Most Expensive Homes in the US

May 20 ,2012— -- intro: Despite recent dreary forecasts for the U.S. housing market, a handful of wealthy Americans are still shelling out the big bucks for lavish homes. From New York to California, country mansion to penthouse suite, these colossal homes are fit for royals.

Here is a look inside the seven most expensive homes in America.

quicklist: 1url: title: $100 Million Los Altos Mansion

text: Russian investor Yuri Milner bought this 25,500-square-foot French chateau-style mansion in Los Altos, Calif., in March 2011. It is the highest known price paid for a single-family home in the U.S.

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quicklist: 2url: title: $90 Million NYC Penthouse

text: This New York City duplex penthouse in Midtown was sold for more than $90 million. According to the New York Times, an unnamed family bought the 89th and 90th floors -- a 10,923-square-foot space -- in One57, a building that is currently under construction.

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quicklist: 3url: title: $88 Million Manhattan Apartment

text: This $88 million apartment was purchased by Ekaterina Rybolovleva, the 22-year-old daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. The 6,744-square-foot apartment previously belonged to Citigroup Chairman Sandy Weill. At the time, the sale broke the record for the highest individual transaction in New York City history, beat only a few months later by the $90 million sale of a Midtown penthouse duplex.

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quicklist: 4url: title: $85 Million L.A. Mansion

text: Petra Ecclestone, a 22-year-old British heiress, bought this 56,000-square-foot mansion in July 2011 for a $85 million. The home was previously owned by Candy Spelling, the widow of well-known TV producer Aaron Spelling, and was famously dubbed "Candyland" after its owner. Spelling originally listed the colossal mansion for $150 million, but the price was decreased significantly after two years on the market.

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quicklist: 5url: title: $70 Million NYC Ritz-Carlton Penthouse

text: This New York City duplex penthouse in the Ritz-Carlton hotel on Central Park South was sold for $70 million in May 2012. Casino magnate Steve Wynn bought the 10,882-square-foot space, spanning the 30th and 31st floors of the building. The New York Post reported the apartment price was negotiated down from the $77.5 million listing price. The space was once the hotel's grand ballroom and the living room alone, shown here, is 900 square feet.

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quicklist: 6url: title: $65 Million Fifth Avenue Apartment

text: Grammy-nominated songwriter Denise Rich put her Fifth Avenue apartment on the market for $65 million in January 2012, according to the Huffington Post. Rich told The New York Post the 12,000-square-foot apartment is too much space for her now that her daughters have moved away. Rich wrote songs for iconic artists, including Aretha Franklin, Mandy Moore and Mary J. Blige.

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quicklist: 7url: title: $50 Million NYC Apartment

text: Russian actress Anna Anissimov, 27-year-old daughter of metals magnate Vasily Anissimov, listed her 3,900-square-foot apartment for $50 million in April 2012. The apartment is located the 75th floor of the Time Warner Center in New York City.

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