What Was The Most Expensive Music Video

Alright, grab your coffee and pull up a chair, because we need to talk about the most expensive music video ever made. You might think it’s some futuristic CGI fest or a video where the artist rides a literal dragon. Nope. The winner, by a landslide, is “Scream” by Michael Jackson and his sister Janet Jackson. And let me tell you, it cost more than your entire neighborhood’s annual taco budget.

Released in 1995, “Scream” reportedly cost $7 million to produce. That’s seven million bucks, adjusted for inflation, it’d be over twelve million today. To put that in perspective: you could buy a small island, or a fleet of gently used Ferraris, and still have enough left over for a lifetime supply of Snickers bars. Instead, the Jacksons spent it on a space-age, black-and-white music video that looks like a cross between a sci-fi movie and a really expensive IKEA commercial.

Why So Expensive? Blame the Budget (and the Spaceship)

The video is set inside what looks like a giant, futuristic spaceship—but it’s actually a custom-built set. And I mean custom-built. They didn’t just rent a warehouse and throw up some cardboard boxes. This was a full-blown soundstage with over a dozen different sets, each one more elaborate than the last. Think floating chairs, massive video screens, and a hallway that looks like a disco ball threw up inside an architect’s fever dream.

Filming took nearly two weeks, which is eternity in music-video land. Most videos are shot in a day or two, maybe three if you’re feeling fancy. But with Michael and Janet, you had two perfectionists who each wanted the lighting on their left eyebrow to be just right. The result? A video that cost more per second than the Space Shuttle launch (okay, I made that up, but it feels true).

What Did $7 Million Actually Buy?

The biggest line item was the special effects and set design. They used early computer-generated imagery, elaborate props, and a lot of practical effects—like breaking a guitar in slow motion. One of the most jaw-dropping scenes: Michael levitates a chair with his mind. That took a team of puppeteers and a lot of string, which is basically the 1995 version of CGI. The chair cost more than your car to operate.

Also, the pair wore custom outfits that would make a sci-fi prince jealous. Janet’s metallic jumpsuit alone probably cost a cool $50,000. And let’s not forget the guitar-smashing scene: Michael destroys a guitar worth about $3,000, then does it again. For art. I’ve broken a glass at a party and felt bad for a week.

The most expensive music videos ever made

But Was It Worth It?

Let’s be real: the song itself is great, a furious response to the media circus around Michael. But the video? It’s a visual spectacle that still looks stunning today. It won a Grammy for Best Music Video, and it holds the record for most expensive video for a reason. It’s like someone gave a kid $7 million and said, “Build the coolest spaceship you can imagine.” And they did.

However, here’s the funny part: “Scream” didn’t even break the charts as much as Michael’s earlier hits. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. So, for a cool $7 million, you get a top-five hit and the envy of every music video director in history. Not a bad deal, honestly—unless you’re the record label’s accountant.

The Runner-Ups (Because We Love a Good Splurge)

If “Scream” is the gold medalist, then “Die Another Day” by Madonna is the very expensive silver. It cost about $6 million (2002 money). It features Madonna getting tortured, then resurrected in a weird, Bond-themed nightmare. The set included a massive, rotating cube and a full-scale replica of a Bond villain’s lair. She also flew a helicopter—not a CGI one, a real helicopter—and then blew it up. Because why not?

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Then there’s “Pound Cake” by Drake and Jay-Z. That one cost around $1.2 million, which seems cheap until you realize it’s just a three-minute video of two rich guys in suits, holding a piece of pound cake. I’m not joking. They fly in a private jet and eat cake. That’s it. It’s the most expensive video where the budget went almost entirely to pastry and airport fees.

The Punchline: It’s Still Worth Watching

So, what’s the lesson here? The most expensive music video ever is a testament to what happens when you give a legendary artist a blank check and a spaceship. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top, and gloriously unnecessary. But you know what? Twenty-eight years later, we’re still talking about it. That’s a better investment than a lot of things I’ve bought—like that inflatable hot tub I saw on sale.

So next time you see a music video with a low budget and a guy in his garage, just remember: somewhere out there, Michael and Janet Jackson spent seven million dollars to float in a chair and break a guitar. And honestly? I’m not mad. I’m just glad it wasn’t my credit card.