The Most Expensive Music Videos Ever Made

How Much Does A Music Video Cost?

Have you ever asked yourself how much it costs to produce a music video? Well, the answer might surprise you. We’ve compiled a list of the most expensive music videos ever made.

40. The Wild Boys

Coming in at roughly $1,000,000 the music video for Duran Duran’s “The Wild Boys” was the most expensive music video ever recorded at the time of its release. This is fairly shocking considering it is the cheapest music video on our list.

Duran Duran, Duran Duran - The Wild Boys (Official Music Video)

39. Hurt

In 2018, American singer, songwriter, and producer Oliver Tree spent $1,024,000 on the music video for his song “Hurt”. This is a particularly impressive feat since he directed the film himself, cutting at least one cost.

Oliver Tree, Oliver Tree - Hurt [Official Music Video]

38. Party All Night

Our next most expensive music video comes out of India. “Party All Night” was a song by Indian performers Yo Yo Honey Singh and Meet Bros. It was released in 2013 and cost $1,025,000.

T-Series, Party All Night Feat. Honey Singh (Full Video) Boss | Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha

37. Jewel

This is another international contribution. Ayumi Hamasaki is considered “the empress of pop” in Asia. She paid empress-level prices on her video for “Jewel”. It cost $1,100,000.

ayu, Ayumi Hamasaki / JEWEL

36. I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)

Grace Jones is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, model and actress. In 1986, she spent a whopping $1,200,000 on her music video for “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect for You)”.

József Csáth, Grace Jones - I'm Not Perfect But I'm Perfect For You

35. Stronger

If you were listening to music in 2007, then you likely heard Kanye West’s chart-topper, “Stronger”. You may have even seen his music video. I hope you did, as it also cost $1,200,000 to make.

Kanye West, Kanye West - Stronger

34. Work B**tch

We have one last entry tied in at $1,200,000. In 2013, Britney Spears shelled out that amount for the music video of her song “Work B**tch”. I guess work is needed to make that fee back.

s_bukley, Shutterstock

33. Ready Or Not

In 1996, Fugees released their song “Ready or Not”. It cost them an astounding $1,300,000 to make. I’m not sure I’m ready for that number.

Fugees, Fugees - Ready or Not (Official Video)

32. Here Comes The Hammer

MC Hammer was undeniably popular in the 90s. His techno music may not have been for everyone. However, that didn’t stop him from spending $1,300,000 on the video for “Here Comes the Hammer”.

kennylavish, MC Hammer - Here Comes The Hammer (Video)

31. Give Me All Your Luvin’

Madonna was the queen of pop for decades. “Extra” is a word often associated with her. So, it should be no surprise her video for “Give Me All Your Luvin” cost $1,500,000.

Madonna, Madonna feat. M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj - Give Me All Your Luvin' (Official Video) [HD]

30. Girlfriend/Boyfriend

“Girlfriend/Boyfriend” was a team effort. It was performed by Blackstreet and Janet Jackson while featuring Eve and Ja Rule. It cost $1,500,000 to make. Maybe they needed that much to pay all the people performing.

Blackstreet, Blackstreet - Girlfriend/Boyfriend ft. Janet Jackson

29. November Rain

You don’t have to be into rock and roll to know who Guns N’ Roses are—they’re a household name. So, maybe they had the $1,500,000 it took to film the video for “November Rain” just lying around.

Guns N' Roses, Guns N' Roses - November Rain

28. Unpretty

TLC makes an appearance on this list with their iconic song “Unpretty”. In 1999, it cost $1,600,000 to produce. That’s something like $3,000,000 today.

TLC, TLC - Unpretty (Official HD Video)

27. Green

Our friend Ayumi Hamasaki is making another appearance on this list. Two years after her last record-breaking music video, she spent $1,600,000 to make the video for “Green”.

ayu, Ayumi Hamasaki / GREEN

26. Me Against The Music

Both Britney Spears and Madonna have appeared on our list already. So, this one really shouldn’t be a surprise since it costs even more money when they work together. “Me Against the Music” cost $1,750,000.

Britney Spears, Britney Spears - Me Against The Music (Official HD Video)

25. Fairyland

It is starting to seem like Ayumi Hamasaki likes to spend money on her videos. In 2005, before either of the songs we’ve already mentioned were written, she spent $2,000,000 on “Fairyland”. And there’s more.

ayu, Ayumi Hamasaki / fairyland

24. My Name’s Women

That very same year, she dropped another $2,000,000 on the video for a different song. This time it was “My Name’s Women”.

ayu, Ayumi Hamasaki / my name's WOMEN

23. Freeek!

George Michael made his first appearance on this list late in the game. In 2002, he spent $2,000,000 on the video for his song “Freeek!”.

Piros Paradicsom, George Michael - Freeek!

22. She’s A B*tch

The year is 1999, and Missy Elliott is topping the charts. She’s released her latest song, “She’s a B*tch” and it’s time to film that video. It only makes sense to drop $2,000,000 on it.

Missy Elliott - She's A B**ch [Official Music Video]

21. Miami

Will Smith has been an actor for so long, that it’s easy to forget that he once was present in the music scene as well. It cost $2,000,000 to film his video for “Miami”.

Will Smith, Will Smith - Miami

20. Honey

$2,000,000 seems to be a fairly popular price to spend on film. We’ve only got a few more on this list. One of them is Mariah Carey, who spent that amount on her video, “Honey”.

Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey - Honey (Official 4K Video)

19. Remember The Time

And our last big spender, at least when it comes to dropping a cool $2,000,000 is none other than Michael Jackson himself. That’s how much his video for “Remember the Time” cost.

Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson - Remember The Time (Official Video)

18. Larger Than Life

Any child of the 90s will tell you that the video for the Backstreet Boys’ “Larger Than Life” is iconic. It seems it is iconic with good reason. It cost $2,200,000 to make.

Backstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys - Larger Than Life (Millennium 20 Edition)

17. Bad

When you think of iconic music videos there are a few that come to mind. “Bad” by Michael Jackson is one of them. As it should be, it cost $2,200,000 and was directed by Martin Scorsese. In 1987, it was the most expensive music video to be produced ever.

RΔҒΔΣL, Michael Jackson - Bad | Restored Official Music Video - Remastered and Upscaled

16. It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

Celine Dion is a legend. Her songs are iconic. In 1996, she dropped $2,300,000 on the music video for her song “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”. I hope that was the money that was coming back to her.

Céline Dion, Céline Dion - It's All Coming Back to Me Now (Official Extended Remastered HD Video)

15. What’s It Gonna Be?!

“What’s It Gonna Be?!” was a Busta Rhymes song that featured Janet Jackson. Released in 1999, the video cost $2,400,000 to produce.

Busta Rhymes, Busta Rhymes ft. Janet Jackson - What's It Gonna Be?! (Official Video) [Explicit]

14. Doesn’t Really Matter

Perhaps Janet Jackson took her fee from Busta Rhymes and put it right into the video for “Doesn’t Really Matter”. Released only one year later in 2000, it cost $2,500,000.

Janet Jackson, Janet Jackson - Doesn't Really Matter

13. Heartbreaker

$2,500,000 seemed to be the going rate for a music video at the turn of the millennium. Mariah Carey also spent that much on her music video “Heartbreaker”, which featured Jay-Z.

Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z - Heartbreaker (Official HD Video)

12. 2 Legit 2 Quit

MC Hammer may have spent the same amount as Mariah and Janet when he made his video for “2 Legit 2 Quit”. However, having spent it in 1999, when you adjust the prices, it cost the equivalent of $5,771,439.

UPROXX, MC Hammer - 2 Legit 2 Quit (Official Video)

11. Victory

There are a lot of artists in the 90s who have faded into obscurity. I’ll let you decide if Puff Daddy is one of them. However, in 1998, he was feeling flush enough to spend $2,700,000 on his video for “Victory”.

Bad Boy Entertainment, Puff Daddy [feat. The Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes] - Victory (Official Music Video)

10. Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)

Limp Bizkit was the sort of band that parents of preteens didn’t want to spend their money on. However, they made enough to spend $3,000,000 on their video for “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)”.

limpbizkit, Limp Bizkit - Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)

9. Cartoon Heroes

Aqua is remembered primarily for their iconic song “Barbie Girl”. “Cartoon Heroes” did not have as much longevity. However, they spent $3,500,000 on its video in 2000.

Aqua, Aqua - Cartoon Heroes

8. Feelslikeimfallinginlove

Everyone knows who Coldplay is, they’ve made a huge name for themselves. This might be why, only last year, they felt comfortable spending $3,548,100 on their video for “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”.

Coldplay, Coldplay - feelslikeimfallinginlove (Official Video)

7. Make Me Like You

Gwen Stefani is known for being bold—her music is bold and so is her personality. It’s not a huge leap that she’d be bold with her money, too. She spent $4,000,000 on “Make Me Like You”.

Gwen Stefani, Gwen Stefani - Make Me Like You

6. You Rock My World

While Gwen Stefani spent the same amount of money as Michael Jackson did when he made the video for “You Rock My World”, Gwen spent that $400,000,000 in 2016, adjusting it to roughly $5,200,000. Michael spent it in 2001, inflating the price to $7,103,176.

Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson - You Rock My World (Official Video)

5. Black or White

That, however, is nothing compared to what Michael Jackson spent on the video for “Black or White”. Again, it cost $400,000,000 in 1991. With inflation, that’s an equivalent of $9,234,302. He wasn’t done yet either.

Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson - Black Or White (Official Video - Shortened Version)

4. Estranged

Guns N’ Roses makes another appearance on our list with their 1993 song, “Estranged”. They spent $5,000,000 on the video for the track. Which, when adjusted, costs an equivalent of $10,883,437.

Guns N' Roses, Guns N' Roses - Estranged

3. Bedtime Story & Express Yourself

Madonna spent $5,000,000 on her music video twice. Once in 1989, for “Express Yourself” and then again in 1995 for “Bedtime Story”. And she wasn’t even done yet.

Madonna, Madonna - Bedtime Story (Official Video) [HD]

2. Die Another Day

In 2002, Madonna sang the title song for the James Bond film of the same name. The music video for the song cost $6,100,000—though that’s nothing when compared to the most expensive music video of all time.

Madonna, Madonna - Die Another Day (Official Video)

1. Scream

The honor of the most expensive music video ever made goes to Michael Jackson for “Scream”. It cost $7,000,000 when it was produced in 1995. When adjusted for inflation, that’s an equivalent of $14,444,857.

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Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson - Scream (Official Video)

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