• Gilded Age tycoons built ornate mansions on New York's Fifth Avenue and in Newport, Rhode Island. • Some of today's wealthiest people have opted for more discreet or modest homes. • Today's billionaires live in diverse locations across the US, like the Bay Area, Miami, and Seattle.

A century ago, the wealthiest people in America often lived in ornate residences reminiscent of European royal palaces.

Today, some of the richest citizens are more discreet about their wealth, opting for low-key mountain homes, secure bunkers, or even prefabricated houses. Others, meanwhile, have spent big on tropical getaways and luxurious beachfront estates.

While lavish mansions are still built by wealthy Americans, today's real estate trends and status symbols differ from those of 120 years ago.

S

See Full Page