As of 2025, the most expensive Super Bowl halftime show was held in 2022 featuring Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and 50 Cent.
Dr. Dre contributed $7 million of his own funds to the concert, which had an estimated cost of a record $20 million. 117 million people saw the legendary R&B and hip-hop artists perform.
The show's average viewership during the 8:15–8:30 pm ET time slot was 103.4 million, which was 7% more than the Weeknd's halftime show the year before. An average of 101.1 million people watched the game on television, but the halftime performance drew a larger audience.
The development and preparations for the halftime show were featured in the documentary The Show: California Love. Production companies Boardwalk Pictures and Pepsi's in-house video studio produced the documentary, which debuted on Showtime on December 23, 2022.
Who performed at the Super Bowl 2022 halftime show?
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar were the main performers on the show, along with 50 Cent and Anderson.Paak. making cameos. As the final halftime show sponsored by Pepsi before Apple Music took up the sponsorship starting with Super Bowl LVII, it was also the first Super Bowl halftime performance to be solely centered around hip-hop music.
The performance was praised by critics and became the first halftime show to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the Super Bowl. Along with Outstanding Music Direction, the show received the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special.
Other major Super Bowl halftime shows
While the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show was the most expensive one so far, the following artists have also staged a major show in the history of Super Bowl halftime shows:
The Weeknd (2021) - US$ 17 million
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (2020) – US$13 million
Prince (2007) – US$12 million
Aerosmith and NSync (2001) – US$11 million
Lady Gaga (2017) – US$10 million
FAQs about the Super Bowl halftime show
A. The Weeknd paid $7 million of his funds for his 2021 Super Bowl halftime show performance.
A. Kendrick Lamar will be performing at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
A. Usher’s halftime show at the Super Bowl LVIII was the most-watched halftime show ever with 129 million viewers.
