Most Expensive Structures Ever Built at Burning Man

Year: Various
Designer: A team of 100 people
Est. Cost: $75,000* 

Out of all the structures at Burning Man, perhaps the most famous is The Man himself. Each year, revelers are greeted by the 75-foot-tall structure. While it might be easy to think it’s something that’s just speedily built, that’s not the case at all. In fact, over 100 people participate in getting this giant structure off the ground. 

The Man @randomactsoftravel / Instagram.com

Not only is there a team that builds it, but also a team for the pyrotechnics, the rigging, and everything else involved. And, after all that effort, each year The Man’s fate is the same. He ends up as a pile of ash. It’s an expensive practice, but the exact cost remains unknown!

Year: 2017
Designer: Shane Pitzer
Est. Cost: $50,000*

Artists always bring their A-game to Burning Man, pushing the envelope to create something that’s both eye-catching and intriguing. While some are designed to be nothing more than great to look at, others carry a deeper message, like Shane Pitzer’s 2017 work, “Identity Awareness – Family.” 

Identity Awareness – Family @Shaqeroni / Pinterest.com

Pitzer made a heart-shaped structure with several human figures surrounding it, pushing it. Shane himself has attended Burning Man with his whole family, so perhaps was in a better position to craft this particular piece than most. The installation went down a storm and was frequently spotted on Instagram.  

Year: 2006
Designer: Arne Quinze
Est. Cost: $800,000*

Some of the works on display at Burning Man are small affairs, but others are incredibly huge (and expensive) undertakings. In 2006, Belgian artist Arne Quinze assembled a team to create “Uchronia.” This stunning construction was made up of almost 100 miles of wooden slats. 

Uchronia @ybussiere / Pinterest.com

It takes a very big imagination to see how such a simple material can become so impactful if given half the chance. Rumor has it that the budget was equally large, costing Quinze and his team over $800,000. That’s money that even Google’s Segei Brin would think twice about spending, especially considering it got burnt at the end of the celebrations. 

Year: 2013
Designer: The Collection Crew
Est. Cost: $65,000*

When art and wordplay come together, magical things happen. A group of creative individuals called The Collection Crew decided to put pen to paper to design The Temple of Whollyness in 2013. The pyramid-like structure was over 64 feet tall and made entirely out of wood. 

The Temple of Whollyness @tacobama / Pinterest.com

By creating interlocking panels, the artists ensured it was both sturdy and incredible to look at. As with many things at Burning Man, it only came to fruition thanks to a fundraising campaign. All in all, it’s thought that this incredible attraction was worth over $65,000. 

Year: 2017
Designer: Tim Bremner, Marcel Cacdac, Nick Fynn
Est. Cost: $40,000*

No one could ever accuse the festival of being boring. It’s a treat for the senses, with something new every year to make the experience feel new to veteran attendees. In 2017, guests were thrilled to see La Victrola, an enormous steel gramophone with ornate decoration that weighed over five tons. 

La Victrola @soniahkastner / Pinterest.com

The work served as a stage, but building it wasn’t the only problem. Organizers had to raise enough money to get the artwork to the festival in the first place. Through crowdfunding, they successfully managed to gather over $23,000 which certainly helped to cushion the blow. If only Amazon’s Jeff Bezos felt like investing.

Year: 2020
Designer: John Marx
Est. Cost: Unable to be built 

It may go without saying, but 2020 proved to be an unexpected year for everyone. Burning Man was canceled, but artists took their designs online where they could be viewed. One of the creations that never got to be built was architect John Marx’s “Museum of No Spectators.” 

Museum of No Spectators @IndiaArtnDesign / Twitter.com

The virtual structure was designed to be a timber building but ended up as a virtual experience that was just as fascinating to artists. Virtual visitors could even tour through different spaces like the gift shop. The design was so clever it popped up on numerous media sites, including The New York Times. 

Year: 2019
Designer: The Pier Group
Est. Cost: $190,000*

A giant head coming out of the sand in the Nevada desert isn’t exactly something that many people expect to see, even at Burning Man. However, The Pier Group isn’t known for doing things by halves. In 2019, they raised over $37,000 by crowdfunding to create “The Head Maze.” 

The Head Maze @u/vitaliyh / Reddit.com

Of course, the actual cost of the structure was much more than that, coming in at a reported $190,000. According to the funding campaign, “Head Maze is a 40-foot mediating mind, resting on one hand and ripping its face off to reveal a crystalline stained glass being.” The final design turned out slightly different but was still just as interesting. 

Year: 2015
Designer: Kevin Clark and ™ Potter
Est. Cost: $25,000*

There are plenty of stationary structures at the festival that visitors can walk into, walk around, and even sit in – but some structures are mobile, too. In 2015, Kevin Clark and ™ Potter collaborated to transform a Chevy into a robotic car that looked like a rhino. 

"Rhino Redemption" Mutant Art Car @sheilacapps11 / Pinterest.com

“Rhino Redemption” wasn’t just interesting to look at, but it was fun, too. The General Motors 1974 Chevy looked entirely unrecognizable thanks to the impressive refurb. Not only could the Rhino move, but the sheer size of it was impressive as well.

Year: 2014
Designer: The Pier Group
Est. Cost: $265,000*

Seeing two enormous figures locked in a loving embrace might be simple if it was created using paint and canvas. Crafting a giant structure of the same subject out of wood is an entirely different story that takes a little more finesse than craft glue.

Embrace @alicoskun.ozeren / Instagram.com

The Pier Group had a very specific idea in mind when they created “Embrace.” Using over 160,000 pounds of wood, they hoped to give a fitting “testament to the moment, a cathedral dedicated to the beauty of intimacy.” The total cost of this sweet make was over $265,000.

Year: 2018
Designer: FoldHaus
Est. Cost: $35,000+*

Some might argue that the best installations at Burning Man are those that use lights. In 2018, FoldHaus started a campaign to gather funding to create “RadiaLumia”, a strange orb-like structure made up of origami shells. 

RadiaLumia @candocrowd / Twitter.com

This was no ordinary sphere, consisting of five stories and apparently influenced by microorganisms. The fundraising campaign saw over $35,000 donated to the cause, but the actual cost would have been much higher, although it’s hard to put an exact price on something as awe-inspiring as this. 

Year: 2007
Designer: Mike Ross
Est. Cost: $75,000+*

Artist Mike Ross is well-known for public art installations that are ambitious and noteworthy. In 2007, he decided to head to Black Rock City with a novel idea: “Big Rig Jig.” Reaching over 14-meters in size, the sculpture uses trucks that are welded together. As you can imagine, this was not an easy task. 

Big Rig Jig @kareeabbott / Pinterest.com

It may not look like it from the outside, but visitors could actually go inside the structure and climb up to the top, making this endeavor even more of a challenge. Luckily, this wasn’t Mike’s first rodeo. Plenty of Ross’s work can be found on sites like Pinterest.

Year: 2019
Designer: David Keane
Est. Cost: $65,000*

David Keane’s “The Folly” is a sight to behold for many reasons. Not only is it exciting, but it’s also reminiscent of a pirate ship. Onlookers could almost imagine this was the site of a seabed long ago if it wasn’t for the fact it was the Nevada desert. 

The Folly @wjnor1 / Pinterest.com

“The Folly” had everything from bunting for added color to a tower. Perhaps most interestingly, it wasn’t actually built from items picked up at stores like Home Depot, but from reclaimed lumber rescued from San Francisco’s old Victorian mansions. 

Year: 2009
Designer: David Ulmas
Est. Cost: $100,000+*

Temples have been a big part of the Burning Man experience for over two decades, with different artists working with organizers to create their own visions over the years. In 2009, David Ulmas worked tirelessly to bring “Fire of Fires” to fruition. 

Burning Man Fire of Fires @Lauren Randolph / Flickr.com

The intricately carved wooden structure was made from plywood, with several different cultural experiences tucked inside for visitors to enjoy. There were plenty of interactive elements to the temple that were enjoyed, including gas lamps that shot out flames to dazzle and intrigue guests. As far as temples go, this one was up there with the best of the best. 

Year: 2019
Designer: Dan Mountain
Est. Cost: $65,000*

New York City has been known for its thriving art scene for years. Dan Mountain is one such artist that hails from the Big Apple. In 2019, he took his designs to Burning Man, producing “I.L.Y.” The giant head was a steel wonder. Mountain himself spoke to Forbes to explain what he hoped attendees would get from the structure. 

I.L.Y @Duncan Rawlinson / flickr.com

“Our intention, with this piece, is to create art that requires participation to be complete, that thrives on communication, and the willingness to allow yourself to become part of something fun and interactive. In today’s day and age, it seems that people are developing an apprehension to be self-motivated.”