10 Most Expensive Music Videos

Apologies for the lack of updates I have been overseas/extremely busy over the last week or so. 

When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, the first music video it played was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. In those days, all a music video needed was jiggly girls in bikinis, big hair, fast cars, and if you were lucky, jiggly girls with big hair driving fast cars. No huge costs, just a little something to complement the listening experience.

Then came along Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in 1983. "Thriller" wasn't a music video, it was a full-fledged crotch-grabbing experience. At 14 minutes long, "Thriller" suddenly opened the doors of creativity, proving that a music video could be more about the video and less about the music. Today, companies will spend millions of dollars to make a 3-minute video (most of it spent on computer animation and huge sets). 

Without further adieu I present a list of opulent indulgence: the 10 most expensive music videos of all time.

Scream: Michael Jackson’s Scream is rated as the top most expensive music videos. The cost spent by Michael Jackson for making this video is $7,000,000 +. Scream was first aired in June 1995.


Die Another Day: Madonna’s Die Another Day is the second most expensive music video. The production cost for this music video is $6,100,000+. Die Another Day was first aired on 22nd October 2002.

Victory: Puff Daddy’s Victory, a rap video is the third most expensive music video. The production cost for this video is $2,700,000+. The original airdate for this music video was 31st March 1998.

Heartbreaker: Mariah Carey’s Heartbreaker is the fourth most expensive music video. Heartbreaker directed by Brett Ratner was first aired on 16th August 1999. The production cost for this video is $2,500,000+.

What’s it gonna be: Busta Rhymes’s “What’s it gonna be” is a terrifically cool video with lots of special effects. The production cost involved for making this great music video is $2,400,000+. This music video was first aired on 12th March 1999. It is the fifth most expensive music video.

Larger Than Life: Backstreet Boys’ Larger than life is the sixth most expensive video. Joseph Kahn directed this music video and the production cost for this video is $2,100,000+. The space settings made for this music video was exclusive and the cost for this settings was exorbitant and it was first aired in September 1999.

Miami: Will Smith’s Miami ranked as the seventh most expensive music video as the production cost involved in making this video is around $2.000,000+. Wayne Isham directed this music video and it was first aired in December 1998.

She’s a Bitch: Missy Elliot’s She’s a Bitch is the eight most expensive music video. Hype Williams directed this music video, he gave special effects to this video and it was first aired in May 1999. The production cost for this video is $2,000,000+.

Unpretty: TLC’s Unpretty is ranked as the ninth most expensive video as the cost spent on making this video is around $1,600,000+. This music video was first aired in August 1999 and Paul Hunter directed this video.

November Rain: Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” is the last in the list of ten most expensive music videos. This music video was directed by Andy Morahan and was first aired in June 1992. The production cost for making this music video is $1,500,000+.