The leaders of the world's richest countries get to live in some pretty palatial residences. But which premiers live a life of unbridled luxury, and which are partial to a more humble abode? Featuring a peek into the places that the likes of Vladimir Putin, Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden call home, we take a look inside world leaders’ houses, from the more modest to the unashamedly extravagant. Click or scroll on for more...
Worth £529 million ($680m) – down from £730 million ($938m) in 2022 – Rishi Sunak is used to the finer things in life. Since becoming Prime Minister of the UK in October 2022, Sunak's family has continued to live between a townhouse in Kensington and a manor house in North Yorkshire, while he slums it in Downing Street. Let's take a look around...
A simple Georgian townhouse in central London, 10 Downing Street measures 3,800 square feet across approximately 100 rooms. Although this is typically the prime minister’s residence, former PM Tony Blair was the first to upscale to the larger residential quarters at next door’s 11 Downing Street, describing the official four-bedroom apartment as “too pokey” for his family. You'd expect a little more room for a $6.8 million (£5.3m) property. Subsequent PMs David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson all followed suit, but Rishi Sunak was content to remain in the smaller Number 10 flat he occupied as chancellor.
The UK prime minister is also granted the use of an official country residence, Chequers Court. Intended to be a retreat from the pressures of political life, it was donated by a Conservative MP and his American heiress wife in 1917 and today boasts a heated swimming pool and tennis court. Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie spent a self-isolation period on the 1,000-acre estate during the Covid-19 pandemic, while Rishi Sunak hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 16th-century manor house in May 2023. It's said to cost UK taxpayers a whopping $1.3 million (£1m) a year to maintain.
Anthony Albanese is a relative newcomer to the upper echelons of politics, taking on the role of Australia's PM in May 2022. The father of one technically has two residences he could choose to live in, The Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney. Let's see which one he opted for...
More small country house than sprawling palace, Anthony Albanese lives in The Lodge, which sits on 193,750 square feet of grounds and has 40 rooms in total. Built in the 1920s, the Canberra property was only intended to serve as a temporary residence "until such time as a monumental prime minister's residence is constructed". Domain reportedly estimates The Lodge’s value to be AU$15 million ($10.1m/£7.9m).
Although The Lodge is the prime minister's main official residence, he also has the use of Kirribilli House. Designed in the rustic cottage ornée style and built in 1855, it sits on the Sydney harbourside and commands impressive views out to iconic landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. It has been set aside for the use of Australian PMs since 1956.
Once a close ally of Nelson Mandela, Cyril Ramaphosa came to office in 2018, proving popular thanks to his anti-corruption stance. However, the president subsequently faced accusations of corruption himself in 2022, after it was revealed that a large amount of cash – allegedly up to $4 million (£3.1m) – was reportedly stolen from its hiding place down the back of a sofa at the president's private Limpopo game farm. Ramaphosa admitted the money had been stolen but insisted it was closer to $580,000 (£451k) and that he'd earned it selling buffalo. In June 2023, South Africa's corruption watchdog cleared Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the president's official residence hasn't attracted quite as much controversy in recent years...
Set in 270,000 square feet of gardens, Mahlamba Ndlopfu is the official residence of the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. The $14.1 million (£11m) mansion was built in 1940 in a traditional Cape Dutch style and was originally known as Libertas. Following the end of the Apartheid era and the election of South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela, its name was changed to Mahlamba Ndlopfu, which means 'new dawn' in the Tsonga language. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are pictured inside the property with Ramaphosa here.
Ramaphosa is a notoriously private man and little is known about his personal life, but he is considered to be one of the richest people in South Africa with an estimated net worth of around $450 million (£350m) according to Forbes. Although he does reside in this Pretoria mansion, he also owns a luxury property at the foot of Lion's Head in Cape Town.
Alberto Fernández ascended to his political throne in 2019, after serving as Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers for former President Néstor Kirchner, and Kirchner's wife and successor, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Before entering politics, Fernández was a criminal law professor and occasional rock guitarist – he even has a Collie dog named Dylan, named after iconic musician Bob Dylan. In April 2022, the Argentine leader welcomed a son, Francisco, at the age of 63. Let's hope Argentina's official residence is family-friendly!
Quinta de Olivos is the official residence of Argentina's president, currently Alberto Fernández. The 87,000-square-foot palace is located in Olivos, an exclusive suburb of Buenos Aires, and was built in the mid-19th century.
The palace is so opulent that several former presidents of Argentina have opted to live elsewhere to avoid appearing out of touch with the people. The compound's many facilities include a mini-golf course and a helipad, contributing to the property’s market value of $23 million (£17.9m), as estimated by Hatched.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – better known as Lula – started out as a metalworker and went on to become President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. The father-of-five, who's been married three times, was imprisoned for corruption and money laundering in 2018 but was freed in 2019, after serving 580 days in jail, with all charges eventually quashed in 2021. In 2023, Lula ousted right-wing Jair Bolsonaro and became president once again, at the age of 77.
Looking more like a Bond villain's lair than a presidential palace, the modernist Palácio da Alvorada in Brasilia was designed by the world-renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer and built between 1957 and 1958. The building was heavily restored in 2006 at a cost of $18.4 million (£14.3m). The palace comprises 75,000 square feet and the rooms are arranged over three floors. According to research from property website Hatched, it's estimated to be worth around $20.4 million (£15.9m).
Packed with amenities, the Palácio da Alvorada houses a movie theatre, games room and medical centre and even has its own chapel and helipad. Now the residence of President Lula, it was widely reported in January 2023 that his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro had "wrecked" the palace, leaving torn carpets and broken windows, as well as damaged artwork – some artwork allegedly disappeared entirely.
Justin Trudeau assumed office as Prime Minister of Canada in 2015, but he's long been familiar with the trappings of political life – he's the son of Pierre Trudeau who served as Canadian PM from 1968 to 1984. Growing up, the young Trudeau saw many a famous face visit his childhood home, including Princess Diana and Richard and Pat Nixon, who visited a baby Justin in his crib and gifted him a snoopy toy.
Trudeau and his family have lived at Rideau Cottage – also in New Edinburgh – since October 2015: the month before he assumed leadership of Canada. Built in 1867, the 22-room Georgian Revival building has undergone a more recent renovation and is known for its beautifully understated design, characterised by a classically-inspired central entrance. It has a much more sizable value of $50 million (£39m), according to research by insurance provider Mashroom, but the building is technically owned by the Head of the Commonwealth, King Charles III.
The official residence of the prime minister of Canada is 24 Sussex Drive in the leafy New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa. Although this is where current PM Justin Trudeau grew up, he has not lived here during his tenure in office. The house has been poorly maintained since its last renovation in 1950 and parts of the structure are literally falling apart. The value of the home has been assessed at some CA$13.3 million ($10m/£7.9m), but it's currently undergoing massive repairs after a 2021 inspection found asbestos, mould, lead and so many dead mice trapped behind the walls and in the cellar that the air was reportedly "no longer safe to breathe"
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud – known as MBS – was appointed prime minister in 2022, having previously served as defence minister from 2015. While the role of PM is usually held by the king of the oil-rich state, his elderly father, King Salman, handed over the reins of power due to his declining health. While MBS has attempted to modernise the country by lifting the ban on women driving, for example, he has also been accused of approving the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Qasr Al-Hukm in Riyadh is Saudi Arabia's traditional seat of government and the official residence of the prime minister. The impressive palace is also known as the Justice Palace, due to its square being the site of historic executions. When it was built, Qasr Al-Hukm was the largest structure in Riyadh. Its main hall alone is the size of three football pitches and has 45-foot-high ceilings.
The fortress-style palace was built during the 19th century and sprawls over 124,000 square feet. The palace and its surrounding streets were renovated in the 1980s, reportedly to the tune of some $60 million (£48m). In September 2015, the Saudi government opened the palace to the public for the first time, giving them a glimpse inside the extraordinary residence.
Born in Madrid to an affluent family, Pedro Sánchez became Spain's prime minister in 2018. The father-of-two was lagging behind in the polls before the opposition was hit by a corruption scandal and Sanchez managed to sneak a victory. However, it looks like Sánchez may struggle to win another term and that would mean waving goodbye to his beautiful palácio...
While Spain's Head of State, King Felipe VI, lives in the Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid, the country's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez resides in the Palace of Moncloa in the centre of the capital. A piece of prime real estate, it has been estimated to be worth $149 million (£116m) by Hatched.
The 352,000-square-foot palace, which dates back to the 17th century, has been the property of the Spanish state since 1846 and was repurposed as the official residence of the country's PMs during the transition from monarchy to democracy in 1977.
The 46th President of the USA, Joe Biden took over from Donald Trump in January 2021. Then aged 78, he's the oldest person ever to have assumed the office. During his presidency, he's made headlines for wiping out $39 billion (£30.4bn) in student loan debt and supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Although he likes to holiday at his beach house in Delaware and on South Carolina's exclusive Kiawah Island, Biden's main residence needs no introduction, being one of the most famous landmarks in the world...
Size-wise, the White House totals 55,000 square feet, which is relatively compact for a presidential palace. The six-storey building consists of 132 rooms, including the famous Oval Office (pictured) and the Blue Room, as well as 35 bathrooms. No wonder such a lavish pad is thought to be worth $397.9 million (£310m), according to Zillow. One of the world's most iconic landmarks, the White House is a copy of the 1748 Leinster house in Dublin.
Droupadi Murmu became India's 15th president when she was elected in July 2022, the first from an indigenous tribal community. The role of president is largely ceremonial in India, with the prime minister – currently Narendra Modi – at the head of government. Despite suffering personal tragedy – Murmu has lost her husband, two sons and an infant daughter – she forged a career as a teacher before entering politics in 1997, eventually serving as the governor of the state of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She has one adult daughter and is deeply spiritual, reportedly waking at 3am every morning to meditate.
Although India has a prime minister, the president is its head of state. The Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi is the official residence of the president of India, India's Droupadi Murmu. Formerly known as Viceroy House, the complex was designed by Edwin Lutyens – best known for designing English country houses – and built for the British Viceroy. It was completed in 1929.
The complex became the official residence of India's first President Rajendra Prasad and was renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Residence) in 1950. The huge estate sprawls over 2.2 million square feet and includes the main 340-room building and extensive gardens. Hatched puts its approximate value at $539 million (£419m).
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a divisive figure in his home country of Turkey, as well as on the world stage. He served as prime minister between 2003 and 2014, after which he rose to power as president and has remained in that role ever since. In May 2023, Erdoğan won another five years in office, splitting an already deeply divided country. The father-of-four has drawn international disapproval for jailing journalists, crushing dissenters and increasing trade with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey's new presidential palace in the capital Ankara was completed in 2014. Dubbed 'Ak Saray', aka the 'White House', the gargantuan 1,150-room complex is four times the size of the Palace of Versailles and the second-largest presidential complex in the world at 3.2 million square feet.
The pet project of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ak Saray has been mired in controversy since its conception. Critics have lambasted the government for its extravagant spending on the palace interiors, which are packed with fine marble, lavish furnishings and expensive artworks. This contributes to its staggering estimated worth of $643 million (£500m). The palace is seen here in May 2023 after Erdoğan won a historic election, extending his rule until 2028.
Another relatively recent premier, Olaf Scholz took over from Angela Merkel as Germany's Chancellor in 2021. Scholz grew up in Hamburg and lived there until he moved to Potsdam in the German state of Brandenburg in 2018 with his wife, fellow politician Britta Ernst. Once known as "Scholzomat" for his robotic image, Scholz won popularity for his management of the Covid crisis as finance minister. However, as he's currently facing criticism for his handling of an infamous €30 billion ($33.4bn/£26bn) tax fraud scandal, who knows how much longer he'll be able to call his official residence home.
Although Germany's Federal Chancellery is the largest government headquarters in the world, the official residence of the Chancellor – Olaf Scholz – is a rather more humble affair. The two-bedroom apartment measures just 2,150 square feet and is located on the top floor of the modern federal building located on the banks of the river Spree. Building work started in 1997 after architects Charlotte Frank and Alex Schultes won a public competition with their postmodern design.
Scholz receives dignitaries from around the world at the Chancellery, including Giorgia Meloni, seen here visiting the German premier in February 2023. The honorary court is home to Berlin, a striking iron sculpture by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida. The 18-foot-high, 87.5-tonne artwork is intended to symbolise political rapprochement and unification. The Chancellery is undergoing a staggering €773 million ($861m/£670m) extension, which has drawn criticism for going dramatically over budget.
Russian president Vladimir Putin was a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years before he began his political career under Boris Yeltsin. He has served continuously as either president or prime minister since 1999, rising to become one of the world's most controversial leaders. His government has been accused of being behind the murders of political critics and rivals, such as journalist Anna Politkovskaya and former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko. Putin has also imprisoned opposition leader Alexi Navalny and, in 2022, launched a military invasion of Ukraine. Putin is rumoured to have a lavish property portfolio of his own, but let's take a look at his official residence first...
Meaning, 'fortress inside a city,' the Kremlin is a vast complex that includes five palaces, four cathedrals and a helipad. The Grand Kremlin Palace is currently the main official residence of the Russian president in Moscow. The site has been continuously occupied since the 2nd century BC, with work starting on the existing structure around 1838. The largest building in the complex, the Grand Palace cost over $1 billion (£778m) to renovate in the 1990s. The complex as a whole is said to be priceless.
Putin doesn't actually live in the Kremlin Palace. His official residence since 2000, Novo-Ogaryovo in Moscow is the place the Russian leader officially calls home – he even remained living in the large pastel yellow mansion during his four-year break from the presidency between 2008 and 2012. However, it's believed that a sprawling pile on the Black Sea coast (pictured) is his true home. Known colloquially as Putin’s Palace, opposition leader Alexei Navalny claims that the Italiante mega-mansion belongs to the Russian president. He alleges the ultra-lavish property cost $1.4 billion (£1.1bn) to build and that taxpayer money was used to fund its construction.
In October 2022, Italy welcomed a new leader, Giorgia Meloni. A far-right firebrand, Italy's first female prime minister enjoyed a meteoric rise from teenage member of a neo-fascist party in Rome to the founder of the Brothers of Italy party, which she led for ten years before being voted into Italy's top job aged just 45. Abandoned by her father, Meloni's childhood was one of "hardship," nevertheless she looks happily at home in her palatial political residence.
Italy's leader is entitled to live in the Quirinal Palace in Rome while in office. Originally a papal summer residence, the palace, which dates back to the 16th century, became the official presidential residence in 1946. It has so far served as the official home of 30 popes, four kings and 12 presidents. Property website Hatched puts the historic estate's value at some $1.2 billion (£945m).
The exceedingly spacious palace covers around 1.2 million square feet, making it one of the largest palaces in the world and 20 times larger than the White House. On top of that, the palace sits on prime Roman real estate atop Quirinal Hill, the highest of the seven hills of Rome. The PM also has access to two further official residences; Villa Rosebery (so called because it was once owned by British Prime Minister, the 5th Earl of Rosebery) in Naples and Castelporziano, a 14,922-acre country estate on the outskirts of Rome.
In May 2017, Emmanuel Macron became the President of France, but it's a little-known fact that he's also one of two Co-Princes of Andorra. While he doesn't gain any extra residences, just the impressive title, Macron probably has enough official homes as it is. He has the use of Fort de Brégançon, a medieval fortress on an islet in the French Riviera, and La Lanterne, a hunting lodge in Versailles, as well as Château de Rambouillet – which Marie-Antoinette declared a "gothic toad-house" – for meetings. But the jewel in the crown is surely the Elysée Palace...
Located on the prestigious Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, the Elysée Palace is the official residence of the President of France Emmanuel Macron – the youngest in the country’s history. The ornate palace, which was completed in the 18th century, totals 118,000 square feet and according to research from Mashroom, it's worth $1.8 billion (£1.4bn).
Unlike other presidential residences, the Elysée Palace is super-private and foreign dignitaries stay at the luxe Hotel de Marigny rather than the palace itself. Former French president Francois Hollande is pictured here being interviewed at the presidential property in 2013, surrounded by a lavish, heavily gilded interior. Former President Charles de Gaulle organised the purchase of the Hotel de Marigny in 1972 to avoid “meeting kings walking around my corridors in their pyjamas”.
Xi Jinping is currently serving a historic third term as China's president, a position he's held since 2012. Although the role of president is usually ceremonial, Xi has managed to consolidate his power by also becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. He has drawn criticism for his ultra-strict handling of the Covid crisis, China's reported spying operation targeting the UK and the US and the Chinese government's "genocidal" treatment of its Uyghur population.
President Xi's official residence is here in the Zhongnanhai complex. Standing just west of Beijing's vast Forbidden City, it was once an imperial garden and is now the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party and the central government. Zhongnanhai totals a staggering 37 million square feet, which explains its astronomical $39.8 billion (£31bn) valuation according to Hatched. The complex is more than 17,000 times larger than Olaf Scholz's official residence, and almost 44,000 times more valuable.
During Chairman Mao Zedong's rule, the Library of Chrysanthemum Fragrance in his private residence was said to be his favourite place. According to former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who visited Mao there, "manuscripts lined bookshelves along every wall; books covered the table and the floor; it looked more the retreat of a scholar than the audience room of the all-powerful leader of the world’s most populous nation."
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