1. “Antilla”, Mumbai – $1billion

The world’s most expensive home in 2010 is unquestionable. It is the first $1 billion home the world has seen. A custom-build 27 story towering mansion, Antilla in Mumbai is the home of the world’s fifth richest man, namely Mukesh Ambani, head of Indian petro-chemical giant Reliance Industries, which is India’s most valuable firm by market capitalization.

With double height ceilings, ballrooms, crystal chandelier ceilings, retractable stages, and 600 servants, there is no other home on earth that compares to the 570 feet tall Antilla.

2. Villa Leopolda, Cote d’Azur France – $525 million.

 Villa Leopolda is an 80,000 square foot Chateuau built in 1902 by King Leopold II of Belgium. The villa has been rumoured to be the home of Bill Gates and many more global figures, but has actually been home to French banker Edmond Safira, whose wife Lily still lives there. The 19 bedroom villa, which boasts sports courts, a bowling alley, multiple kitchens, dining rooms and a movie theatre, received even more press lately when a Russian mogul lost his deposit on the property when he reneged on completing the sale.

3. One Hyde Park – The Penthouse, London – $200 million

This massively stylish modern penthouse may not be so expensive did it not sit atop the famous number 1 Hyde Park address. As it is in such a premium location it has been built as a home for the rich and famous complete with SAS guard, bullet proof windows, iris scanners, panic rooms and a secret tunnel to the nearby Mandarin Hotel. The building has communal spas, squash courts and wine tasting rooms, and the penthouse is served by 24 hour room service.

4. Fairfield Pond, The Hamptons – $170 million

 This 63 acre home is considered the largest residential compound in America. The 29 bedroom beachfront home of publicity shy billionaire Ira Rennert has 5 sports courts, a bowling alley and a $150,000 hot tub.

5. Hearst Mansion, Beverly Hills – $165 million

This mansion — the former home of publishing giant William Randolph Hearst, the inspiration for the main character in “Citizen Kane” –, features 29 bedrooms and three pools. The estate became a pop-culture icon after being used in The Godfather movie, when the infamous severed horse’s head turned up in the owner’s bed. The fact that assassinated President John F Kennedy stayed in the mansion during his honeymoon also added to its status. The house has some notable neighbours, including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and David and Victoria Beckham

6. Franchuk Villa, Kensington – $161million

Anyone else spotting a trend here (the most expensive homes being mainly in the UK and US, this making it 2 all). This Victorian Villa was a girl’s prep school until 1997, when it was bought and upgraded in 2006. After receiving a £10 million overhaul and refurb it was purchased by Ukrainian AIDS philanthropist, Elena Franchuk, and renamed the Franchuk Villa.

7. “The Pinnacle”, Montana – $155million

This is the home of Time and Edra Blixseth, owners of the billionaires-only golf and ski resort “Yellowstone Club” in Montana. It will be the largest and grandest property on the resort, but is still small in comparison to some of those on this list, with only 10 bedrooms. To catch up the property has impressive features such as every inch of floor being heated, a heated driveway and fireplaces in all bathrooms. (3-2 to America).

8. “The Manor”, Los Angeles – $150 million

The home of Aaron Spelling, dubbed “The Manor” by wife Cindy, has 123 rooms for his family to choose from, an indoor skating rink, multiple pools, three kitchens, sports courts, private orchard, and a bowling alley. The home, which he had built from scratch in 1991 also has a room used exclusively for wrapping presents and an entire floor dedicated to closet space.

9. Updown Court, Windlesham, Surrey – $139million

 The description of this home is above, as it was the 3rd most expensive home in 2008. What is interesting however, is that in 2008 it was valued at $110million, meaning its value has grown substantially even during such difficult financial times.

10. Dracula’s Castle, Romania – $135million

This home needs no introduction. Built in the 14th century, the castle is now a national monument and museum thanks to the legend surrounding it, which also needs no introduction. It has 57 rooms in total, including 17 bedrooms filled with antiques and historical artefacts. It wouldn’t do for the publicly shy Ira Rennert mentioned above, but for the quirkier billionaire, the 450 million tourists that visit every year may be worth it for living in Dracula’s castle.

And there you have it folks, now that is what I would call “Prime Real Estate.”

I believe defining oneself is difficult. Am I the way I am because of my genes? How about my personality and where did that come from? What about parents, family life and culture? Could society be a factor? Education? Do we ever stop becoming who we are?

Trying to define one’s self can bring about many interesting memories.

To this day, I actually remember playing at daycare with my brother and the other children. I credit my babysitter with giving me courage. I remember playing with my younger brother and I thank him for teaching me love. I have been a fairly independent person and I thank my father for that trait. And, my mother, I thank her for many things, but her greatest influence was purpose. She would refer to the 211 degree theory. 211 degrees is hot water – adding one more degree to that water can power a locomotive! Be your best, have a purpose.

Along with my Cousin Mike and his wife, Randi, I recently attended this year’s super bowl in Texas and made some great memories while rooting on our team, the Green Bay Packers. As I reflect on the time I have spent with Mike over the years, I realize that he has been such a great mentor to me, and the time I have spent with him has helped develop the best parts of the man I am today. Mike is an entrepreneur with a strong sense of leadership. Every time we converse, I learn something – he helps me grow by sharing his ideas and experience. Both Mike and Randi have inspired me to one day have a family as wonderful as theirs. I thank Mike and Randi for the super bowl memories, but most importantly, I thank them for helping shape my character.

Today, I want to thank all of you who made me …….ME. All of you have played a huge role in what makes me ME.

Take a few minutes this week to remember fond memories of people and experiences that have shaped you into the person you are today. Take time to thank those who are, or have been, a part of your life. Call that special high school teacher or that coach that positively influenced your life. What about your former neighbor from long ago, or your uncle who you haven’t talked to for such a long time?

The more we reflect on the people and experiences that have helped shape who we are, the better we can define what makes us the best of who we are today.

Here is a video that my marketing department did on my cousin, it is pretty funny.

This is the remix video he made. Thanks Nate!

While being here we have had some time to discuss a lot of things…… like what is the Holiday Season really about? I remember when I was a kid, (which was not that long ago) the only thing I cared about was the number of presents I received and how big they were.  And, oh how I hoped it wasn’t clothes inside the box. There was nothing worse than opening up a big present to find clothes inside.

Some may think the Holiday Season is about getting the perfect present for the perfect person.  Others may think you need to spend a lot of money to show how important that person is to them.  It always amazes me what people are willing to do to buy those gifts. They sit in traffic jams, wait in long lines, and then may wait in line again to return gifts.   

It all adds up to a lot of time spent, not to mention the increased credit card balances.  I don’t believe this was the original intention of this season.

My idea of the perfect gift to receive from my family and friends would be spending time with them.  The older I get, the more I appreciate the importance of spending quality time with my friends and family.  And, if miles separate us, why not send a hand-written card, a letter, or even a phone call?

During this holiday season, I wish you all the best and especially time with your friends and family.

It’s a Good Life!

I’m taking a needed break with my workers this week but I just wanted to take a second to pose a question:

Are you operating at your full potential?

If not, then what you are waiting for? Challenges only serve to make us stronger and help us groove some new gears – like so many of us have done through these difficult months. And even if they get a little rusty, we must continue to engage them and keep our skills sharp. If you have some uptapped potential then it’s time to get after it. Now would be a good time to be running on all cylinders, don’t you think?

Get ready for the Holidays and make every effort count!!!

Tyler Smith % Team make TOP 50 IN THE NATION

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Jason Harnum of Roseville, shown above with his cat Charley, started a pet ID business after he lost his job as a mortgage broker. His company, Pet ID for Me, lets pet owners create ID tags online. The tags look like driver’s licenses, top, and owners can add their pet’s name, breed, color, contact information and photo.

Editor’s note: This one in an occasional series of stories about how Sacramento area workers are reinventing their careers during a period of high unemployment.

Maybe you’ve been laid off, accepted a buyout or taken early retirement and now are thinking about your next step.

Whether it’s a job-training program, a return to college or a venture into a small business or franchise, today’s rugged economy has led many to reconsider their career path.

At the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, more than 50,000 people visit its 12 Sacramento Works career centers each year seeking résumé assistance and career counseling, said Robin Purdy, SETA’s deputy director of work force development.

Nearly 15,000 job seekers sought the centers’ help in the past three months alone – a 9 percent increase from the same three-month period last year, Purdy said. Many are looking for ways to retrain.

“We are seeing more and more people interested in improving their skills and looking for occupational skills training” in burgeoning fields such as health care and careers tied to green technologies, Purdy said.

Experienced workers are also retooling, re-entering the campus and the workplace. The numbers of students 59 and older enrolled at California State University has steadily grown over the past five years.

In fall 2004 semester, 1,677 students 59 and older were enrolled at CSU campuses. By fall 2008, the number had climbed to 2,117 – 182 of those at Sacramento State – with the majority in graduate studies.

For some seniors, the situation is more dire. They’ve absorbed a late-career layoff or buyout or have watched their 401(k) retirement funds disappear. They’ve forestalled retirement or have been forced to return to the job market.

“We’re seeing a lot of skilled people coming back to the work force,” said Bob Rice, a project director for AARP Foundation’s WorkSearch program in Sacramento, which helps mature workers re-enter the workplace. Officials estimate registration in the program is up 40 percent from the same time last year.

“Frustration is showing up with a lot of the people we work with,” Rice said. “They’re running out of money, they’re losing their house. There’s a lot of desperate people out there.”

At Los Rios Community College District, enrollment this fall at the four-campus district has swelled by 5,000 students from fall 2008, and classrooms are stretched to the limit.

Though officials say the reasons for the spike vary widely, among the incoming students are job seekers and employees squeezing into classes to boost their skills or jump-start their chances on the open market.

“We do have job seekers returning to our colleges. They’re coming to us because their out of work or they’re afraid of losing their jobs,” said Susie Williams, a district associate vice chancellor.

Some 70 El Dorado County residents signed on in June to a program for job seekers organized by Green Valley Community Church in Placerville. After the eight-week program ended recently, five came out of the program with jobs, said volunteer instructor Michael Dugan.

“We wish the numbers were higher,” he said, but in today’s economy, “we’re delighted that anyone’s getting jobs.”

Another 100 job seekers are signed up for the current eight-week module.

In a Sacramento-area market where the jobless rate sits at 12 percent, more people are looking for ways to stay afloat or chart their own destiny.

Now is the time, AARP’s Rice said.

“When you’re laid off and that is a gap in your work life, it gives you a chance to figure out what you want to do.”