Homes of the richest Americans

Big and expensive
In some instances, as much — or more — than one would think. Kluge's Palm Beach estate, which totals more than 21,000 square feet and sits on four acres of manicured grounds adorned with statues and reflecting pools, has a market value of more than $28 million, according to county estimates.

Ellison spent several years and more than $100 million to build his palace. Earlier this year, Gates received a property tax bill for a whopping $1.1 million, because his compound was estimated to be worth nearly $140 million. Fellow Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, who owns a group of nearby properties valued at a little under $120 million, got off with just a $1 million charge.

But at the other end of the scale are uber-wealthy people who are uninterested in flaunting — or even, it seems, enjoying — their billions. Some of our rich-listers choose to live surprisingly modestly. Take Warren Buffett, the brains behind Berkshire Hathaway. The "Oracle of Omaha" lives in the Happy Hollow neighborhood of Omaha, Nebr. It's not a shabby place, but he bought the gray stucco home in 1958 for $31,500. In 2003, it was assessed at just $700,000.

Members of the notoriously reclusive and low-key Mars family, heirs to the candy fortune, seem to own pretty modest digs — John Mars lives in a McLean, Va., townhouse and, until a few years ago, his equally secretive brother, Forrest Edward Mars Jr., who at that time was estimated to be worth $9 billion, lived in a unprepossessing condominium in Arlington, Va. Of course, billionaires often own more than one home — and sometimes several — which can explain why one may seem relatively modest. Another might be an utter palace.

Truong guesses that Phil Knight's house is worth just a few million dollars, depending on the condition of his house and what it's like inside.

"There's a pool, a nice big yard," she says. "But it could be very old, very simple depending on the owner."

Who wants to live like a billionaire? Perhaps you already do.

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