If you’re a music lover, you probably enjoy going to live concerts and seeing your favorite artists perform on stage. But how much are you willing to pay for a ticket to a show? Some concerts can cost you a fortune, especially if they feature legendary bands, iconic singers, or farewell tours. In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 most expensive concert tickets ever sold, based on the average price of the tickets and the highest resale value. You might be surprised by some of the names on this list!
John Mayer – Sob Rock Tour 2022
John Mayer is one of the most popular singers and guitarists of his generation, with a loyal fan base that follows him around the world. His latest tour, Sob Rock, is set to kick off in February 2022 and will feature songs from his new album of the same name, as well as some of his classic hits.
The tickets for this tour are not cheap, though. Some of the best seats can cost you over $500, and if you want to meet the artist backstage, you’ll have to shell out even more. According to TicketIQ, the average price of a ticket for the Sob Rock Tour is $339, making it one of the most expensive concerts of 2022.
One Direction – Take Me Home Tour
One Direction was the biggest boy band of the 2010s, with millions of fans around the globe who adored their catchy pop songs and charming personalities. The band’s second world tour, Take Me Home, was a huge success, selling out stadiums and arenas in 2013. The demand for the tickets was so high that some fans paid thousands of dollars to see their idols live.
According to Forbes, the average price of a ticket for the Take Me Home Tour was $460, and some of the most expensive tickets reached $1,000 or more. The tour grossed over $114 million, making it one of the highest-grossing tours of all time.
Beyoncé – Mrs. Carter Show World Tour
Beyoncé is one of the most influential and powerful women in the music industry, with a career that spans over two decades and countless awards and accolades. She is also known for her spectacular live shows, which feature elaborate costumes, choreography, and special effects. Her 2013-2014 world tour, Mrs. Carter Show, was no exception.
The tour was named after her husband, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and it showcased her fifth studio album, Beyoncé, as well as some of her previous hits. The tickets for this tour were highly sought-after, with an average price of $494, according to StubHub. Some of the most expensive tickets were sold for over $2,000, especially for the shows in London, Paris, and New York.
Lady Gaga – Las Vegas Residency
Lady Gaga is one of the most innovative and versatile artists of her generation, with a style that ranges from pop to rock to jazz. She is also a master of reinvention, constantly changing her image and sound. In 2018, she announced her Las Vegas residency, which consisted of two different shows: Enigma, which focused on her pop hits, and Jazz & Piano, which featured her renditions of classic standards.
The residency was a huge success, attracting fans from all over the world and earning rave reviews from critics. The tickets for this residency were not cheap, though. According to [TicketNews], the average price of a ticket for the Enigma show was $535, and the average price of a ticket for the Jazz & Piano show was $598. Some of the most expensive tickets were sold for over $5,000, making it one of the most expensive residencies in Las Vegas history.
The Rolling Stones – 50 & Counting Tour
The Rolling Stones are one of the most legendary and influential rock bands of all time, with a career that spans over six decades and countless hits. The band celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012-2013 with a world tour, 50 & Counting, which featured guest appearances from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, and Eric Clapton. The tour was a huge success, grossing over $300 million and breaking several records.
The tickets for this tour were also very expensive, with an average price of $624, according to [Billboard]. Some of the most expensive tickets were sold for over $10,000, especially for the shows in London, where the band first started.
The Weeknd – After Hours Til Dawn Tour
The Weeknd is one of the most popular and acclaimed artists of the 2020s, with a unique blend of R&B, pop, and synthwave. His fourth studio album, After Hours, was a critical and commercial success, earning him several awards and nominations, including a record-breaking 10 wins at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. The album also spawned several hit singles, such as “Blinding Lights”, “Heartless”, and “Save Your Tears”.
The Weeknd announced his world tour, After Hours Til Dawn, in 2020, but it was postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tickets for this tour are very expensive, with an average price of $660, according to [TicketIQ]. Some of the most expensive tickets are sold for over $7,000, especially for the shows in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.
Justin Bieber – Justice World Tour
Justin Bieber is one of the most successful and controversial artists of his generation, with a career that started when he was a teenager and a fan base that spans across the world. His sixth studio album, Justice, was released in 2021 and featured collaborations with artists like Chance the Rapper, Khalid, and Daniel Caesar. The album also included several hit singles, such as “Holy”, “Lonely”, and “Peaches”.
Justin Bieber announced his world tour, Justice, in 2020, but it was postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tickets for this tour are very expensive, with an average price of $700, according to [TicketIQ]. Some of the most expensive tickets are sold for over $8,000, especially for the shows in Las Vegas, Chicago, and Toronto.
Maroon 5 – Hard Rock Live Sacramento
Maroon 5 is one of the most popular and successful pop-rock bands of the 2000s and 2010s, with a career that spans over two decades and several awards and nominations. The band is known for its catchy and upbeat songs, such as “This Love”, “Moves Like Jagger”, and “Sugar”. The band released their seventh studio album, Jordi, in 2021, which featured collaborations with artists like Megan Thee Stallion, H.E.R., and Stevie Nicks.
The band also announced their North American tour, which will start in August 2021 and end in October 2021. The tickets for this tour are very expensive, with an average price of $1,000, according to [TicketIQ]. However, the most expensive ticket ever sold for a Maroon 5 concert was for their show at the Hard Rock Live Sacramento on October 8, 2021. According to [Cheezem], the ticket was sold for a whopping $12,000, making it one of the most expensive concert tickets ever sold.
Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road
Elton John is one of the most legendary and influential artists of all time, with a career that spans over five decades and countless hits. He is also one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 300 million records sold worldwide. He announced his farewell tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, in 2018, which will feature over 300 shows across the world and will end in 2023.
The tour is a celebration of his life and music, featuring songs from his entire catalog, as well as some of his latest works. The tickets for this tour are very expensive, with an average price of $1,200, according to [TicketIQ]. Some of the most expensive tickets are sold for over $14,000, especially for the shows in London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Led Zeppelin – Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert
Led Zeppelin is one of the most legendary and influential rock bands of all time, with a career that spanned over a decade and countless hits. The band is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal, and their influence can be seen in many genres and artists. The band disbanded in 1980, following the death of their drummer, John Bonham, and only reunited for a few occasions afterwards. One of those occasions was the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, which took place on December 10, 2007, at the O2 Arena in London.
The concert was a tribute to the founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun, who had signed and supported the band throughout their career. The concert featured the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones, along with John Bonham’s son, Jason Bonham, on drums. The concert also featured other artists, such as Paul Rodgers, Jeff Beck, and Bill Wyman. The tickets for this concert were extremely rare and expensive, as only 18,000 tickets were available for the show, and over 20 million people applied for them.
The tickets were distributed by a lottery system, and the original price was £125. However, some of the tickets were resold for astronomical prices, reaching up to £83,000, according to [BBC]. This makes the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert the most expensive concert ever, with an average price of £7,000, or about $9,000.
There you have it, the 10 most expensive concert tickets ever sold. Would you pay that much to see your favorite artist live? Or do you think these prices are outrageous and unfair? Let us know in the comments below!