You probably haven’t thought about your TV remote in weeks. It’s likely wedged between the sofa cushions or covered in crumbs. For most of us, a remote is a $20 plastic slab we replace only when the batteries leak or the dog mistakes it for a chew toy. But there is a weird, niche corner of the tech world where people drop five figures on a clicker. When we talk about the most expensive remote control in existence, we aren’t talking about a fancy Logitech Harmony or a high-end Savant home automation system.
We are talking about solid gold.
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Back in 2015, a Danish company called Lunique decided that the standard plastic remote was an insult to high-end home cinemas. They released the Gold RC1000. It wasn't just "gold-plated" or "gold-toned." It was crafted from solid 18-karat gold. The price tag? Roughly $30,000 depending on the exchange rate and the spot price of gold at the time. It is a heavy, shimmering brick of luxury that does exactly what a $15 universal remote does, just with a lot more gravitational pull.
The absurdity of the $30,000 clicker
Why does this thing even exist? Honestly, it’s about the "last mile" of luxury. If you’ve spent $500,000 on a Steinway Lyngdorf sound system and another quarter-million on a 4K laser projector, holding a piece of injection-molded plastic feels wrong. It breaks the immersion. Lunique tapped into that specific brand of madness.
The Gold RC1000 wasn't just a shiny shell. It featured a display made of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. You know, the stuff they use on Rolex faces and the high-end Apple Watches. It came in a box made of expensive wood, probably leather-lined, looking more like a humidor than a tech gadget. The weight alone is a statement. Most remotes are designed to be light so you don't get hand fatigue while doom-scrolling Netflix. The Gold RC1000 is the opposite. It wants you to feel every gram of that $30,000 investment.
There’s a funny thing about high-end remotes, though. Technology moves fast. The Gold RC1000 was a universal learning remote. It could mimic the infrared signals of your Blu-ray player or your satellite box. But as we moved toward Bluetooth, Wi-Fi control, and proprietary RF signals, these "dumb" gold remotes started to struggle. Imagine owning a $30,000 device that can’t talk to your new Apple TV because it doesn't have the right radio frequency chips. It’s the ultimate "rich person problem."
Beyond the gold: The professional high-end market
While the Lunique is the flashy answer to what the most expensive remote control is, there’s a more "practical" side to expensive remotes. This is where we move away from jewelry and into the world of custom home integration. If you walk into a mansion in Beverly Hills or a penthouse in London, you won’t see a pile of remotes on the coffee table. You’ll see a single, sleek interface.
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Companies like Crestron, Savant, and Control4 rule this space. A top-tier Crestron TSR-310 handheld remote might "only" cost around $1,000 to $1,500. That sounds reasonable compared to a gold bar, right?
Not quite.
You can’t just buy a Crestron remote and point it at your TV. It doesn't work like that. You have to pay a certified programmer to come to your house. They charge anywhere from $150 to $500 an hour. They have to write custom code so that when you press the "Movie" button, the lights dim, the shades close, the projector drops from the ceiling, and the climate control shifts to a cool 68 degrees. By the time you’ve actually made that remote functional, you’ve easily spent $5,000 to $10,000.
It is a system, not a gadget. That is the true cost of high-end control.
The weird world of specialized controllers
Sometimes, the most expensive remote control isn't for a TV at all. If we broaden the definition, we find some truly eye-watering numbers in the industrial and hobbyist sectors.
Take drone pilots. A standard DJI remote is a few hundred bucks. But professional cinematography drones, the kind used to film Dune or Top Gun: Maverick, use controllers that cost more than a mid-sized sedan. The DJI Master Wheels controller, used for high-precision gimbal movement, retails for about $8,000. It doesn't even fly the drone; it just moves the camera. It uses high-resolution optical encoders and stainless steel wheels to give the operator a tactile, weighted feel.
Then there are the military-grade controllers. Handheld Ground Control Stations (GCS) used for tactical UAVs are essentially ruggedized tablets with joysticks attached. Because they need to be encrypted, waterproof, drop-proof, and capable of operating in a literal war zone, these units can cost $50,000 or more. They are the "remotes" most people never see, but they represent the absolute peak of what remote control technology can cost when lives are on the line.
Why the "Universal Remote" died (and why it's coming back)
For a while, it looked like the expensive remote was a dying breed. We all have smartphones. Why buy a $1,000 remote when you can download an app for free?
Honestly? Apps suck for TV.
There is something called "tactile memory." You want to be able to pause the show or adjust the volume without looking down, unlocking your phone, swiping past a notification from your mom, and opening an app. You want buttons. You want a physical scroll wheel. This realization has sparked a bit of a renaissance in the luxury remote market.
A startup called Remote Two (by Unfolded Circle) recently made waves by trying to fill the gap left when Logitech killed off the Harmony line. It’s not $30,000, but at around $900, it’s a serious investment. It’s made for people who realize that the interface you touch every single day matters. If you interact with a device three hours a night, every night, for five years, that’s over 5,000 hours of usage. Spending $1,000 on that interface starts to look less like an indulgence and more like a logical ergonomic choice. Sorta.
The "Rich Guy" DIY: The Bang & Olufsen Beoremote Halo
If you want something that looks like it belongs in a museum but actually works with modern tech, you look at Bang & Olufsen. Their Beoremote Halo is a $1,000+ hunk of aluminum and glass that looks like a literal sculpture. It has a magical "gravity" feel when you spin the volume ring.
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It’s expensive. It’s limited (it mostly only works with B&O gear). But it addresses the core reason why the most expensive remote control market exists: the desire for a physical object to feel as high-quality as the media it’s playing.
The actual price of the "Most Expensive" title
To be fair, "most expensive" is a moving target. If you commissioned a jeweler to encrust a standard Apple TV remote in VVS diamonds, you could easily hit a $100,000 price point. But that’s just jewelry. The Lunique Gold RC1000 holds the title because it was a production unit—albeit a very limited one.
The reality of these devices is often disappointing. Most gold-plated tech ends up in a drawer because the software becomes obsolete. The battery dies and can’t be replaced. The infrared codes for a 2026 OLED TV aren't in the 2015 database. You're left with a very expensive paperweight.
Is it worth it?
Probably not. Unless you have the kind of money where "worth it" is a concept that doesn't apply to you. If you’re buying a $30,000 remote, you aren't looking for a value proposition. You're looking for a conversation piece. You're looking for the feeling of cold metal against your palm when you decide it’s time to watch Succession for the fourth time.
Actionable steps for the "Normal" enthusiast
If you want the "luxury" experience without the $30,000 price tag, you don't need gold. You need a better setup. Here is how you actually upgrade your "control" game in 2026:
- Ditch the IR blasters: Look for controllers that use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (API-based control). They are faster, don't require line-of-sight, and provide two-way feedback (so your remote knows if the TV is actually on).
- Invest in a dedicated "Hub": Systems like Hubitat or Home Assistant allow you to use high-end physical buttons (like Lutron Picos) to control your entire theater. It feels expensive, but it costs $20 a button.
- Look at the used market: High-end brands like Crestron or older Nevo remotes often pop up on eBay for pennies on the dollar. If you’re tech-savvy, you can often "jailbreak" or repurpose this hardware for a fraction of the original MSRP.
- Prioritize ergonomics over materials: A $30,000 gold remote is heavy and uncomfortable. A well-designed $300 remote with a backlight and tactile buttons will actually make your life better.
The quest for the most expensive remote control is really just a quest for a better user experience. We spend half our lives staring at screens; it makes sense that we’d want the thing that controls those screens to feel significant. Just maybe stick to aluminum instead of solid gold. It’s easier on the wrists.
Check your current home theater setup for "remote clutter." If you have more than three remotes on your table, you’re doing it wrong. Look into a modern, unified control solution like the Remote Two or a well-programmed SofaBaton. Consolidating your control into one high-quality device is the single best "luxury" upgrade you can give your living room without needing a loan from a Swiss bank.