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A sky-scraping penthouse, a Hong Kong hillside home, and the Playboy Mansion: These are the most expensive homes of 2016

One palatial home sold for an amazing £221 million - and you'll need a few hundred million to think about any of the others

It's not easy to get on the property ladder in Britain, but if you've got a few hundred million lying around, you could be in luck.

2016 saw some stonkingly pricey real estate deals, from beautiful hillside homes, to terrifyingly tall towers, to the famous Playboy Mansion.

 Taohuayuan in Suzhou is the most expensive house ever to be sold in mainland China, at a massive £124million - or one billion yuan
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Taohuayuan in Suzhou is the most expensive house ever to be sold in mainland China, at a massive £124million - or one billion yuanCredit: PR Company

'Taohuayuan' is the most expensive house ever sold in mainland China. It's a 32-bedroom, 32-bathroom home in the Chinese city of Suzhou, west of Shanghai.

Its name means 'utopia' - and you'd have to believe in it to meet its price tag. The beautiful home went on the market for a whopping £124million. It was known as the 'one billion yuan luxury home' after its cost in the local currency.

Though it was narrowly beaten to the title of most expensive property of the year by a luxury residence in Hong Kong, which went for £221million.

 This luxury home in Hong Kong's Peak District went for £221million
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This luxury home in Hong Kong's Peak District went for £221millionCredit: Getty Images
 Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores paid $100million for a property in Holmby Hills, California
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Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores paid $100million for a property in Holmby Hills, CaliforniaCredit: MLS
 The master suite has a private patio - and the rest of the property is pretty well-equipped too
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The master suite has a private patio - and the rest of the property is pretty well-equipped tooCredit: MLS
 The property boasts ten bedrooms and twenty baths
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The property boasts ten bedrooms and twenty bathsCredit: MLS
 It once belonged to Barbra Streisand, and is suitably luxurious for a big Hollywood name
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It once belonged to Barbra Streisand, and is suitably luxurious for a big Hollywood nameCredit: MLS
 It also has a fully equipped entertainment complex and theatre, and its own wine bar
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It also has a fully equipped entertainment complex and theatre, and its own wine barCredit: MLS

Meanwhile, Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores paid $100million for a property in Holmby Hills, California.

The impressive property once belonged to singer and actress Barbra Streisand, famous for star turns in Funny Girl, Yentl, and A Star Is Born.

The 38,000 square foot property has an impressive ten bedrooms, and TWENTY baths. It also has a fully equipped entertainment complex and a wine bar.

And its master suite with a private patio is the very definition of extravagance.

Luxury mansions were understandably popular in 2016. Beal Bank founder Andrew Beal shelled out $100million for a slightly smaller 28,000 square foot mansion in Dallas, Texas.

It was formerly owned by Liverpool FC owner Tom Hicks.

 Beal Bank founder Andrew Beal splurged $100million - about £77million - on this property
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Beal Bank founder Andrew Beal splurged $100million - about £77million - on this propertyCredit: Zillow
 The Texas property has extraordinarily high ceilings - and lots of bedrooms and bathrooms, of course
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The Texas property has extraordinarily high ceilings - and lots of bedrooms and bathrooms, of courseCredit: Zillow
 It was owned by sports mogul Tom Hicks, who owns Liverpool FC
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It was owned by sports mogul Tom Hicks, who owns Liverpool FCCredit: Zillow

Last year also saw famed lothario Hugh Hefner sell his iconic Playboy Mansion to his next-door neighbour.

New owner Daren Metropuolos, 32, owns a private equity firm and is heir to a billion dollar fortune which includes sweet-makers Hostess Brand which peddles cream-filled snack Twinkies.

The mega-rich buyer bought the house next door from the pipe-smoking pornographer in 2009 for £12million.

He collected the set for an extra £77million ($100million) which is half Hefner's initial asking price.

 Hugh Hefner's iconic Playboy Mansion sold this year
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Hugh Hefner's iconic Playboy Mansion sold this yearCredit: Corbis
 The notorious party house was on the market for $200million - but was bought by a neighbour for $100million in the end
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The notorious party house was on the market for $200million - but was bought by a neighbour for $100million in the endCredit: Getty Images
 Although the Mansion is no longer his, owner Hugh Hefner will continue to live there until he dies
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Although the Mansion is no longer his, owner Hugh Hefner will continue to live there until he diesCredit: Reuters
 The luxurious property is known for housing the 90-year-old ladies' man and his ever-changing cast of busty blonde playmates
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The luxurious property is known for housing the 90-year-old ladies' man and his ever-changing cast of busty blonde playmatesCredit: Getty Images
 Once Hefner's tenancy is complete, the new owner will combine it with his other home - which is next door
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Once Hefner's tenancy is complete, the new owner will combine it with his other home - which is next doorCredit: AP:Associated Press
 The peacocks could soon have even more mansion to explore
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The peacocks could soon have even more mansion to exploreCredit: Getty Images

The 90-year-old millionaire is unlikely to mind, however, as he and his bevy of busty blonde beauties will remain in the notorious party pad until he finally kicks the bucket.

He bought the sprawling mansion in 1971. The property, which sits amid 5 acres (2 hectares) in Holmby Hills, west of Los Angeles, boasts 29 rooms, a tennis court and a free-form swimming pool – and has a zoo licence.

After Hefner’s tenancy concludes, Metropoulos plans to reconnect the Playboy Mansion property with his own neighbouring estate, combining the two for a 7.3 acre compound as his own private residence.

 If you can't afford the Playboy Mansion, this might work - the penthouse apartment in this block sold for just £71million last year
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If you can't afford the Playboy Mansion, this might work - the penthouse apartment in this block sold for just £71million last yearCredit: Olivia McGregor
 Comparatively, it's a bargain - and think of the brilliant views you'd get of the city
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Comparatively, it's a bargain - and think of the brilliant views you'd get of the cityCredit: Getty Images

 

If you're looking for something a bit cheaper than the Playboy Mansion, there's always the option of taking a room in the tallest residential building in the world.

You'll only need £71million in the bank to bag yourself the penthouse apartment at 432 Park Avenue in New York.

Not a bad deal when you'll have unrivalled views of the Big Apple.