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From Olympic stadiums to abandoned airports: billion-dollar wastes of money

White elephant projects that cost a fortune
Russky Bridge, Vladivostok, Russia: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Russky Bridge, Vladivostok, Russia: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Russky Bridge, Vladivostok, Russia, cost: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Mayawati parks and statues, Uttar Pradesh, India: $1.8 billion (£1.4bn)
Mayawati parks and statues, Uttar Pradesh, India: $1.8 billion (£1.4bn)
Mayawati parks and statues, Uttar Pradesh, India, cost: $1.8 billion (£1.4bn)
Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea: $2.8 billion (£2.2bn)
Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea: $2.8 billion (£2.2bn)
Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea: $2.8 billion (£2.2bn)
Ciudad Real Central Airport, Ciudad Real, Spain: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Ciudad Real Central Airport, Ciudad Real, Spain: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Ciudad Real Central Airport, Ciudad Real, Spain: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
Mirabel International Airport, Montreal, Canada: $1.9 billion (£1.5bn)
Mirabel International Airport, Montreal, Canada: $1.9 billion (£1.5bn)
Mirabel International Airport, Montreal, Canada: $1.9 billion (£1.5bn)
World Cup stadiums, Brazil: $4.8 billion (£3.8bn)
World Cup stadiums, Brazil: $4.8 billion (£3.8bn)
World Cup stadiums, Brazil: $4.8 billion (£3.8bn)
Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania: $4.6 billion (£3.7bn)
Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania: $4.6 billion (£3.7bn)
Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania: $4.6 billion (£3.7bn)
Naypyidaw, Myanmar: $5.5 billion (£4.4bn)
Naypyidaw, Myanmar: $5.5 billion (£4.4bn)
Naypyidaw, Myanmar: $5.5 billion (£4.4bn)
Maginot Line, France: $9 billion (£7bn)
Maginot Line, France: $9 billion (£7bn)
Maginot Line, France: $9 billion (£7bn)
UK navy aircraft carriers: $9.8 billion (£7.6bn)
UK navy aircraft carriers: $9.8 billion (£7.6bn)UK navy aircraft carriers: $9.8 billion (£7.6bn)
UK navy aircraft carriers: $9.8 billion (£7.6bn)
Olympic facilities, Athens, Greece: $13.75 billion (£10.9bn)
Olympic facilities, Athens, Greece: $13.75 billion (£10.9bn)
Olympic facilities, Athens, Greece: $13.75 billion (£10.9bn)
Olympic facilities, Beijing, China: $55 billion (£44bn)
Olympic facilities, Beijing, China: $55 billion (£44bn)
Olympic facilities, Beijing, China: $55 billion (£44bn)
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Marc Bruxelle/Alamy Stock Photo

White elephant projects that cost a fortune

Whether massively underused, debt-generating or simply abandoned, these huge projects carried a hefty price tag yet didn’t end up being worth it.

From disused Olympic stadiums to an entire city that's become a ghost town, read on to discover 13 wildly expensive projects that became white elephants.

All dollar amounts in US dollars.

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lovemoney staff

07 March 2025

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