List compiled by Metal Sucks
Metal Sucks has compiled a list of albums that had some of the most expensive productions in history. The costs are adjusted to 2016 values:
1. Guns N' Roses, “Chinese Democracy” (2008) – US$15 million
2. Def Leppard, “Hysteria” (1987) – US$9 million
3. The Darkness, “One Way Ticket to Hell… and Back” (2005) – US$1.8 million
4. Metallica, “Metallica” – US$1.75 million
Metal Sucks notes that, despite the difficulty in finding the production costs of Metallica's subsequent albums, it would be reasonable to assume that the band's later releases were even more expensive.