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  4. 50 photos show how obsessed the wealthy are with underground mansions

50 photos show how obsessed the wealthy are with underground mansions

50 photos show how obsessed the wealthy are with underground mansions
Slideshows1 min read

At the St. Moritz ski resort in Switzerland sits a lavish, seven-story home, dubbed The Lonsdaleite, or The Ice Palace.

At the St. Moritz ski resort in Switzerland sits a lavish, seven-story home, dubbed The Lonsdaleite, or The Ice Palace.

It was listed on the market for $185 million last fall. Realtor Senada Adzem told CNBC that the home was "designed to make a billionaire's jaw drop."

It was listed on the market for $185 million last fall. Realtor Senada Adzem told CNBC that the home was "designed to make a billionaire

The home's great room is covered in 35-foot floor-to-ceiling windows on one wall...

The home

Source: CNBC

...and mink fur on the other wall.

...and mink fur on the other wall.

Source: CNBC

There's also a library with red velvet furnishings.

There

An egg-themed breakfast nook is on the main level as well.

An egg-themed breakfast nook is on the main level as well.

Source: CNBC

Its walls are decked out in 24 karat gold...

Its walls are decked out in 24 karat gold...

Source: CNBC

...and a $145,000 egg-shaped sculpture hangs from the ceiling.

...and a $145,000 egg-shaped sculpture hangs from the ceiling.

Source: CNBC

You might think this is your average luxury castle built for the everyday billionaire — that is, until you head downstairs...

You might think this is your average luxury castle built for the everyday billionaire — that is, until you head downstairs...

...which is where the real extravagance begins. The underground amenities include a home theatre bedecked in red...

...which is where the real extravagance begins. The underground amenities include a home theatre bedecked in red...

Source: CNBC

...as well as a wine cellar.

...as well as a wine cellar.

And perhaps the home's most stunning feature is the underground lake.

And perhaps the home

Owners and guests can go for a swim in Swarovski crystal-lit waters.

Owners and guests can go for a swim in Swarovski crystal-lit waters.

Guests can admire Venetian artwork on the ceiling as they swim.

Guests can admire Venetian artwork on the ceiling as they swim.

Source: CNBC

Another prized gem of the house is the private ski den.

Another prized gem of the house is the private ski den.

Source: CNBC

Owners can ski in and out of a private lift to access the powdery slopes of the Swiss Alps.

Owners can ski in and out of a private lift to access the powdery slopes of the Swiss Alps.

Source: CNBC

Back inside, a home spa awaits after a long day of skiing.

Back inside, a home spa awaits after a long day of skiing.

Source: CNBC

Owners can also take it easy in a lounge...

Owners can also take it easy in a lounge...

Source: CNBC

...or in the Himalayan salt room.

...or in the Himalayan salt room.

Source: CNBC

An inviting Turkish bath also awaits...

An inviting Turkish bath also awaits...

Source: CNBC

...as does a high-tech shower equipped with controls that can change the lighting and color schemes.

...as does a high-tech shower equipped with controls that can change the lighting and color schemes.

Source: CNBC

There are other underground homes that match this Swiss castle's opulence.

There are other underground homes that match this Swiss castle

Like one in Rolling Hills, California, for instance.

Like one in Rolling Hills, California, for instance.

This colossal, luxury, 7.4-acre Spanish Hacienda took 17 years to construct, and five of its six stories are underground.

This colossal, luxury, 7.4-acre Spanish Hacienda took 17 years to construct, and five of its six stories are underground.

The home is the brainchild of John Z. Blazevich, CEO of Viva Food Group, who circumvented zoning codes prohibiting home expansion by building down into the ground.

The home is the brainchild of John Z. Blazevich, CEO of Viva Food Group, who circumvented zoning codes prohibiting home expansion by building down into the ground.

Source: Forbes

The infamous underground mansion, dubbed Hacienda de la Paz, spans 51,000 square feet and sports nine bedrooms, 25 bathrooms, and a six-car garage.

The infamous underground mansion, dubbed Hacienda de la Paz, spans 51,000 square feet and sports nine bedrooms, 25 bathrooms, and a six-car garage.

One of the estate's two tennis courts is on one of the five underground levels.

One of the estate

When owners aren't using it for a court, it doubles as a ballroom that can accommodate 350 dinner guests and a dance floor.

When owners aren

A Hamam, a traditional Moorish-style bath spa, also sits underground and is one of the site's two pools. The interior is hand-crafted from imported marble and sandstone, and 24-karat gold Venetian tiles line the space.

A Hamam, a traditional Moorish-style bath spa, also sits underground and is one of the site

Skipping around the estate is a breeze — elevators take owners from floor to floor...

Skipping around the estate is a breeze — elevators take owners from floor to floor...

...like to the wine cellar, for example...

...like to the wine cellar, for example...

...or back into the open air, where the estate's extravagance is just as unparalleled. An outdoor clay court is lined with comfy seating for spectators.

...or back into the open air, where the estate

And why not throw another pool into the mix?

And why not throw another pool into the mix?

While Hacienda de la Paz was born out of a desire for luxurious living quarters...

While Hacienda de la Paz was born out of a desire for luxurious living quarters...

Source: Forbes

...other underground homes were fashioned out of the paranoia of their owners.

...other underground homes were fashioned out of the paranoia of their owners.

Entrepreneur Jerry Henderson and his wife, Mary, built "The Underground House" in 1978 in the midst of the Cold War as a luxury hideaway bomb shelter.

Entrepreneur Jerry Henderson and his wife, Mary, built "The Underground House" in 1978 in the midst of the Cold War as a luxury hideaway bomb shelter.

The property sits 26 feet below the surface with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a six-foot-deep pool, putting green, and a spa.

The property sits 26 feet below the surface with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a six-foot-deep pool, putting green, and a spa.

And though it's protected from the elements above, owners are still afforded sweeping landscape views, thanks to full-sized murals that line the walls.

And though it

The Hendersons passed away in the 1980s, leading to the property's eventual foreclosure, before its current owner swept it up and spent more than $1 million renovating it.

The Hendersons passed away in the 1980s, leading to the property

The Hendersons paid around $10 million in constructing the home in the late 1970s. That's about $40 million in today's money.

The Hendersons paid around $10 million in constructing the home in the late 1970s. That

For a long time the property remained a bit of a mystery to its neighbors. But the owner recently opened it to the public during a gala.

For a long time the property remained a bit of a mystery to its neighbors. But the owner recently opened it to the public during a gala.

On the other side of the country sits another luxurious subsurface bomb shelter in Kansas as part of a project dubbed Survival Condo.

On the other side of the country sits another luxurious subsurface bomb shelter in Kansas as part of a project dubbed Survival Condo.

The $20 million property spans 15 floors underground and is housed inside an old missile silo. The silo, like Las Vegas' Underground House, was built in the midst of the Cold War.

The $20 million property spans 15 floors underground and is housed inside an old missile silo. The silo, like Las Vegas

The project offers up 12 single-family homes to homeowners wishing for a surefire way of preparing for potential catastrophic events.

The project offers up 12 single-family homes to homeowners wishing for a surefire way of preparing for potential catastrophic events.

A full-floor unit spans 1,820 square feet and can fit six to 10 people. Buyers shell out $3 million for one, which includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a great room.

A full-floor unit spans 1,820 square feet and can fit six to 10 people. Buyers shell out $3 million for one, which includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a great room.

In place of a natural views, the windows are outfitted with screens that show live footage of the landscape outside.

In place of a natural views, the windows are outfitted with screens that show live footage of the landscape outside.

More lavish amenities are also included, like a home theatre...

More lavish amenities are also included, like a home theatre...

...a 75-foot-long swimming pool with a water slide...

...a 75-foot-long swimming pool with a water slide...

...and a gym.

...and a gym.

And if staying fit with gym equipment isn't your forte, there's also a rock climbing wall.

And if staying fit with gym equipment isn

Family pets are also invited — there's a park in the compound for dog walks.

Family pets are also invited — there

Not bad for a doomsday shelter.

Not bad for a doomsday shelter.
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