Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
These billion-dollar builds are some of the tallest in the world, the greenest, or simply the glitziest. Once completed, they define a city landscape and become national landmarks. Some are holy places, and others are simply spaces to worship at the altar of sports and commerce. Either way, they’re hard to miss—that’s why they cost so much. Here are the most expensive buildings in the world.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, USA (US$1.2 billion)
Built in 1990 by Donald Trump, the Trump Taj Mahal Casino was meant to be the jewel in the crown of the Trump empire. However, that expensive jewel shortly turned out to be nothing more than a rhinestone: the building was financed mostly by $675 million in junk bonds, never recuperated its debts and sold to Hard Rock International for US$50 million in 2017.
The 2015 opening of the new European Central Bank went off with a bang, as the new headquarters were unveiled with the backdrop of protesters from the Blockupy movement in full swing. The two towers of the building stand tall—the north tower is 185 metres (600 feet) tall, to be exact—and boast floor space of 185,000 square metres (2 million square feet) over 45 storeys.
The tallest building in the world, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was completed in 2010 to the tune of US$1.5 billion, a steal compared to some of the others on this list. Soaring at a height of 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) tall, the building comprises a mix of office space, ultra-luxurious hotel and residential units and, of course, an observation deck that blows all other observation decks out of the water.
The legendary Wembley Stadium, home of UK football and host of the London Olympics in 2012, drew national attention when it re-opened in 2007 after multiple years of construction. With a seating capacity of 90,000 and top-of-the-line facilities, Wembley Stadium is poised to ensure the success and glory of the game of football in the UK well into the future.
The largest mosque in Africa and the third-largest in the world, Djamaâ El-Djazaïr in Algiers was completed in 2019 to the tune of US$1.5 billion. Towering over the expansive grounds is the continent’s tallest minaret, which soars 265 metres (870 feet) in height and features observation decks for an eye-popping view.
The luxury Las Vegas casino and resort has become a cultural institution after serving as the backdrop to the film Ocean’s Eleven. It was one of the defining builds on the Vegas Strip, contributing to record-high revenues for the Nevada gaming scene when it opened in 1998, and drawing global attention for its iconic fountain show.
At 508 metres (1,667 feet) tall, the LEED-certified Taipei 101 held the honorable title of World’s Tallest Building from its erection in 2004 to 2010, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It remains the world’s tallest green building. The building itself cost nearly US$2 billion to build, primarily due to its highly sophisticated environmental design elements.
Lakhta Center, St. Petersburg, Russia (US$1.77 billion)
St. Petersburg's incredible spire, the Lakhta Center, was completed in 2019 and stands 462 metres (1,516 feet), making it the tallest in Russia and the 13th-tallest in the world. The building is wrapped in 16,515 pieces of glass, giving anyone inside an unparalleled view of the city from its perch just off the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
The tallest completed building in Nevada and the second-largest hotel in the world, the Palazzo opened in 2007. Located between the Wynn and The Venetian hotels, it features a 9,755-square-metre (105,000-square-foot) casino and 3,025 suites—including 375 concierge-level suites and six spacious villas—making it the largest on the Las Vegas Strip.
The only fully private residence on this list, Antilia was built for billionaire business magnate Mukesh Ambani. Less a mansion than a luxury high-rise that happens to house exactly one (1) family, each floor of this 27-storey building is the height equivalent of a normal two-storey home. The home also has its own temple, salon, ice cream parlour and six-floor parking garage—and nine high-speed elevators to get through all those floors in quick time.
Inaugurated in 1957, Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe and the third-largest in the world. The home stadium of FC Barcelona has a seating capacity of 99,354 and has been the setting for some of football’s most glorious historical events, from hosting multiple FIFA games, UEFA Super Cup finals and the football finals at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia (US$2.1 billion)
At the time of opening, the Royal Adelaide Hospital was the most expensive building in Australia. Completed in 2017, it replaced the original Adelaide Hospital, which was originally built in 1840. Along with top-of-the-line medical equipment and state-of-the-art research facilities, the complex also emits 50 per cent less emissions than before.
The Venetian has been a Vegas institution for decades, but the Venetian Macao tops its western counterpart in luxury and sheer sprawl. Opened in 2007, the complex offers dreamy indoor canals complete with gondolas, a massive sporting and entertainment arena, and the largest casino floor in the world.
Built in 2009, the striking and futuristic City of Dreams was the most expensive casino in Macao at the time of its opening, and it just keeps growing—the huge entertainment and hotel resort complex features a stunning new hotel tower designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.
The ultra-luxurious Wynn Resort on the Las Vegas Strip has everything a VIP Vegas-tripper would ever want, including award-winning restaurants and luxury shopping, as well as meticulously designed grounds featuring a man-made mountain landscape, lakes, waterfalls and a golf course.