When MTV first went on air in 1981, music videos became an important part of promoting an artist. Nowadays, hardcore fans will even buy DVDs featuring all of their favorite artists’ videos. The most memorable music videos, of course, are usually the most expensive. These are the most expensive music videos in the world.
5. Puff Daddy (featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes) – “Victory”
$2.7 million
Taking place in the year 3002 CE, this video features Puff Daddy as Contestant #5. Dennis Hopper and Danny DeVito both make cameos—as a dictatorial president and a live action reporter, respectively—as Contestant #5 is chased through dark streets and rooftops by the armed forces of Chase TV.
4. Madonna – “Bedtime Story”
$5 million
An experimental video set to an equally experimental song, the “Bedtime Story” video consists of surreal, dreamlike images. Throughout the video, Madonna floats, gives birth to doves and ends up having her eyes and mouth transposed.
3. Madonna – “Die Another Day”
$6 million
Another song by the pop diva, this one was released alongside the James Bond film of the same name. The video shows Madonna being tortured in a number of ways while Good Madonna and Bad Madonna duel with a variety of weapons—from fencing foils to harpoon guns—in her subconscious. After its release, “Die Another Day” became the most successful 007 theme since the 80s.
2. Michael Jackson (featuring Janet Jackson) – “Scream”
$7 million
One of Michael Jackson’s most successful videos, “Scream” is a black and white science fiction/pop masterpiece that has both Jacksons dancing along the walls and ceilings of a spaceship while anime and pop art are featured on various displays throughout. The video received widespread approval, including several MTV Video Music Awards and even a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.
1. 30 Seconds to Mars – “From Yesterday”
$13 million?
The first American music video to be shot entirely in the People’s Republic of China, this expensive music video has 30 Seconds to Mars transported to ancient China where they play for a child emperor. The video features more than 300 extras and was directed by Bartholomew Cubbins, an alias for actor and Mars frontman Jared Leto. However, the $13 million figure is disputed—is this the world’s most expensive music video?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
why mariah’s video is one of the most expensive when it seems so simple?
Michael Jackson is the greatest Entertainer ever and seeing him get the most expensive video in the world and all those numerous awards is not a surprise. Infact in the world of Music there is Rock, Pop, Hip-pop, Soul and there is Michael Jackson, Michael jackson is a music genre on his own.
Concerning mariah careh’s video, it is so god damn simple I dont see why it is so expensive, even an amateur filmmaker can make that video. I guess the director of the video cheated her.
Mariah’s was so expensive b/c of all the demands she was making, the hairstyling bill alone was $60,000
yes this is to the publisher/writer of this blog. will you please change “jacko” and “the Elephant Man’s bones, and an entire plastic surgery team in his mansion”.
those remarks are inappropriate, false and show signs of immaturity beyond whats needed.
thank you
-joel.
The money spent on ‘Scream’ was well worth it. The vision is completely futuristic, the video and the song hasn’t aged; it;s also much better produced than videos today. I watched it again 13 years after it was made, and I think it will still be ‘modern’ enough after 10-20 more years.
scream is the most expesive video
The video “From Yesterday (The Wish)” by Thirty Seconds To Mars was not $13 million dollar. They shoot it there ’cause the resources in there r a lot more cheep.
But they think is great that people think that they spend a lot of money in the video!!!
Provehito In Altum
It was 13 Million.
30 Seconds to Mars are the greatest! From Yesterday is 11 minutes long video, and I believe that is the best music video ever!
MJ’s scream short film is the most expensive ever. and it’s well worth it, it never gets old! and it’s futuristic. sometimes, it’s pretty obvious the press and some racists and self righteous ingorants dont want MJ to be no:1 in anything because of the controversies CREATED by the press and few lowlifes in his life. The first one with a question mark? shouldnt even be put up there since it’s an unconfirmed figure.
LOL! MJ didn't top the list therefore people are out to get him. That's right. Nice one. hahaha
well. MJ’s is the most expensive because he had an IMAGE! but now.. people are saying that its Lady Gaga’s Telephone is the most expensive. but it was such a bad video clip…..
Wat about R.Kelly’s storm is over clip it was expensive too.
Contrary to all of these rumors, Jared Leto himself confirmed, that the video wasn't as expensive as rumored. In fact, he said "it was quite inexpensive".
Does 30 Seconds From Mars even sell enough albums to justify a $13 million video?! Absolutely not! Out of the top 10 most expensive videos only 1 is from 00s & thats because artists do not typically sell enough albums anymore to justify a $1 million video let alone a $13 million. Lets get real people…
wheres Peter Gabriel and Def Leppard in comparison?