He has many homes, but Putin's official residence since 2000 is Novo-Ogaryovo in Moscow, where the Russian leader lives and hosts visitors. He even remained in the large pastel yellow mansion during his four-year break from the presidency between 2008 and 2012.

It's this (pictured) sprawling pile on the Black Sea coast, however, that has caused the most controversy as reported by British newspaper The Guardian. Known colloquially as Putin’s Palace, opposition leader Alexei Navalny claimed that the Italianate mega-mansion belongs to the Russian president in a video that went viral on YouTube in 2021.

He alleged the ultra-lavish property cost £1 billion ($1.3bn) to build and that taxpayer money was used to fund its construction.

Loved this? Follow us on Facebook for more expensive homes of the rich and famous

Which world leader has the most expensive official residence?