For Sale: A House So Big You Need a Segway to Get Around It

For Sale: A House So Big You Need a Segway to Get Around It

Jacqueline and Dave Siegel embarked on their $100 million Orlando mansion—named "Versailles"—before the credit crisis hit. Now they're trying to sell it. At 90,000 square feet, it is the largest privately owned home in America.

The Wall Street Journal first mentioned Versailles in June, when the Siegels were begging someone to take the half-constructed mansion off their hands. This time around, the lovely and increasingly desperate Mrs. Siegel gave the Journal a tour of the half-finished home that is the size of two White Houses:

We had planned maybe a 12,000 square-foot home, but our family grew, we have eight kids, and during the design process the house just kind of took on a life of its own.

I wanted a bowling alley for the kids and I wanted an indoor roller- and ice-skating rink, and my husband wanted a 10,000 square-foot health spa with an indoor relaxation pool and the house kept growing and we had to keep buying more lots.

To get around the ginormous manor, the Siegels purchased 10 Segways. Would you like to buy "Versailles"? The Siegels are selling for a bargain-basement $75 million as-is, or $100 million once it's finished. If it sells, it'll be the most expensive home sale of the year.

http://gawker.com/5589203/for-sale-a-house-so-big-you-need-a-segway-to-get-around-it

Off with their greedy heads!

So they can play these:

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they have no culture...but your violins are perfect for the whine...if only they had enough money to buy the cheese.

That distinction still belongs to The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, at 175,000 square feet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltmore_Estate

and the ultimate in poor taste too.

... than the monstrosity shown in the main picture on this thread.

What can I say, I actually thought the Biltmore was pretty when we toured it. Then again, what was MUCH more attractive than the house was the view off of the balcony. One of the few places inside the estate where you're actually allowed to take pictures. We toured it six months after I dislocated my kneecap and tore a ligament. Was up on the third floor, halfway through the tour, before my knee gave out and I had to pop a Celebrex before I could finish the tour.

The only room in that house I would have actually wanted in a dream house was the library. It really was nice.

I've taken a tour of the Biltmore Estate. It is an absolutely gorgeous place, and I wouldn't mind going back.

Although, for those who might not be aware, privately owned is somewhat misleading when it comes to the Biltmore Estate. It's a house museum that serves as a tourist destination, and it generates tons of cash and jobs for the local community. If there is anyone who has a love for old historical homes I highly suggest visiting the Estate, it's a relic of the Gilded Age. Aside from the antiques and such, there is also wine tasting and gardens. I recommend going sometime in late August or early September after the weather has had a chance to cool. There is a lot of walking involved (obviously), and the weather is best that time of year in the mountains - fresh, clean, crisp - a slight breeze that is slightly damp and refreshing. It isn't really suited for kids, as they'll get bored easily, but if you're an adult with an interest in such places - you'll love it.

The Biltmore Estate was opened up to the public by the family during the Great Depression to generate tourist revenue for the local economy.

It was sometime in the mid eighties during the abandoned and vandalized period. My friend and I hiked through the countryside to find it. It was very sad to see, almost complete disrepair on a massive scale and I know I have photos somewhere.

I am happy yo see what they have done with it. Beautiful. The locals depend on the revenue generated by tours of many "Cottages" in the Berkshires. Which is good to see the regular folk benefit from the Gilded age excesses of the Robber barons.





http://elmcourt.com/page.php?PageID=2229&ImageID=1392&PageName=Entrance


lm Court is the largest American Shingle Style home in the United States, containing 106 rooms. Built by William Douglas Sloane and Emily Vanderbilt in 1886, along with architects Peabody and Stearns, the home has remained in the original family for six generations. It was constructed as a summer cottage to be enjoyed by family and friends. After many structural and aesthetic additions and makeovers, the home culminated in a finished version after the turn of the century. The Elm Court Talks held at this home in 1919, led to the creation of The Treaty of Versailles, and League of Nations.

The mansion served as a private residence until Emily's death in 1946. Elm Court is the last "Berkshire Cottage" remaining in the hands of its founding family.

Elm Court's use evolved into Inn status in the late 1940's; it embraced the public for dinners, overnight accomodations, and events during the 1950's. Eventually, Elm Court's doors closed, and the mansion succumbed to significant theft and vandalism for approximately 50 years.

The planning and restorative efforts of Elm Court began in 1999 through the work of family descendants. A great granddaughter, in unison with her son and his wife, embarked on this effort that continues today. The estate was offered on the real estate market for a couple of years, and great interest ensued. Ultimately, the philosophy of buyers did not harmonize with the perhaps unrealistic preservation demands of the sellers, and no sale culminated. Measures have now been taken by the owners to ensure Elm Court remains in the Vanderbilt family for many generations to come. The philosophy of this endeavour is one of sustainable preservation - to preserve the past, live in the present, and evolve for the future.

It is our pleasure to re-open our home's interior spaces and grounds (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted) for private functions, and overnight accommodations. Elm Court is on the National Register of Historic Places.

It's a tourist attraction and far more attractive than this Orlando monster.

As I said in my post, "privately owned" is a bit misleading, but it still qualifies. Even though the descendants no longer take up active residence there they still own the estate.

However, I do agree Versailles is an ugly monstrosity. Someone suggested that it be used for a Luxury Hotel. I think that's probably the best solution.

Oh, well then 90,000 SF totally makes sense!

Don't want the little darlings to feel cramped, now do we?

guess it's back to that measly 12,000 sf

falls in the dictionary between shit and syphilis.

They will turn it into an orphanage. The orphans can then be used to maintain the property as training for an adult life as gardeners and maids.

Don't laugh. My parents sent me to a Church school just like that when I was 14.

Sure, it's ridiculous that people actually need or wanted a house this size. In fact, it's laughably absurd. Who wants to live in a home so large they actually need a Segway to get around?

However, it's their money. They can spend it or waste it however they deem fit. I just don't understand the hate because there are literally hundreds of thousands of people out of work, many in the construction industry. It seems a bit odd to me to be all like, "Yeah sorry buddy. I know you don't have a job, but McMansions are offensive to my sensibilities." We need crazy people like this to spend as much of their money as possible instead of sitting on it, or placing it somewhere that it won't trickle back into the real economy. Thus, if they want to do that via McMansions, go ahead. More power to them. There were plenty of people who defended numerous prominent Democrats (such as Al Gore) and their choice of enormous homes.

Anyway, just thinking about owning a house that size makes me shudder. I'd hate to be the person who was in charge of cleaning that place.

It will consume unconscionable amounts of energy. And your argument that it provides jobs is laughable.

Tons of things consume vast amounts of energy. Even a home that size, though, can be made green. Why not complain about skyscrappers which are generally an unimaginative ugly blight upon any skyline?

How is the argument that it provides jobs laughable? It isn't going to build itself, and a family that rich sure as hell isn't going to spend the time it'll take to keep that place clean. Many on DU may thumb their noses at the "hired help", but being a maid or gardener is an honest job and pays the bills. Many people would happily take such jobs if they were available.

Oh wait... that's right... There is no Department of Needs. This is America.
People are free to build any home they like so long as no laws are broken.

The hate is a result of an America that went from the richest country to the most indebted nation with the richest people all within 2 generations. This didn't happen by happenstance. The money was redistributed from the bulk of our once predominantly middle class country to people like these and the banksters who were able to game the political system for personal gain.

So I can't comment on how he became so wealthy.

However, the redistribution of wealth upward is entirely the fault of the government and its embracing of a broken monetary policy. Currency is based off debt - without debt, most of our money supply dries up, and with debt being Principle plus Interest, it's like a giant vacuum cleaner sucking up all the wealth in one direction - up. Unless the United States and the world at large is willing to abandon debt based currency, we're going to remain on this path.

https://hotelexecutive.com/newswire/21143/time-share-tycoon-david-siegel-not-maintaining-grenelefe-golf-and-tennis-resort

No, this isn't the resort mentioned in the story above. This is his mall-sized house.

do people become this rich by means that are to be admired? Anyone with this kind of money is doing it on ill-gotten gains.

Why is it bad for people to have extreme wealth you might question?

Billionaires have too much money. I agree that most of it was ill-gotten just like the overpaid CEOs and the Wall Street banksters who got it because they could, and not because they earned it. They got their money by manipulating the system not generally by creating products that benefit people, communities, and employees and I especially include the financier class in that statement.

The root of the problem is that they don't pay their fair share in taxes as they did when our marginal tax rates were at 70-90% for those in that bracket, and as a result they have a huge amount of damaging disposable income. They use it to buy off our political leaders for the benefit of this overclass instead of reinvesting it in the USA through taxes. The latter has been especially damaging as it corrupts our government.

As uncle ray said in this same thread they aren't taxed enough. Taxes made our country fiscally strong instead of deeply in debt and this all began with the trickle down mentality that has been perpetrated by these same people.

You said it!--"damaging disposable income" = that is exactly what it is.

That is what this big house represents -- the ABUSES that occur as a result of ill-gotten under-taxed gains. This is what it symbolizes.

It is not merely the extravagance of someone building their preposterous fantasy house, which we could laugh at and mock (and watch it turned into a hotel). That's a limited viewpoint.

Yours is the big picture. :thumbsup:

There are plenty of sovereign fiat currency countries with a much more equal distribution of wealth. I think Japan has the highest wealth equality in the world, for example.

i just don't think they are taxed enough.

"it's their money." i guess, possession is 9/10 of the law.

keep in mind you are defending not some average millionaire's house, you are defending THE biggest one. if we cannot heap scorn on the ONE asshole who has to have the biggest house, AND has the means to do it, then who can we hate?

ok, i hate the assholes. i'm busted.

The rich fucks that buy these monstrosities should be put in the stocks for their anti-social behavior.

Just look at that Atlantis resort. Very popular. Very tacky. Tacky sells to a certain group of people with more money than brains.

They could stay at this place while they visit all the Orlando area tacky theme parks with their precious little brood. Free limo service, doncha know.

What is it about some people who believe that bling somehow makes them a better person? Do they think that they will be respected, admired, and envied, because they demonstrate ownership of ostentatious material things? Very few people react positively to it, even those that imbibe themselves.

It's sort of an irresistible urge for people who have just recently gotten rich. They have an idea that they should have fancy stuff but not the sense to do it with good taste. And there it is, I suppose.

as someone suggested in the comment section. Then the hotel guests can say they stayed at "Versailles".

Rather than building this gaudy monument to these people's egos.

Have your people talk to my people.

the buildings and landscape flowed beautifully.

That thing iis hideous. I'd love to see it simply rot unless somehow it can be used by the state or city.

TIMESHARES! Live by the sword...

She calls herself the Queen, btw.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_thebottomline/2009/03/poor-jacqueline-siegel-tough-times-for-orlandos-selfanointed-queen.html

they will be so messed up....

"We have five nannies right now. They each have their own assignments, with one specifically for the twins. One of the nannies is considered the driver and takes the kids to school, lessons and friends' houses. We also have a housekeeper. We used to have more, but my husband thought we should cut back because of the bad economy and the layoffs he had to make at his company. He thought we should suffer too."

so 10 people need 90,000 feet?! They would have died in my sister-in-laws house. She has 8 brothers/sisters. They and her mom (widowed) lived in a 1000-1200 square foot place and LIVED to tell about it!! :wow:

...and it houses two people, seven cats, and two dogs. I did have to give up my plans for a scaled down health spa-- we had to put the refrigerator there.

I have four children who currently sleep on two sets of bunks while we attempt to hand build an energy responsible home nearby.

I just have no frame of reference for the type of self indulgence shown by the family in the OP.

And that is as unimproved property (vacant, no building assessment).

http://www.ocpafl.org/pls/webappI/get_parcel_master?pid=282319739100220&query_data=1111111O&tax_year=2010

How terrible for them.

:puke:

They needed Sedgeways to get around inside them. But it was all empty, cavernous, echoing, vaccuous...

I hate conspicuous consumption, it is evil, immoral, and anti-social.

But it would have to be in the unfinished state, because you could fairly easily convert the place to a very nice smallish hotel and convention center. As a single-family residence it is absolutely ridiculous, but as a hotel (especially since it's in Orlando--the vacation capital of the US) it makes some sense.