In brief
- The Casablanca “As Time Goes By” piano is the most expensive piano sold, at $3.4 million in 2014.
- The Heintzman Crystal Piano is reported at $3.22 million, ahead of two Steinways at $2.4 million to $2.5 million.
- Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand sold for about £1.7 million at Sotheby’s in 2023.
- John Lennon’s “Imagine” Steinway sold to George Michael for £1.45 million in 2000.
As of October 2026, the most expensive piano ever sold is the upright piano from the film Casablanca, which fetched $3.4 million at a Bonhams auction in New York in November 2014. Close behind are the Heintzman Crystal Piano at a reported $3.22 million and two Steinway art case pianos priced at about $2.4 million to $2.5 million.
The pianos on this list fall into two groups. Some are new instruments built to order by makers such as Steinway, Bechstein and Blüthner, with rare woods, gold leaf or carbon fibre. Others are older pianos whose value comes from who played them, from Humphrey Bogart’s film set to John Lennon and Freddie Mercury.
Most expensive pianos at a glance
| Rank | Piano | Price | Year / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casablanca “As Time Goes By” piano | $3.4 million | 2014 auction; Fortune |
| 2 | Heintzman Crystal Piano | $3.22 million (reported) | Pianist Magazine |
| 3 | Steinway & Sons “Pictures at an Exhibition” | $2.5 million | Pianist Magazine |
| 4 | Steinway & Sons Fibonacci | $2.4 million | Pianist Magazine |
| 5 | Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand | £1.7 million (about $2.11 million) | 2023 auction; Classical Music |
| 6 | John Lennon’s Steinway Model Z | £1.45 million (about $2.1 million) | 2000 auction; Guinness World Records |
| 7 | C. Bechstein Sphinx | $1.2 million | Pianist Magazine |
| 8 | Blüthner Lucid EXO | $960,000 | Pianist Magazine |
| 9 | Bösendorfer Opus 50 | $750,000 | Pianist Magazine |
| 10 | Fazioli M. Liminal by NYT Line | $695,000 | Pianist Magazine |
1. Casablanca “As Time Goes By” piano: $3.4 million
This is the piano Dooley Wilson’s character Sam plays in Rick’s Café in the 1942 film Casablanca, including the scene with “As Time Goes By”. It sold to an anonymous buyer at a Bonhams sale in New York in November 2014 for $3.4 million, as reported by Fortune.
Also readRolex Price Guide 2026: What Every Model CostsThe instrument itself is modest. Classical Music magazine notes it was probably made in 1927 for First National Pictures and has only 58 keys. Its value comes entirely from its place in film history.
A second Casablanca piano, used in the Paris flashback scenes, sold at Sotheby’s in December 2012 for $602,500.
2. Heintzman Crystal Piano: $3.22 million
Canadian maker Heintzman built this transparent concert grand, which Pianist Magazine describes as made from acrylic. It was played by Lang Lang at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The piano was later auctioned, and its reported price of about $3.22 million is widely quoted. The buyer and the full auction details have not been made public, so the figure should be read as reported rather than confirmed.
3. Steinway & Sons “Pictures at an Exhibition”: $2.5 million
This is a Steinway Model D concert grand with hand-painted artwork by Canadian artist Paul Wyse. The paintings are based on Modest Mussorgsky’s piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition.
It is a one-off piece. Most of its price reflects the artwork and the hours of painting, on top of the cost of a standard Model D.
4. Steinway & Sons Fibonacci: $2.4 million
Steinway made the Fibonacci to celebrate its 600,000th piano. The case is built around a spiral based on the Fibonacci sequence and uses rare Macassar ebony, according to Pianist Magazine.
It is one of three newly built pianos in the top five. The other two owe their prices to film and music history rather than craftsmanship.
5. Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand: about $2.11 million
Freddie Mercury composed many of Queen’s songs on this Yamaha baby grand, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”. It sold for about £1.7 million at Sotheby’s in London in September 2023, as part of the sale of items from his home, Garden Lodge.
The price was many times what a comparable Yamaha would fetch, showing how much the owner’s history can add to an instrument.
6. John Lennon’s Steinway Model Z: about $2.1 million
John Lennon wrote “Imagine” on this walnut Steinway upright. Singer George Michael bought it for £1.45 million at an auction held at the Hard Rock Cafe in London on 17 October 2000.
Guinness World Records still lists it as the most expensive piano sold at auction. The higher Casablanca sale in 2014 suggests that record has since been passed, which is why it ranks sixth here.
7. C. Bechstein Sphinx: $1.2 million
The Sphinx recreates an 1886 Bechstein model. Its case carries gilded statuettes with Greek, Egyptian and Roman motifs, and Pianist Magazine says it takes more than 1,800 hours of hand work to build.
8. Blüthner Lucid EXO: $960,000
The Lucid EXO is the most modern piano on the list. Blüthner combined a transparent case with 3D-printed parts and carbon fibre, giving it a very different look from a traditional black grand.
9. Bösendorfer Opus 50: $750,000
Bösendorfer made the Opus 50 as a limited edition to mark its 185th anniversary. It uses exotic woods and 24-karat gold leaf accents.
10. Fazioli M. Liminal by NYT Line: $695,000
Italian maker Fazioli built this piano with the design firm NYT Line. Its asymmetrical shape is inspired by the sea and dolphins.
How we ranked these pianos
We ranked each piano by the highest price it is reported to have sold for or been listed at. Auction prices in pounds are converted to US dollars at the rates given by the sources at the time of sale. Prices are not adjusted for inflation.
Auction results are the most reliable figures here, because they are public. List prices for custom-built pianos come from makers and specialist press and may vary by order. For other high-value collectables, see our list of the most expensive sculptures ever sold.
Sources: Fortune, Pianist Magazine, Classical Music, Guinness World Records.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive piano ever sold?
The most expensive piano ever sold is the upright piano from the film Casablanca. It fetched $3.4 million at a Bonhams auction in New York in November 2014. Its value comes from its role in the film rather than the instrument, which has only 58 keys.
How much did Freddie Mercury’s piano sell for?
Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand piano sold for about £1.7 million, roughly $2.11 million, at Sotheby’s in London in September 2023. Mercury wrote many Queen songs on it, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and it came from his London home, Garden Lodge.
Who bought John Lennon’s Imagine piano?
Singer George Michael bought John Lennon’s Steinway Model Z upright piano, on which Lennon wrote “Imagine”, for £1.45 million at an auction in London on 17 October 2000. Guinness World Records lists it as the most expensive piano sold at auction.
What is the most expensive Steinway piano?
The most expensive Steinway on this list is the “Pictures at an Exhibition” Model D, priced at about $2.5 million. It features hand-painted artwork by Paul Wyse. The Steinway Fibonacci, made for the company’s 600,000th piano, follows at about $2.4 million.
Why are some pianos so expensive?
Pianos reach millions of dollars for two reasons. Some are custom builds with rare woods, gold leaf, artwork or new materials such as carbon fibre. Others are ordinary instruments made valuable by their history, such as pianos owned by John Lennon or used in Casablanca.
See more Wealthy Garage stories on Google
Add us as a preferred source and our stories will show up more often in your Top Stories.
Add Wealthy Garage as a preferred source on Google
