Sultan of Brunei eyes Berlusconi's luxurious Sardinia estate

The Sultan of Brunei wants to buy the famous residence of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who died a year ago in Sardinia. Its value is estimated at around €500 million (approximately CAD 717 million). Among the attractions of the Villa Certosa estate is an artificial volcano, which the politician and media mogul showcased to his guests.

According to Italian media, the property in Porto Rotondo on the Emerald Coast, with 126 rooms and a park covering approximately 121 hectares, has attracted the interest of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, who has been ruling the absolute monarchy for over half a century.

The 77-year-old ruler has already visited Berlusconi's luxurious residence, where the former Prime Minister has invited many world leaders in the past.

According to the press, the Sultan visited during the 10-day celebrations in January for his 32-year-old son's wedding. The ceremony was organized aboard a ship cruising the Mediterranean Sea, including the Sardinia region, and it was then that the ruler's plane landed in Olbia on the island.

The estate's price might be staggering, but it is not excessive for the Sultan, who, among other things, has 452 Ferraris and 500 Rolls-Royces, as well as dozens of unique car models.

His car park alone is estimated at €5 billion (approximately CAD $7.2 billion).

The property was put up for sale after Berlusconi's death in June last year. Earlier, his family sold his villa on the island of Lampedusa.