The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah lives outside the capital Badar Seri Begawan in a sprawling palace by the Brunei River. At 2,152,782 square feet, the Istana Nurul Iman or Palace of Light and Faith is the largest residential palace in the world. There are 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, 5 swimming pools, and a mosque that fits 1,500 people. The extravagant palace also has an air conditioned stable for the Sultan’s 200 horses, a 110-car garage, a collection of 165 Rolls-Royces, 564 chandeliers and 18 elevators. The cost of building the palace in 1984 was around $1.4 billion USD. Open to the public during Hari Raya Aidilfitri at the end of Ramadan, the palace receives 110,000 visitors in these three days with food and packets of money for children.
