For sale: prince's palace, Aspen ZIP - $135 million

Saudi's mountaintop retreat is bigger than White House

By Troy Hooper, Special to the News
July 12, 2006

ASPEN - Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, is selling his palatial home in Starwood Ranch for $135 million in what is likely the most expensive single-family residence listed in the nation.

The 56,000-square-foot palace is bigger than the White House and includes 15 bedrooms, 16 to 26 bathrooms - reports vary - an indoor swimming pool, an elevator and dumbwaiters on a 95-acre estate with horse stables, a tennis court, trails, ponds and other water features all overlooking Aspen.

Last summer, Bandar left his ambassador post when he was named the secretary general of the National Security Council for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia - a senior position that demands that he spend more time in his homeland.

"He has decided to sell some of his properties because his time will be limited as to what he can spend here," said Joshua Saslove, a friend of Bandar's and listing broker for the main residence on what the prince dubbed Hala Ranch.