29 Most Expensive and Outrageous PR Stunts in History (30 Photos)
We’re surrounded by advertising everywhere we look. While anyone can slap flyers on front doors or buy a quick TV spot, major campaigns are left to marketing masterminds willing to go to extreme lengths to make an unforgettable impression. From launching cars into space to KFC-scented fire logs, these PR stunts made history. But brilliance doesn't come cheap—here is what these legendary campaigns actually cost. 
A Giant KFC Logo Visible From Space — $30,000
In 2006, KFC decided to extend an invitation to residents of neighboring galaxies by placing its logo across a massive 168,350-square-foot plot in the Nevada desert. 
But what’s truly impressive is the price tag—a cool $30,000!
McDonald’s Flipped Golden Arches — $75,000
In 2018, the fast-food giant celebrated International Women’s Day by turning its iconic logo upside down, flipping the famous "M" into a "W" for "women." 
Even though it was a temporary move, the company spent $75,000 to pull off the stunt across more than 100 US locations. They even outfitted staff with special uniforms featuring the inverted logo.
"Netflix Is A Joke" Billboards — $100,000
In 2017, mysterious billboards bearing the phrase popped up across Los Angeles overnight, with no one claiming responsibility. 
It was unclear whether it was Netflix’s own PR stunt or a rival dropping $100,000 out of boredom—and feeling too embarrassed to admit it.
WWF’s Papier-Mâché Pandas in Paris — $50,000
To raise awareness about the declining giant panda population, the World Wildlife Fund spent $50,000 in 2008 creating 1,600 papier-mâché pandas—one for every wild panda left on Earth. 
The paper sculptures were displayed right in front of the Eiffel Tower, making them impossible to miss. And it seems the campaign worked—the wild panda population has been growing ever since!
Life-Sized Lego Bugatti Chiron — $3 Million
Most Lego sets are meant for kids and their parents, but Lego Technic caters more to aspiring engineers. 
In 2018, the brand teamed up with Bugatti for a stunt of legendary proportions. Yes, that is a fully functional, life-sized Bugatti Chiron built entirely out of Lego elements... To be exact, the supercar was assembled using $3 million worth of parts and took 13,400 hours to build!
Spider-Man’s Bus Heroics — $200,000
Gearing up for the release of its new Spider-Man PS4 game in 2018, Sony pulled off an eye-popping promotional stunt for a mere $200,000. 
A city bus was partially submerged in Milan’s Darsena canal and draped in massive webbing, looking as if Spidey himself had rescued it from sinking.
The Yunessun Wine Spa — $20 Million
Love wine? How about taking a dip in it? Built for ultimate indulgence, the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun spa resort near Tokyo caters to that exact craving. 
The resort dropped $20 million to build a hot-spring complex featuring a full-sized pool filled with real red wine.
Ghostbusters' Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man — $200,000
To build hype for the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, Columbia Pictures dropped $200,000 to install a giant Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man bursting through the floor at London Waterloo Station. 
The movie ended up stumbling at the box office, but the stunt had everyone talking—who knows how much worse it would have fared without it.
Red Bull’s Space Jump — $30 Million
In 2012, Red Bull sent Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner 39 kilometers up into the stratosphere—a stunt that set the company back an astounding $30 million. 
Lifted in a capsule attached to a massive helium balloon, Felix stepped out into the void and free-fell for nearly ten minutes. This death-defying feat reportedly generated an extra $500 million in sales for Red Bull.
Corona & Parley’s Trash Wave — $100,000
In 2018, Corona partnered with Parley for the Oceans and actor Chris Hemsworth to mark World Oceans Day. 
The brand aimed to shine a light on ocean plastic pollution, and their $100,000 3D wave of trash billboards certainly delivered the message.
World of Warcraft’s Smashed Taxi in Times Square — $300,000
In 2014, Blizzard Entertainment celebrated the launch of its World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor expansion with a striking $300,000 installation. 
While New Yorkers are used to yellow cabs in Times Square, a giant battleaxe wedged into the roof of one definitely turned heads.
Paddy Power’s Lucky Pants Hot Air Balloon — $75,000
To mark the start of the 2013 Cheltenham Festival horse races, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power launched a quirky hot air balloon that immediately caught the public's eye. 
Floating giant green "Lucky Pants" across the sky cost $75,000, but it paid off as sports fans flooded to place bets with Paddy Power.
Time Magazine’s Drone Cover — $18,000
Known for iconic cover art, Time magazine pushed boundaries in 2018 with a stunt created for everyone, even non-readers. 
Using 958 drones, the publication recreated its famous red border and logo over the night sky in Folsom, California. Produced alongside Intel’s Drone Light Show team for "The Drone Age" issue, the sky-high cover cost $18,000.
Banksy’s Shredded Painting — $1.4 Million
In 2018, Sotheby’s auctioned off Banksy’s artwork Girl with Balloon for $1.4 million. 
The winning bidder's joy was short-lived: moments after the hammer fell, a shredder built into the frame self-destructed the canvas. Though the piece was altered forever, the stunt instantly went down in art history.
Domino’s Pothole Paving — $5,000
In 2018, Domino’s launched a viral campaign out of Texas that made global headlines for a modest $5,000. 
Realizing delivery drivers in Bartonville, Texas, were constantly slowed down by rough roads, the pizza giant bought 75 tons of asphalt to fix the town's potholes—stamping every asphalt patch with the Domino’s logo.
Elon Musk’s Tesla in Space — $90–150 Million
In 2018, Elon Musk combined forces at Tesla and SpaceX for an epic promotional stunt: launching his personal Tesla Roadster into space. 
Complete with a mannequin named "Starman" behind the wheel, the car was launched into solar orbit. While it put both companies front and center worldwide, critics questioned spending $90 to $150 million on such an extravagant gimmick.
Shia LaBeouf’s Paper Bag Outfit — Price Unknown
Shia LaBeouf is no stranger to eccentric behavior, but his red-carpet appearance at the Berlin Film Festival premiere of Nymphomaniac was one for the books. 
The actor hit the carpet wearing a paper bag over his head that read "I Am Not Famous Anymore." While some viewed it as a commentary on his career, others saw it as a teaser for an upcoming performance art project.
Virgin Atlantic Trolls British Airways — $2 Million
The rivalry between British Airways and Virgin Atlantic has spanned decades, giving rise to some legendary corporate trolling. 
In 1999, Virgin founder Richard Branson dropped $2 million on a hilarious jab at his competitor. British Airways was sponsoring the construction of the London Eye, but hit a major snag trying to erect the massive wheel. Sensing an opportunity, Branson flew an airship right over the site bearing the slogan "BA Can't Get It Up!" Pure genius.
Giant Inflatable Borat — Price Unknown
Launching the Borat sequel on Amazon Prime Video during the height of the 2020 pandemic called for a timely marketing strategy. 
A giant inflatable of the titular character floated down London's River Thames, practicing social distancing—and wearing nothing but a giant face mask as a mankini.
Tiger Woods’ $1 Million Tee Shot — $1 Million
The Dubai Desert Classic is a major fixture on the golf calendar, but in 2004, organizers pulled out all the stops to grab world headlines. 
They shelled out $1 million just to bring golf legend Tiger Woods over from the US. His task? Hitting practice shots from the helipad atop the Burj Al Arab, which was the world's tallest hotel at the time.
Jackpotjoy’s Giant Rubber Duck — $270,000
To celebrate its Facebook launch in 2012, online gaming site Jackpotjoy.com sent a massive rubber duck floating down the Thames. 
Weighing half a ton and standing 50 feet high, the duck took eight people 800 hours to build. The $270,000 campaign paid off, drawing crowds and driving thousands of new followers to the company's page.
Game of Thrones White Walkers in London — $10,000
By its seventh season, Game of Thrones was such a global phenomenon that it hardly needed advertising. 
Still, HBO couldn't resist a good stunt, unleashing the Night King and a squad of White Walkers to roam the streets of London in 2017. The eerie parade took social media and headlines by storm, making every penny of the $10,000 budget count.
Burger King’s Flame-Grilled Fragrance — $4 Each
In 2008, Burger King surprised fans by announcing its own body spray, "Flame," billed as the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat. 
Though widely assumed to be an April Fools' prank, the fast-food giant actually sold limited-edition bottles for $3.99 apiece. The total cost behind the campaign remains unknown, but it undoubtedly cost a pretty penny!
KFC’s Fried Chicken-Scented Fire Logs — $16 Each
Everyone loves a cozy fireplace, but what if your hearth smelled like 11 herbs and spices? KFC made that dream a reality with its scented fire logs. 
Intended as a quirky seasonal promotional item, the logs caused an absolute frenzy. They sold out almost instantly and were soon being resold online for triple their original retail price.
Confused.com’s Bubble-Wrapped Street — Price Unknown
To promote its services, UK insurance comparison site Confused.com tracked down Britain's most accident-prone street and wrapped it entirely in bubble wrap. 
Literally everything—houses, cars, trash cans, and trees—was covered. While the total cost wasn't disclosed, it was a small price to pay for the massive media coverage it generated.
Chevrolet’s Parachute Drop — $200,000
In 2012, Chevrolet set out to produce a commercial that rival automakers could only dream of. 
They loaded Sonic subcompact cars into a cargo plane and dropped them from the sky via parachute. While exact figures weren't published, industry experts estimated the skydiving stunt cost Chevrolet around $200,000.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Pint Lock — $14 Each
Let’s be honest: nobody likes sharing their favorite dessert—especially when you've been craving it all day. 
Capitalizing on sweet-tooth jealousy, Ben & Jerry’s created a combination lock device for pint tubs to keep roomies and family members from stealing a scoop. The novelty product took social media by storm, even if few actually shelled out $14 for one.
Carlsberg’s Beer-Dispensing Billboard — $100,000
At first glance, it looked like a standard billboard, but Danish brewer Carlsberg took its famous slogan to heart, creating "Probably the best poster in the world"—a billboard equipped with a working beer tap dispensing free pints. 
Lines stretched around the block in London as thirsty passersby queued up to pour themselves a cold one.
Diesel’s Fake "Deisel" Knockoff Store — $100–200 Each
High fashion comes at a steep price, giving rise to a massive knockoff market. While most brands fight counterfeiters, Diesel decided to lean into the trend. 
In 2018, the fashion brand opened a fake knockoff pop-up store in New York City's Chinatown, intentionally misspelling its name as "Deisel." Unsuspecting shoppers bought authentic, limited-edition pieces for around $100–$200, creating massive buzz that Vogue hailed as a brilliant brand-building strategy.
