It once sat quietly in a Hollywood prop department—forgotten, dusty, and undervalued. Yet today, it’s the most expensive piano on Earth.
This humble upright has no golden frame, no diamond-inlaid keys, and no futuristic sound system. It doesn’t belong to a pop star, and it isn’t encrusted with Swarovski crystals. What makes it extraordinary is not how it was built, but the moment it became immortal. For a few minutes in the early 1940s, its modest tone accompanied one of cinema’s most iconic scenes—a moment that helped define an era, shape cultural memory, and stir generations of hearts. It’s not just a piano; it’s a relic of wartime romance, cinematic history, and American myth-making.
After its role in that film, the piano was cast aside, passed between owners, and even painted over. For decades, no one grasped its real value. Then came the collectors, the historians, the auction houses. When the hammer fell at Sotheby’s in 2014, the final price stunned even industry insiders—cementing its place as a priceless icon of screen history and elevating it far beyond its musical function.
You’ve seen it before. You’ve heard it before. You just might not have known it was real.
What is the most expensive piano in the world?
The most expensive piano ever sold at auction was the Casablanca (1943) piano, otherwise known as the ‘As Time Goes By’ piano – the one that Dooley Wilson’s Sam was playing on when Ingrid Bergman uttered one of Hollywood’s most famous lines: ‘Play it, Sam, Play “As Time Goes By.”’ It is a symbolic part of one of the greatest love films of all time, representing the love between Bergman’s Ilsa and Humphrey Bogart’s Rick.
How much did the Casablanca piano sell for?
The Casablanca piano sold for $3.4 million to an anonymous buyer at Bonham’s Auction House in New York in 2014, complete with a photograph signed by Humphrey Bogart and a piece of chewing gum stuck under the keyboard. Dr Milan, the piano's previous owner, said that he had tried to ascertain whether the gum was Dooley Wilson's, but was unable to do so since nobody had Wilson's fingerprints.
When was it made?
It was probably made in 1927 by the First National Pictures studio, which later merged with Warner Brothers. Fun fact: the Casablanca piano only has 58 keys, far fewer than a typical 88-key instrument.
Another fun fact: it's golden yellow, with an intricate design of Moroccan green and gold, though of course in the movie you wouldn’t be able to tell, given that it’s black and white.
What does the Casablanca piano sound like?
That is a mystery since nobody actually played it in the film. While Dooley Wilson was a talented singer and musician, he could not play the piano professionally. So the music was played offstage by the pianist Elliot Carpenter.
Iconic it may be, but the Casablanca piano is not the only piano to appear in the film. There is one more, which appears in the Paris flashback scene. That one sold for $602,500 at Sotheby’s in December 2012.
We named the Casablanca piano one of the most expensive instruments of all time
And just why has it become the world's most expensive piano?
The key to the Casablanca piano's astronomical value is not virtuoso craftsmanship or concert-level performance. It’s the power of symbolism: this instrument anchors one of the greatest love stories in film history. That intangible aura propelled its price to record heights—greater than even finely made concert grand pianos. This piano reminds us that value isn’t always technical—it’s emotional. No matter the quality of its tone or mechanical condition, it became an artifact—a piece of cinematic myth that resonates long after the film’s final note.
How much did Freddie Mercury's piano sell for?
Another highly cherished piano came up for sale in September 2023. The instrument in question was the Yamaha baby grand piano which was used by Queen singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury to compose a raft of the band's biggest hits including 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
Mercury's Yamaha went up for auction along with many other personal items belonging to the great man. It duly fetched an impressive £1.7 million, becoming one of the most expensive pianos of all time. Converted into dollars, that gives us around $2.11 million - mighty impressive, if not quite in the Casablanca league!
Six more famously expensive instruments
1. The Vieuxtemps Guarneri Violin – ~$16 million
Crafted in 1741 by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù and later owned by violinist and composer Henri Vieuxtemps, the Vieuxtemps Guarneri is considered one of the finest violins ever made. Its pristine condition and exceptional tone helped it fetch around $16 million in a private sale. Uniquely, it was loaned to violinist Anne Akiko Meyers for life—rather than being locked away by a collector.
2. The ‘Lady Blunt’ Stradivarius Violin – $15.9 million
Made by Antonio Stradivari in 1721 and named after Lady Anne Blunt, granddaughter of Lord Byron, the 'Lady Blunt' Stradivarius is celebrated for its near-perfect condition. In 2011, it sold for $15.9 million in a charity auction following the Japanese tsunami—making it one of the most expensive instruments ever sold at auction.
3. The Duport Stradivarius Cello – $20 million (estimated)
Built in 1711, this cello was once owned by the 18/19c French cellist Jean-Louis Duport and later played by the great Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. It bears scratches allegedly made by Napoleon’s boots. Though never sold publicly, it’s considered one of the world’s most valuable cellos, with an estimated worth of around $20 million.
4. The MacDonald Stradivarius Viola – $45 million (unsold)
Created in 1719, this is one of only 10 surviving Stradivarius violas. Its tone and condition are exceptional. When auctioned in 2014 with a $45 million asking price, it failed to sell—but remains arguably the world’s most valuable unsold musical instrument.
5. Eric Clapton’s ‘Blackie’ Fender Stratocaster – $959,500
A 'Frankenstein' Stratocaster built from the best parts of three vintage guitars, Blackie was Clapton’s go-to axe for 15 years. In 2004, it sold at auction for nearly $1 million, with proceeds going to Clapton’s Crossroads rehab centre. It held the record for the most expensive guitar for years.
6. John Lennon’s Gibson J-160E – $2.4 million
Lost for decades after being stolen in the 1960s, this acoustic guitar was recovered in 2014. Lennon used it to compose hits like “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” It sold at auction for $2.4 million in 2015, making it one of the most valuable guitars ever sold.
Pics: Getty Images
