The Most Expensive Disney Princess Castle Is Based on the Taj Mahal
Disney princesses are known for their life lessons and fun songs — not to mention the stunning backdrops that surround them, along with a fun sidekick or two. Oh, and don’t forget the handsome prince. There is romance, intrigue, and a feel-good story behind it all. But did you ever wonder which princess lived in the most expensive castle? Well, a 1992 classic in the heart of the Disney renaissance holds the most opulent palace.
Princess Jasmine’s palace is the most expensive royal Disney castle by a lot
Aladdin is great for so many reasons. There’s the fact that it has excellent songs, including “A Whole New World” and “One Jump Ahead.” The interesting characters Aladdin and Jasmine play off of each other so well, even if he did lie to her about his identity for a bit. Not to mention there’s the Genie’s scene-stealing demeanor. Even though Jasmine was forced to stay inside her palace walls, we now know that she was sitting in the most expensive Disney princess castle by far.
According to the online broker site Mojo Mortgages, Princess Jasmine’s palace is worth about $976 million. That’s not only the most expensive palace, but it’s the most expensive by a landslide. The No. 2 spot goes to the Beast’s castle in Beauty and the Beast, which comes in at $36 million.
What does this nearly billion-dollar palace include? Well, other than Jasmine’s tiger, Rajah, there are about “12 towers, a throne room, walled gardens, a lair, and dungeons.” The domes of the towers are gold, and the spacious inside is lush with colorful furniture and jewels galore.
Princess Jasmine’s palace was based on the Taj Mahal and had a cameo in ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Where is this massive number coming from? Mojo Mortgages reports that it took that number from looking at current similar properties in India. Although Aladdin isn’t set in that country, the Sultan’s palace was “loosely” based on the Taj Mahal. This also helped guess how much a palace such as Jasmine’s would cost.
The movie is set in the fictional city of Agrabah, but it was originally going to take place in Baghdad, according to Refinery29. It’s set somewhere in the Arabian Peninsula most likely. But the reason the Taj Mahal inspired the Sultan’s palace is thanks to Art Director Bill Perkins. According to Fanpop.com, he looked to that famous mausoleum because it was in the city of Agra, which has a similar name to Agrabah.
Prince Eric’s castle in ‘The Little Mermaid’ is the least expensive
Jasmine’s castle is far more expensive than even No. 2 on the list. And after the Beast’s castle, there’s Cinderella’s castle, which could cost around $18.3 million. While the Beast’s castle has 90 acres of land surrounding it and 60 rooms, Cinderella’s castle isn’t as remote. It has around 27 towers, a moat, and a wedding chapel.
Next up is Arendelle’s castle, which famously houses Queen Anna and was home to Elsa. It would cost about $14.6 million. It’s a bit more separated from the town thanks to its bridge, but it’s still easily accessible. It has a fantastic view of the fiord, which is great now the Elsa can come and go as she wants since she doesn’t live there anymore.
Even Snow White’s dwarfs live in a nice, not-so-cheap cabin, despite its looks. Mojo Mortgages guessed it would cost around $335,000. Even though it was a bit dirty, there’s probably a lot of handmade woodwork that elevates the cost, along with how much that property would be today.
So if you ever have to choose which Disney princess you’d have a sleepover with, go with Jasmine. Her palace is definitely one of the best.
