Qatar's former PM acquires Berlusconi's Villa Certosa estate for €350 million in record Mediterranean property sale
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani has purchased the late Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's sprawling Sardinian estate, featuring 126 rooms, seven pools, and a remote-controlled volcano, in a transaction generating €31 million in tax revenue for Italy.
Mariam Al Mansoori
A property with political pedigree
Villa Certosa's history reads like a who's who of international politics. Berlusconi, who died in 2023, regularly hosted world leaders at the estate, including former US President George W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Spanish Prime Ministers José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and José María Aznar. The property's role as a diplomatic venue elevated it beyond typical luxury real estate into a site of genuine geopolitical significance.
The buyer brings comparable credentials. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani served as Qatar's prime minister from 2007 to 2013 and foreign minister from 1992 to 2013. With an estimated net worth of $5.2 billion according to Forbes, he acquired the property through Constellation Hotels Holding, a company associated with his luxury real estate investments.
Decades of expansion create a private kingdom
The estate's transformation began in the 1980s when Berlusconi purchased what was then known as Villa Monastero from Flavio Carboni, owner of La Voce Sarda television network. Over subsequent decades, Berlusconi methodically acquired neighboring parcels, expanding the property until it covered 580,477 square meters—an area larger than Vatican City.
The main villa alone spans approximately 2,261 square meters across multiple levels, featuring 14 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. White Sardinian granite runs throughout the residence, which includes a grand central courtyard, hand-painted ceramic details, and terraces overlooking the Gulf of Marinella. Across the entire 168-acre estate, there are 126 rooms in total, distributed among the main residence, guest villas, and various facilities.
Amenities that defy convention
Villa Certosa's features venture beyond standard luxury into the realm of the theatrical. The estate includes seven swimming pools, a private lake, an amphitheater, sporting facilities, greenhouses, and approximately 1,200 palm trees. An extensive cactus collection adds botanical diversity to the meticulously landscaped grounds.
Perhaps most remarkably, the property features an artificial volcano that can be activated by remote control, creating eruptions on command. Neptune's Grotto, an artificial cave with swimming areas and sea access, provides another dramatic amenity. The estate also contains a private amusement park, soccer field, and underground bunker, creating a self-contained world where guests can spend days without leaving the grounds.
A sale that attracted global attention
After Berlusconi's death, his heirs initially listed Villa Certosa with an asking price of €500 million. The eventual sale price of €350 million in June 2026 represented a 30 percent reduction, though it remains one of the highest prices ever paid for a private Mediterranean residence. The transaction generated approximately €31 million in immediate tax revenue for the Italian state through real estate transfer taxes.
The sales process drew interest from multiple countries. Potential buyers from Spain, Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia reportedly expressed interest as the Berlusconi family worked to streamline their extensive real estate holdings. The property's location in the Costa Smeralda region, where prime residential prices reached nearly €12,500 per square meter in 2023 and Porto Cervo properties can command €28,000 to €42,000 per square meter, underscored its position in one of Europe's most exclusive real estate markets.
An uncertain future for an extraordinary estate
What Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim plans for Villa Certosa remains to be determined. The property's scale and facilities could support use as a private family retreat, a diplomatic venue, or potentially transformation into an ultra-luxury hospitality destination. With its combination of extensive guest accommodations, entertainment facilities, and complete privacy, the estate offers numerous possibilities.
For now, Villa Certosa stands as a testament to the intersection of wealth, power, and architectural ambition. From its origins as a television executive's villa to its role as a prime ministerial retreat and diplomatic venue, the property has evolved through multiple chapters. Under its new ownership, one of Italy's most extraordinary private estates enters its next phase, carrying with it decades of history and a collection of amenities that few properties anywhere can match.
