6 Most Famous Lake Homes on the Planet

You can find the most famous lake homes around the world, from Lake Tahoe in Nevada to Lake Como in Italy. Each house has its own personality and charm that sets it apart from the rest.

Here is a look at 6 of the most famous lake homes on the planet. Some are old, some are new, but they all have their own story to tell. Each serves as an inspiration for those looking to build or buy their own lake home.

1. Bill and Melinda Gates House – Lake Washington

Photo via CNN Business/Ted Soqui/Corbis/Getty Images

You can expect the home of one of the richest men in the world to be extremely large. That is exactly what you get with this Lake Washington estate. This home has more than 65,000 square feet of living space, and cost over $60 million to build.

2. Tranquility – Lake Tahoe

Tranquility- Lake Tahoe

At 27,000 square feet, this famous home on Lake Tahoe comes in on the smaller side of palatial lake homes. Though, it is surrounded by some of the best skiing in the world. This home sits on 210 acres, making it the largest private residence on the Nevada side of the lake.

Additional amenities include 2 golf holes, a guesthouse, and the main staircase. This design was based on the original designs for the grand staircase of the ill-fated Titanic.

3. Villa Erba – Lake Como

Photo via lakecomoweddingsandevents.com

Built in 1882 by Italian businessman Carlo Erba, Villa Erba has been the site of countless weddings and events. Occupying nearly 37 acres of land on one of the most picturesque lakes in Italy gives anyone staying in Villa Erba a good deal of privacy from the sometimes-busy Lake Como shoreline.

Movie fans might also recognize the villa from the 2004 movie, Ocean’s Twelve, serving as the residence for the movie’s antagonist in several scenes.

4. Ellison Bay Manor – Lake Michigan

Photo via bizjournals.com

This 4 bedroom, 10-bathroom house is a perfect getaway if you want to stay in the U.S. and enjoy the great outdoors. The manor is located in a very rural part of Wisconsin, along the shores of Green Bay, sitting on 80 acres of mostly woodland.

The best part of this famous lake home may be the extremely large master suite, spanning almost 5,000 square feet. It includes 2 bathrooms with dressing rooms, a library, and an elevator.

5. Villa Balbianello – Lake Como

Photo via wikipedia.org

The Villa Balbianello is one of several famous lake houses on the shorelines of Lake Como. The lake has served as a warm getaway since Roman times, resulting in the numerous grand houses you can see today.

What makes the Villa Balbianello stand out among so many other famous villas is that it has been used as a backdrop for a number of movies, including Star Wars and the James Bond hit – Casino Royale.

6. Michael Schumacher Mansion – Lake Geneva

Michael Schumacher Mansion - Lake Geneva famous lake homes

This $35 million mansion is one of the largest homes on one of the most popular lakes in Switzerland, Lake Geneva. The mansion features over 23,000 square feet of living space including an indoor swimming pool and over 400 feet of lakeshore property. 8 bedrooms are more than plenty for this 7-time F1 world champion race car driver, and the exclusivity of the neighborhood ensures that the paparazzi will not be able to sneak in and take pictures of the family uninvited.