Villa La Leopolda is a large, detached villa located in Villefranche-sur-Mer, in the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera. The villa is situated on 18 acres of land, offering sweeping views of the sea and overlooking a verdant valley with pine forests. It is considered one of the most expensive villas in the world, with some estimates placing its value at around 750 million dollars or about 653 million euros.
The villa’s history dates back to King Leopold II of Belgium (1835 – 1909), who owned the estate and gifted it to his mistress, Blanche Zélia Joséphine Delacroix. The villa derives its name from King Leopold II. The current incarnation of the villa was designed and built from 1929 to 1931 by the American architect, Ogden Codman, Jr.
Over the years, the villa has had several notable owners, including Gianni and Marella Agnelli, Izaak and Dorothy J. Killam, and since 1987, by Edmond (1932–1999) and Lily Safra (1934–2022), who inherited the villa after her husband’s death. The villa has also been the subject of a legal dispute involving Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who attempted to withdraw from the sale of the villa in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
The villa is known for its opulent interior design, which was created by the award-winning Italian architect and interior and product designer Renzo Mongiardino, and style guru Mica Ertegün. The villa features 19 master bedroom suites, 14 bathrooms, and 12 pools throughout the estate. It also has a commercial greenhouse, a helipad, an outdoor kitchen, and a magnificent swimming pool.
Villa Leopolda has indeed been featured in several notable films and books, and is registered as a French Monument Historique.
In terms of film, Villa Leopolda was used as the location of Lermontov’s villa in the 1948 film “The Red Shoes”. The villa was also used as a set in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 movie “To Catch a Thief”. However, there is a conflicting reference stating that the house used in “To Catch a Thief” is Château de la Croix-des-Gardes, not Villa Leopolda.
In terms of literature, Villa Leopolda is the subject of a book written and published by its former owner, the American architect Ogden Codman Jr., titled “La Leopolda: A Description by Ogden Codman, Architect and Owner”. This book, first printed in 1939, includes text, black and white photos, and drawings.
Villa Leopolda is registered as a French Monument Historique, a status that recognizes its historical and architectural significance. This registration is a testament to the villa’s rich history and its architectural beauty, which invokes the style of the Belle Époque.
