Inside Mukesh Ambani’s Rs 15,000 Crore Antilia And The Power Bill That Shocked India

In the heart of south Mumbai rises a building that refuses to be ignored. Towering over Altamount Road, Antilia is not just a home but a statement of ambition, belief and scale. Built by Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, this 27 storey private residence has often been discussed for its architecture, price tag and unmatched luxury. Yet, one detail from 2010 continues to fascinate even years later. The first electricity bill of Antilia. When the Ambani family moved in during February 2010, few imagined that a single month of electricity usage would spark national conversation. The numbers were so staggering that they became part of urban legend, discussed in drawing rooms and boardrooms alike. More than a bill, it was a window into the sheer scale of life

inside what is widely regarded as the second most expensive residential property in the world.

How Antilia Came To Life In Mumbai

Antilia stands on Altamount Road in Cumballa Hill, often called Billionaires Row. According to Architectural Digest India, construction began in 2005 and concluded in 2010. The building rises 27 floors high, spread across roughly 400,000 square feet, and reportedly took close to four years to complete.

The estimated cost at the time of construction was around USD 1 billion, according to multiple reports. Today, Antilia is valued at approximately Rs 15000 crore, according to GQ. The structure is designed to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 8 on the Richter scale, a necessity rather than an indulgence in a city like Mumbai.

The Story Behind The Name Antilia

The Ambani residence draws its name from a mythical island believed to exist in the Atlantic Ocean. Antilia has long appeared in ancient maps and legends, symbolising something rare, powerful and almost unreachable. The choice of name mirrors the vision behind the home. The Guinness Book of World Records has previously referred to Antilia as the most expensive private residence globally, a title that continues to generate debate and awe in equal measure.

The First Power Bill That Shocked The Nation

In 2010, shortly after the family shifted into Antilia, reports emerged of its first electricity bill. Within one month, the residence reportedly consumed 637240 units of electricity. The bill amounted to Rs 7069488, according to The Financial Express. To put this into perspective, this level of consumption was roughly equivalent to the monthly electricity usage of nearly 7000 average Mumbai households. For many, this single statistic captured the unimaginable scale of Antilia better than any photograph ever could.

The reason behind the astronomical bill was no mystery. Centralised air conditioning, multiple high-speed elevators, extensive lighting, water heating systems, and large common spaces running continuously contributed to the consumption. Add to that spas, swimming pools, healthcare facilities and round-the-clock staff operations, and the numbers begin to make sense.

Inside Antilia: A City Within A Home

Antilia is designed as a vertical estate rather than a conventional house. Each floor features a unique layout and theme. The building includes three helipads, a multi-storey car park accommodating around 168 vehicles, a private temple, a health centre, a spa, terrace gardens, a snow room, multiple swimming pools and nine high speed elevators. Interestingly, despite having 27 floors, the Ambani family occupies only the upper levels. Mukesh and Nita Ambani reportedly live on the 26th floor along with their children Akash Ambani, Anant Ambani, and Shloka Mehta, and their grandchildren Prithvi and Veda. According to reports, Nita Ambani preferred the upper floors to ensure ample natural light and ventilation across living spaces.

Life Before Antilia At Sea Wind

Before moving into Antilia, the Ambani family lived at Sea Wind, a residential building in Cuffe Parade. Mukesh Ambani shared this home with his brother Anil Ambani and their mother, Kokilaben Ambani. Sea Wind, though luxurious by conventional standards, was modest when compared to Antilia. Constructed under the guidance of Dhirubhai Ambani, Sea Wind lacked features like high-speed elevators or large-scale parking. The move from Sea Wind to Antilia symbolised not just a change of address but the evolution of India’s most influential business family.

Why Antilia Continues To Fascinate

More than a decade later, Antilia remains a subject of global curiosity. Its first electricity bill is still quoted as an example of unmatched residential scale. According to GQ, even routine operational costs of Antilia surpass what top corporate executives earn annually. Yet, for the Ambanis, Antilia represents legacy, continuity and vision. It reflects the journey from Dhirubhai Ambani’s entrepreneurial dream to a global business empire led by Mukesh Ambani through Reliance Industries. In many ways, Antilia is less about extravagance and more about ambition made concrete. And that first power bill remains a striking reminder that some homes are built not just to be lived in, but to be remembered.