Many large mansions that were built as private residences during America’s “Guilded Age” are now open to the public as museums or have other various uses. However, some of the largest mansions in America have been built within the past decade and are currently in use as private homes. (Also check out the factors you should consider before buying a home during retirement.)
To find the 15 largest houses in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various sites including Explore, Family Handy Man, and Largest. On our list, we’ve included who owned the houses and their current use. Some have been transformed into other uses, such as museums or campus buildings, while others are still privately owned.
Why This Matters
Some of the biggest homes in America are owned by some of the wealthiest Americans.
The wealthy people who have built the mansions on our list have had a major influence on the American economy and culture. For example, the Vanderbilt Family has multiple homes listed here. This family built their wealth from the American railroad industry in the 1800s. They not only built lavish mansions but became philanthropic, donating millions to build homes in New York City for the underprivileged.
Read on for the 15 largest houses in America ranked by size:
15. Woodlea
There are a total of 140 rooms in the Woodlea home.
- Square Footage: 70,000
- Location: New York
- When Built: 1895
A Victorian Beauty
The home is now a place for golfing enthusiasts to meet up and hang out.
Woodlea, situated in Briarcliff Manor, New York, is a beautiful Victorian-style home. This 70,000-square-foot home was first built for Elliot Fitch and his wife, Maggie, and featured 75 different rooms within its walls. They later sold the house to Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Now fully converted to host all sorts of golfers, the home still retains much of its original details and beauty.
14. Idle Hour
The Vanderbilt family once owned the Idle Hour home.
- Square Footage: 70,000
- Location: New York
- When Built: 1882
A Piece of Art
There are many places named after the Vanderbilt family, such as Vanderbilt University.
This home, finished in 1882, was built for William Vanderbilt of the Vanderbilt family. Though it’s the same size as the house before it, this one holds 110 rooms. It was considered one of the most beautiful homes in all of America for a while. In 1920, William passed away, and the house went through several different owners before eventually being auctioned off due to bankruptcy in 2017 where it was sold to Mercury International LLC for $26.1 million.
13. Pensmore
- Pensmore was designed to last up to 2,000 years by its millionaire owner.
- Square Footage: 72,215
- Location: Missouri
- When Built: 2016
Sturdy Construction
The Ozark Mountains offer beautiful scenery and a beautiful home.
Pensmore is a newer build, started in 2008 and completed in 2016. It can be found in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. Steven Huff built and still currently lives in the home, and he made it able to handle all sorts of natural disasters and emergencies like tornadoes, earthquakes, and even bombs. With five stories, 12-inch thick walls, and 13 bedrooms, Huff believes the house will last at least 2,000 years.
12. Indian Neck Hall
At the time it was built, Indian Neck Hall was the largest home on Long Island.
- Square Footage: 75,000
- Location: New York
- When Built: 1897
A Bourne Legacy
Indian Neck Hall was La Salle Military Academy for a while.
In 1879, Frederick Gilbert Bourne, president of Singer Manufacturing Company, built Indian Neck Hall. At the time it was built, this 110-room home was the largest on Long Island. The family stayed in the home until Frederick passed away. Then, his children sold the estate. In 1926, the home opened as a military academy and is now used as an additional campus by St. John’s University in Queens.
11. Florham
The Florham home in New Jersey is yet another home once built by the Vanderbilt family.
- Square Footage: 80,000
- Location: New Jersey
- When Built: 1899
The Vanderbilt Fortune
Florham was inspired by Hampton Court Palace, pictured above.
This house was also built by a Vanderbilt, though by Florence Adele Vanderbilt this time. It was thought the home cost about $5 million to build this mansion, which is about equal to $146 million today. In 1955, the estate was broken up, with Fairleigh Dickinson University acquiring the mansion and 178 acres of garden.
10. Versailles
The Versailles home has undergone numerous construction issues over 20 years.
- Square Footage: 85,000
- Location: Florida
- When Built: 2023
Exorberant Expense
Not even the town hall of Windermere can stand up to the impressive Versailles home.
This house has everything you may need, including 14 bedrooms, nine kitchens, three indoor pools, a 20,000-bottle wine cellar, and a video arcade. Of course, this extravagance is thought to have cost over $100 million to build, putting it in fourth place for the most expensive house in U.S. history. This home is located in Windermere, Florida, and belongs to David Siegel.
9. Meadow Brook Hall
Meadow Brook Hall’s property was extended for up to 15,000 acres when it was completed.
- Square Footage: 88,000
- Location: Michigan
- When Built: 1929
A Mansion Museum
The heir of the creator of these useful trucks was commissioned and lived in Meadow Brook Hall.
Matilda Dodge Wilson, heir to the Dodge Motor Company, had Meadow Brook Hall designed and built for her personal use. The home has 110 rooms and almost 15,000 acres and cost roughly $4 million. In 1957, Matilda donated the house to Michigan to help create Oakland University. Now, it’s a historic museum, the fourth largest in the United States.
8. Shadow Lawn
Shadow Lawn was once the summer home of former President Woodrow Wilson.
- Square Footage: 90,000
- Location: New Jersey
- When Built: 1929
Now Part of the University
Shadow Lawn is one of the largest homes in the US before the Great Depression. A few decades later, in 1985, the home became a National Historic Landmark. There are over 130 rooms and the house was originally a summer home for President Woodrow Wilson. In 1956, the house became part of Monmouth University. It was also used in the movie Annie as the home of the character Oliver Warbucks.
7. Winterthur
The wealthy du Pont family still owns the Winterthur house.
- Square Footage: 96,582
- Location: Delaware
- When Built: 1937
Ever-Growing
In addition to the ever-growing home, Winterthur had cows, greenhouses, hogs, sheep, chickens, gardens, a sawmill, and even a post office.
Though 1937 marked the year Winterthur was originally finished, it underwent several renovations since then. In fact, since 1937, the house has doubled in size. The du Pont family had the house built, and they still own the home all these years later. However, the house is used mostly as a way for the family to collect trinkets and furniture. It’s said that there are over 90,000 trinkets across its 175 rooms, which are available to tour.
6. Arden House
The Arden house has been converted into a conference center for a nonprofit.
- Square Footage: 97,188
- Location: New York
- When Built: 1909
A House for Research
Arden House is only 40 miles away from Midtown, New York City.
The Arden House took five years to build for Edward Henry Harriman, a railroad magnate. The home was built in Harriman, New York. Currently, the home is used by the Research Center on Natural Conservation, a nonprofit. The home offers a conference center and 97 guest rooms for visitors and workers.
5. Whitehall
Whitehall was built by Henry Flagler, who encouraged tourism down to Florida.
- Square Footage: 100,000
- Location: Florida
- When Built: 1902
Galas Galore
Palm Beach is where you’ll find the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.
Whitehall was once a home for Henry Flagler, one of the founders of Standard Oil, and his third wife. Now it’s a public museum and venue for galas and balls. The home-turned-museum in Palm Beach, Florida has 75 rooms.
4. The One
Now owned by the Fashion Nova founder, The One even has a four-lane bowling lane alley.
- Square Footage: 105,000
- Location: California
- When Built: 2021
A Newer Mansion
Bel Air, California, is home to many mansions, including The One.
This impressive home is the newest on this list, started in 2014 and finished in 2021. The One was built and is still used by Richard Saghain, owner of Fashion Nova. This 105,000-square-foot home in Bel Air, California has 21 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, a 30-car garage, a bowling alley, and five swimming pools. Saghian bought the home from the developer for $126 million.
3. Oheka Castle
Oheka Castle is still considered to be the largest home in New York State.
- Square Footage: 109,000
- Location: New York
- When Built: 1919
From Castle to Hotel
This beautiful building now operates as a hotel.
Despite its impressive size of 109,000 square feet, this home only took four years to build. At the time, it cost around $11 million, roughly $158 million today. The owner of the home is Otto Khan, a financer who worked in various industries. It’s currently one of the largest homes in all of New York with 127 rooms. However, it’s no longer a private home; instead, it is a hotel.
2. Fair Field
The Fair Field home was built by a junk bond billionaire and has its power plant.
- Square Footage: 110,000
- Location: New York
- When Built: 2003
A Battle For First Place
The home is so big that it supposedly has its own power plant, like a small-scale version of the one pictured above.
Ira Rennert, a junk bond billionaire, created this home in 2003. He already had a 63-acre estate known as Fair Field, and this house went onto that property. This house and surrounding buildings are big enough, with the main home having 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, three pools, a theater, and more. Fair Field is worth somewhere between $267 and $500 million.
1. Biltmore Estate
- Square Footage: 175,000
- Location: North Carolina
- When Built: 1895
More Than Enough Space
The estate is so large that you can see it even from across lakes.
There’s absolutely no doubt that the largest home in America is the Biltmore House, located just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. This property has 175,000 square feet with 250 rooms. There are 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The home was built and is still owned by Vanderbilt, specifically, the family of George Washington Vanderbilt II. As big as it is, you could stay on this property forever without growing bored.
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