-acre (two-hectare) property sits in South Florida, along the ritzy Hillsboro Beach’s “Millionaire’s Mile”, named so for its air of wealth and exclusivity.

The estate is shouldered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other. It comes with private boating docks ...

... as well as 500 feet (150 metres) of uninterrupted ocean views and private beachfront.

The estate first popped up in 2014 – while it was still under construction – for US$139 million. It was listed on the market for a year unfinished.

It was modelled on France’s Palace of Versailles, which features the same ornate architectural design.

Playa Vista Isle was originally dubbed Le Palais Royal, or The Royal Palace.

It then saw a name change, additional construction, and a US$20 million price rise ...

... and, as of November 2018, a new owner after its previous owner, construction titan Robert Pereira, sold the estate.

After going through the gold-plated front gates you find a pristine elevated driveway ...

... which encircles a water fountain ...

... and leads right up to the homes grand entrance.

The doors are embossed with 22-carat gold and are 12 feet high.

Mosaics stand to the side of the doors and depict the four seasons of the year.

Through the doors is a grand foyer and a staircase crafted out of imported South African marble.

Much of the hallway is covered with 22-carat gold, which is also featured throughout the home.

The staircase alone cost US$2 million to create.

Through the foyer is a seating area.

The glass windows span floor to ceiling and are retractable.

The main seating area opens up to one of the many dining tables.

A family room is lined in mahogany and holds a saltwater aquarium with a large, 3D television.

The formal dining room can seat 16 guests.

The dining room’s domed ceiling boasts a majestic, heavenly painting.

Its doors open up to the sea breeze from the ocean.

The kitchen is located the ground level, as well.

It features elegant mahogany cabinets and gold leaf gilding.

An eating area is located nearby.

At the top of the staircase on the upper level is the library ...

... as is one of three master bedrooms.

The entire south wing is designated for the master suite. The guest rooms are on the opposite side.

There are a number of master bathrooms as well ...

... which boast considerable amounts of storage space.

Each bathroom features a round jacuzzi tub ...

... and the showers have seats and rainfall shower heads.

The master suite has a private sitting room, which offers even more extraordinary views of the ocean.

There’s a workspace as well, although it’s a wonder anyone could get any work done here.

And the wine cellar downstairs? It’s protected by biometric security – meaning only those registered with the system can access the 3,000-bottle room.

The mansion boasts the world’s first home 3D IMAX cinema, which can seat 18 people.

Another reception room can be found on the lower level ...

... and just beyond its doors sits the estate’s outdoor paradise.

An elevated sky bridge connects the master suite ...

... to the 4,500-square-foot pool outside, which includes a water slide ...

... and a variety of waterfalls ...

... in different arrangements.

A spa with a glass bottom sits 40 feet above ground level.

And a putting green sits a few metres from the pool.

There’s an underground garage – not pictured here – with a controllable climate that can be accessed by a secured tunnel and can house up to 20 vehicles.

A two-acre undeveloped area of land was also included in the price.

Initial plans were to use the land for building two guest houses, a go-kart track, an ice rink, a bowling alley and a nightclub.

Yet these amenities were never added – as if the estate needed any more bells and whistles.

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This article originally appeared on Business Insider.