Skyscrapers often represent some of the world’s largest and most advanced buildings.
Constructing such structures of course comes at a financial cost.
Since the first towers rose at the end of the 19th century, skyscrapers have got progressively
taller, larger, more technologically advanced and of course, more expensive.
To date, the 21st century has played witness to some of the most expensive skyscrapers
ever conceived, with many towers now costing far in excess of USD $1BN.
Here we countdown the five most expensive skyscrapers ever built.
We’re kicking-off with the first of three buildings in the United States to make our list,
but perhaps surprisingly, with the only one to come from New York.
Completed in 2014, the 104-storey tower rises to a symbolic height of 1,776 feet;
nodding to the year of American Independence and making the tower the tallest building
in the United States.
One World Trade Center is the only structure on our list not to contain a hotel, with hotels
and casinos featuring in every one of the world’s top 4 most expensive skyscrapers.
Next up, is our second entry from the United States and the first of several casinos to make our list.
“The Cosmopolitan” is one of the many luxury casino hotel resorts fighting for attention
on the famous Las Vegas strip.
Built in 2010 at a cost of USD $3.9 BN, the structure consists
of two towers, both of which are 603 feet tall.
The impressive hotel has an incredible 3,027 rooms, sitting above a 110,000 square foot
casino, with 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a giant spa and fitness
facility, a 3,200-seat theatre, and a 150,000 square foot meeting and convention centre.
The money has been arguably well spent, with The Cosmopolitan being named "Best Hotel in
the World” in 2013.
Despite The Cosmopolitan’s near $4BN price-tag, it is not even the most expensive hotel in
Las Vegas.
This honour goes to the Wynn Resort; completing the trio of American
buildings on our list.
When it completed in 2005, and at a cost of USD $4.1BN,
the 614 foot tower was the most expensive building in the world.
The first non-American skyscraper on our list is “Marina Bay Sands” in Singapore, which
became the most expensive skyscraper in world when it was completed in 2010.
At a staggering cost of USD $5.7 BN, the three interconnected towers contain a hotel and
casino - making this the third casino complex on our countdown.
The 2,500-room hotel is topped by a 1,120 foot long park,
with an impressive pool set on top of the world's largest public cantilevered
platform, which overhangs the north tower by a breath-taking 220 foot (67 metres).
At a cost of USD $15 BN, almost three times as much as any other skyscraper, the Abraj Al Bait Towers
in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is by far the most expensive skyscraper ever built.
Completed in 2012, the building is part of a wider plan to modernise the city to better cater
for its pilgrims.
The government-owned supertall complex consists of seven skyscraper
hotels with the central tower containing a five-star hotel.
This central tower is also the third tallest building in the world and boasts the world's
largest clock face.
With its incredible cost – far outstripping any skyscraper that has come before it – Abraj
Al-Bait looks set to remain the most expensive skyscraper in the world for many years to come.
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