Ever seen a multi-million-dollar mansion and wondered what it would be like to be a billionaire living in one? One thing you don’t have to question is that these billionaires know how to protect their stunning homes and assets. These homeowners go above and beyond to fortify their luxury homes. That’s why we thought we’d take some home security tips from the most protected properties around the globe. So, move over Fort Knox - these top seven examples of incredibly secure homes will teach you a thing or two about heavy-duty security.
The Corbi Home in Los Angeles, California
According to Forbes, the Corbi family lives in a fortress of protection within the Hollywood Hills. The house’s structure has reinforced steel concrete that allegedly goes 30 feet deep underground – no need to fear those rough California earthquakes, then.
This home is also locked down so tightly that sensors sound an alarm even if a trespasser is over half a mile away from the property. The Corbis have a home security system that puffs out fog screens and harmless smoke meant to disorient intruders (or a noisome gas with disabling side effects lasting up to 24 hours). Their Burglar Blaster Decintegrator also showers pepper spray when tripped.
The mansion also features a panic room that is the size of a typical American home, around 2,500 square feet in size. There’s also no need for keys to get into this home – biometric recognition software allows only the rightful owners to pass through the doors. There’s certainly no doubt that the Corbi family rest easy at night in their protective fortress of a home.
3 Indian Creek Road, Miami, Florida
The Indian Creek cluster of homes and mansions was recently the site of the most expensive sale in Miami history, so that should give you an indication about how upper crust the residents are who live there (do the names Julio Iglesias and Adriana Lima ring any bells?). Indian Creek Island is an exclusive barrier island off the coast of Miami Beach with an 18-hole golf course and 32 homes. Gated and heavily guarded, access to pass through Indian Creek Island’s sole entrance is only granted to homeowners and their guests. It’s reportedly patrolled by 15 full-time policemen via jet ski, jeep and boat, 24 hours a day dedicated strictly for home security.
The mansion at Number 3 Indian Creek Road occupies two acres, has its own private beach and is notorious for its privacy and security measures, as well as its value (it was bought by a Russian billionaire in 2012 for $47 million dollars – a record for the county). The billionaire home is made of limestone, wood and glass and features a rooftop bar with a Jacuzzi, five separate pavilions (including a spa pavilion and a media pavilion), a 7-limo garage, a 100-foot infinity-edge pool and a panic room with its own isolated generator that supplies the power – just in case an intruder thinks to cut the mains. The panic room’s entrance is policed by a fingerprint-recognition system while the room itself features a control hub for an infra-red surveillance system. With this surveillance system, the owner can see every corner of the entire grounds, even at night when it’s pitch black.
The Zombie Bunker in Poland
In terms of home security, this house takes the cake! Used for the worst end-of-the-world scenarios, this home is known as “the zombie bunker.” Should a meteor strike the earth or the zombie apocalypse suddenly happen, then this home is where to head. Designed by the architects of KWK Promes, it’s made entirely out of the strongest concrete with a thick protective shield created out of a specially-designed iron.
These concrete and iron shields can also block every entrance and every window, turning the “zombie bunker” from a futuristic-looking house by day to a solid block at night. We think that the architects who designed this realistic end-of-the-world bunker might have watched too many episodes of The Walking Dead.
Buckingham Palace, London, England
With 775 rooms, over 1,500 doors and over 700 windows, Buckingham Palace is certainly a home of grandeur. This billion-dollar palace also has 24/7 foot and horse guards from the British Army posted inside and outside the royal home.
Since the rise of terrorist attacks, panic rooms have been built throughout the palace to protect the royal family. These are made of 18 inches of steel to provide the ultimate level of security. It’s possible that there should be more panic rooms and high-tech security installed, but Prince Phillip allegedly disagrees with some of the home security measures. In fact, he refuses to go into a panic room if he’s instructed to do so. Well, with the British Army stationed around the palace, why would you need a panic room at all?
The White House, Washington D.C.
While England and London have Buckingham Palace, the U.S. and Washington D.C. have the White House, home to our president. Staffed by 1,300 members of the United States Secret Service and with 147 bulletproof windows, the White House features the best home security measures that the world can offer– an entire SWAT team is also positioned on the roof any time the President enters or leaves the White House.
If that’s not quite enough protection for the President of the United States, there is a “President Emergency Operations Center” located six stories beneath the White House. This can be used by the President to escape a crisis, but still allows him to undergo his duties and perform any important top-secret decision.
Fair Field Estate in the Hamptons, New York
One of the most expensive and secure homes in the United States is in the New York Hamptons. This billionaire home is owned by the Fair Field Estate and features a 91-foot-long dining room, a 164-seat theater and a garage that can hold 100 cars. It is so massive and secure that a power plant was built nearby just to power this mega mansion and the security.
An extremely high-tech home security gate was also installed to protect the priceless assets inside – billionaire Ira Rennert has over $500 million dollars’ worth of priceless art located in this Hamptons mansion.
The Tardigrade House in Berkeley, California
Flood-proof, earthquake-proof, termite-proof and fire-proof. Surely, Tardigrade House is one of the world’s safest houses? Built by architect Eugene Tsui for his parents, Tardigrade was created for safety and was specifically modeled on tardigrades: microscopic creatures that are thought to be the most indestructible animals on this planet.
Known by locals as the "Fish House," it was made with recycled materials such as Styrofoam and concrete blocks to make it impermeable to fire, water and sound. Its exterior is also angled inward at four degrees to protect it from earthquakes, while steel cables are implemented to allow it to stay standing in the face of any natural disaster. In the event of an evacuation, there are also structural slide escapes from the second story. Plus, it can also save neighboring houses from natural disasters. The owners installed four water jets to the outside in case the neighbor’s home catches fire. Making this home one of the best in terms of home security.
Although it might be a bit over the top and expensive to install panic rooms on every floor of your home, there are plenty of security options available to keep the home that you do have secure, and to keep your family protected. Many home security systems use the latest technology, such as smart home security systems, which are changing every aspect of home security as we know it. They allow you to secure your home remotely from your mobile device or computer. You can control every aspect of your home from your mobile phone, such as arming and disarming the security system, control the lighting and thermostat, automatically lock and unlock doors and receive text and email alerts for changes in status. You can also get alerts sent at any sign of movement or disturbance.
You may not be a billionaire, president of the United States or the Queen of England, but securing your home can still be made affordable and effortless.
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