The Most Expensive Music Videos Of All Time

7. Guns N' Roses, "Estranged" (1993) — $4 million

"Estranged" is an emotional power ballad worthy of an equally dramatic music video.

Director Andy Morahan helped Axl Rose channel his recent separation into a storyline that chronicled the lead singer hiding from a SWAT team, an ocean suicide attempt, and eventual rescue by dolphins, interwoven with scenes of the band's live shows.

The $4 million budget included the use of a U.S. Coast Guard chopper and rescue squad, an oil tanker, and an Antonov An-124 Ruslan aircraft, not to mention all of the special effects.

The nearly 10-minute-long music video is the third in a video trilogy also featuring "Don't Cry" and "November Rain," the latter of which almost made this countdown with a $1 million price tag.

6. Michael Jackson, "Black or White" (1991) — $4 million

Any music video starting with a dancing and guitar-playing "Home Alone"-era Macaulay Culkin is bound to be a good one.

Add in Tyra Banks and the revolutionary visual effect called "morphing," and the result is another memorable Jackson video. The abundance of special effects — a black panther transforms into Jackson at one point — in this 11-minute video makes way for a rather pricey production. Try $300K per minute.

When the John Landis-directed "Black or White" premiered on television in 1991, it was seen by 500 million people, becoming the highest-rated Fox special up until that point.

5. Madonna, "Bedtime Story" (1995) — $5 million

The hypnotizing, trance-like feel of Madonna's 1995 "Bedtime Story" music video didn't come cheap. 

Director Mark Romanek incorporated Egyptian imagery, rotating sunflowers, and references to surrealist paintings — all seeking to illustrate the song's main line, "Let's get unconscious."

The video itself took six days to film, but weeks of post-production were required to perfect the digital effects.

The film short even received a premiere worthy of its elaborate scale. "Bedtime Story" was unveiled on the big screen at movie theaters in LA, Chicago, and New York.

4. Madonna, "Express Yourself" (1989) — $5 million

When it was released in 1989, the "Express Yourself" music video was the most expensive video ever at $5 million.

Modeled after the classic film "Metropolis," the David Fincher-directed video features a masculine-clad Madonna as she oversees workers in a factory and sings about not settling for second best. 

The video picked up awards for best direction and best cinematography at the1989 MTV Video Music Awards. 

3. Madonna, "Die Another Day" (2002) — $6.1 million

Some things never change, and for Madonna, over-the-top videos is one of them. 

She claims three of the most expensive music videos of all time, with 2002's "Die Another Day" being her priciest ever at $6.1 million.

Directed by Swedish directing team, Traktor, and inspired by action scenes in the James Bond film "Die Another Day," the singer's video incorporates intense special effects to portray realistic fighting between a good and evil Madonna, wounds included.

The Moving Picture Company was responsible for the comprehensive post-production work. According to Traktor:

"For various reasons, there are effects in almost every shot. It is a testament to the skills of the merry artisans of MPC that you think there are none."

2. Britney Spears, "Work B----" (2013) — $6.5 million

The most recent music video on this list, Spears' 2013 video for her hit single "Work B----" cost $6.5 million thanks to some pretty epic choreography, location changes (deserts to gold-adorned clubs), an extensive wardrobe, and a guest appearance by ... a glimmering white Lamborghini. 

And then there are the special effects — Britney stands atop a platform in a pool of color-changing, shark-infested waters in one scene, and a group of mannequins are blown up in another scene.

With such spectacle, we can only imagine what her Las Vegas residency is like.

1. Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, "Scream" (1995) — $7 million

Rounding out the list with the most expensive music video of all time is the brother-and-sister duo, Michael and Janet Jackson, and their 1995 hit, "Scream."

The Mark Romanek-directed video depicts the siblings escaping earth and its overwhelming media backlash (for what?) via a spacecraft. With 13 pieces to its set, $175,000 in lighting, and a $65,000 computer-generated spaceship, the final bill skyrocketed to a whopping $7 million.

"Scream" won an award for best dance video at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards.

Bonus: Here's what the list looks like adjusted for inflation ...