Most people know that Mukesh Ambani is one of the richest men in India. His luxurious house located on Altamount Road in Cumballa Hill, Mumbai, attracts the attention of everyone who sees it. This luxurious building built on 1.120 acres, which was completed in 2010, was declared the world's most expensive private residence in 2014, with an initial cost of $ 2 billion and now worth $ 4.6 billion. This grand 27-storey building called Antilia has a gym, spa, theater, terrace garden, a swimming pool, a temple, parking for 168 cars and 10 elevators.
The construction of Antilia began in 2006 and was completed by 2010. Designed to withstand earthquakes up to 8.0 magnitude on the Richter scale, but very few people know the history of the land on which Antilia was built. The land where Ambani's multi-billion house now stands was the Karimbhai Ibrahim Khoja Yatimkhana (orphanage), run by the charity of the Waqf Board. The orphanage was founded in 1895 by a wealthy shipowner named Karimbhai Ibrahim. In 2002, the trust sought permission to sell the land, and three months later, the charity commissioner approved it.
A recent report suggests that in July 2002, the land earmarked for the education of underprivileged Khoja children was sold to Mukesh Ambani's Antilia Commercial Private Limited for $2.5 million, although its market value at the time was around Rs 1.5 billion.
In 2003, the building's design plan, created by U.S.-based architecture firm Perkins & Will, was approved by the BMC. Construction began in 2006, and today, Antilia employs 600 workers, all of whom reportedly earn substantial salaries. Named after the mythical Spanish island of Antilia, the building's design features elements symbolising the lotus and the sun, with each floor following a unique layout and plan. Although there are three helipads, they are not currently operational.
The Ambani family had planned a housewarming ceremony in November 2010, but it was delayed. In June 2011, around 50 priests performed rituals to ward off any negative energy. Finally, in September 2011, the Ambani family officially moved into Antilia, making it their home.
