A Basement Bargain

The former Saudi Ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar, is selling his mansion In Aspen, Colorado for a bargain, $135 million. This is just another illustration of how the Saudi royal family lives a life of excess at the expense of the nation's people.
The following story off CNN.com gives all the details of the offer.

Saudi prince's Aspen getaway has $135 million price tag Wednesday, July 12, 2006; Posted: 8:09 a.m. EDT (12:09 GMT)

ASPEN, Colorado (AP) -- The getaway of Saudi Prince Bandar is up for sale for an asking price of $135 million, which could set a U.S. sales record, according to published reports.

Real estate agent Joshua Saslove said in a statement to The Aspen Times and the Aspen Daily News that Bandar's 15-bedroom, 16-bathroom 56,000-square-foot mansion -- complete with a racquetball court, indoor pool, and outdoor water features -- is up for sale because the prince is too busy to enjoy his mountain palace.

The offering includes several small homes on the 95-acre property.

Saslove said Bandar has been busy chairing his country's security council and spending too much time in Washington.

Bandar served as the Saudi ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He bought the property above Aspen in 1989 and built the main residence in 1991.

Pitkin County Assessor's Office valued the main residence at $55.95 million, an estimate deputy assessor Larry Fite said is conservative.

"All of our values are based on comparable sales. Well, what do you compare this to?" he said.

Donald Trump's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, up for sale for $125 million, was expected to set the record, according to Forbes' Most Expensive Homes 2006. Trump's refurbished Maison de L'Amitie includes a ballroom, 100-foot-long swimming pool and 475 feet of oceanfront.