Meet the Woman Living in the World’s Largest Private Home worth ₹25,000 crore, More Opulent Than Antilia or Buckingham Palace
Meet the Woman Living in the World’s Largest Private Home worth ₹25,000 crore, More Opulent Than Antilia or Buckingham Palace
Radhikaraje Gaekwad, a royal by birth and writer by profession, lives in a 700-acre palace worth Rs.25,000 crore, making it the most extravagant private residence globally.
At a time when modern skyscrapers define luxury, one royal family quietly lives in a palace that dwarfs Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia and even Buckingham Palace in scale and grandeur. Meet Radhikaraje Gaekwad, the wife of Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, a former cricketer and the Maharaja of Baroda. Together, they reside in the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, a 700-acre marvel that remains the largest private residence in the world.
Built in 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the palace was constructed at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh at the time (equivalent to over ₹25,000 crore today). It features 170 rooms, landscaped gardens by famed botanist Sir William Goldring, and amenities that include a private golf course, horse stable, swimming pool, and several heritage buildings like the Moti Bagh Palace and Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum.
Royalty with a Modern Touch
Radhikaraje Gaekwad, however, is not just known for her royal lineage. Born into the Wankaner royal family from the Jhala dynasty of Saurashtra, she was raised by her father Dr. M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala, a former IAS officer who gave up royal privileges to serve the nation. Inspired by him, Radhikaraje pursued higher education at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, earning a BA (Hons) and Master’s degree in Indian and Medieval History.
Far from a sheltered royal life, she once commuted via DTC buses during her college days and even worked as a writer for The Indian Express. Today, she combines her deep knowledge of history with a passion for heritage conservation and revival of traditional Indian textiles.
A popular presence on social media, Radhikaraje often shares glimpses of her life through candid posts from grand royal functions to quiet moments in the palace gardens. Her Instagram bio even links to a National Geographic India documentary on the Lakshmi Vilas Palace.
The Man Beside the Maharani
Her husband, Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, is the 54th head of the Gaekwad dynasty, which ruled Baroda since the 18th century. A former Ranji Trophy cricketer and cricket administrator, he inherited the palace and family wealth in 2013 after a legal settlement. Since then, the couple and their family have made the Lakshmi Vilas Palace their home.
Though the exact net worth of the Gaekwad family remains undisclosed, it is estimated at around ₹20,000 crore, making them among the wealthiest royal households in modern India.
In Perspective
While the glitz of Antilia and global palaces often makes headlines, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace continues to stand as a living, breathing piece of history. More than just a home, it represents an era of architectural brilliance, cultural richness, and quiet dignity. And at its heart is a woman who wears her crown not just with grace but with purpose.
