MTV doesn’t air as many music videos as they used to, but the MTV Video Music Awards are still one of the most anticipated music events of each year. However, while the Grammys are voted on by the industry insiders who make up the Recording Academy, the VMAs have been decided by fans since 2006 (except for below-the-line professional categories like Best Direction and Best Cinematography). So who are the biggest winners of all time at these awards? Scroll down to see the most honored artists in history.
The VMA Moon Person trophies themselves are often overshadowed by the show’s drama and spectacle. Much of that spectacle comes from performances, like legendary provocateur Madonna performing “Like a Virgin” dressed as a bride in a bustier at the very first ceremony in 1984. She also famously sang “Vogue” dressed as Marie Antoinette in 1990, and she kissed Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears full on the lips in 2003.
Even the presenters have made headlines, like Howard Stern when he descended onto the stage as Fartman in 1992, or Diana Ross when she fondled rapper Lil’ Kim‘s exposed breast in 1999. Some of the antics have happened off the air. For instance, Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil attacked Guns N’ Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin in 1989, and Poison members Bret Michaels and C.C. DeVille brawled in 1991.
As for the winners, they’ve been a mixed bag in retrospect. In hindsight, it’s strange that The Cars‘ “You Might Think” beat Michael Jackson‘s groundbreaking “Thriller” in 1984, but other champions stand the test of time, like Peter Gabriel‘s “Sledgehammer,” the most honored video of all time; R.E.M.‘s “Losing My Religion”; Lady Gaga‘s “Bad Romance”; and Beyonce‘s “Formation,” to name a few. See who has won the most VMAs below.
-
Fatboy Slim (9 wins)
Image Credit: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images He prevailed three times for “Praise You” and six times for “Weapon of Choice,” which is one of the most awarded videos in VMAs history.
-
Janet Jackson (9 wins)
Image Credit: NBC The legendary pop star won for her videos “Nasty” (1), “The Pleasure Principle” (1), “Rhythm Nation” (1), “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” (1), “If” (1), and “Scream” (3). She also claimed the Video Vanguard Award. She’s a two-time nominee for Video of the Year, but hasn’t won that award.
-
Red Hot Chili Peppers (9 wins)
Image Credit: Michael Buckner for Variety The rock band won for their videos “Give It Away” (2), “Under the Bridge” (1), “Californication” (2), and “Dani California” (1). They also won Best Artist Website, the Video Vanguard Award, and the Global Icon Award. They have received three noms for Video of the Year but haven’t won that top prize.
-
Ariana Grande (10 wins)
Image Credit: Alfredo Flores/Ariana Grande She claimed VMAs for “Problem” (1), “No Tears Left to Cry” (1), “7 Rings” (1), “Boyfriend” (1), “Rain On Me” (3), “Stuck With U” (1) and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” She also received the Artist of the Year award. She has picked up four nominations for Video of the Year, but hasn’t won that coveted category.
-
Aerosmith (10 wins)
Image Credit: Michael Becker/FOX The rockers have won awards for “Janie’s Got a Gun” (2), “The Other Side” (1), “Livin’ on the Edge” (1), “Cryin'” (3), “Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)” (1), “Pink” (1), and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1). They have been nominated three times for Video of the Year, winning for “Cryin’.”
-
BTS (10 wins)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Big Hit Music The K-pop trailblazers won for their videos “Boy with Luv” (1), “On” (3), and “Butter” (2). they also prevailed four times for Best Group. They have not been nominated for Video of the Year.
-
Green Day (11 wins)
Image Credit: ABC The punk band prevailed for “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1), “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (6), “American Idiot” (1), and “21 Guns” (3). “Boulevard” won Video of the Year and is one of the most awarded videos in VMAs history.
-
R.E.M. (12 wins)
Image Credit: Keith Smith/WWD The alternative band won for their videos “Orange Crush” (1), “Losing My Religion” (6), and “Everybody Hurts” (4). the also received the honorary Video Vanguard Award. “Losing My Religion” won Video of the Year and is one of the most awarded videos in VMAs history.
-
Peter Gabriel (13 wins)
Image Credit: Ted Dayton/WWD He won VMAs for “Sledgehammer” (9), “Steam” (2), and “Kiss That Frog” (1). He also received the Video Vanguard Award. “Sledgehammer” won Video of the Year and is the most awarded video in the history of these awards.
-
Eminem (15 wins)
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety The rapper took home VMAs for “My Name Is” (1), “Forgot About Dre” (1), “The Real Slim Shady” (2), “Without Me” (4), “Lose Yourself” (1), “We Made You” (1), “Not Afraid” (2), “Rap God” (1) and “Houdini” (2). He has been nominated nine times for Video of the Year, winning for “Real Slim Shady” and “Without Me.”
-
Lady Gaga (18 wins)
Image Credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA The iconoclastic pop star won for her videos “Paparazzi” (2), “Poker Face” (1), “Bad Romance” (7), “Telephone” (1), “Born This Way” (2), and “Rain on Me” (3). She also received the Tricon Award and Artist of the Year. “Bad Romance” won Video of the Year and is the second most awarded video in the history of these awards.
-
Justin Timberlake (18 wins)
Image Credit: Courtesy of RCA Records With NSYNC he won for his videos “Bye Bye Bye” (3) and “Pop” (4). As a solo artist he claimed Video Music Awards for “Cry Me a River” (2), “Rock Your Body” (1), “What Goes Around… Comes Around” (1), “Let Me Talk to You/My Love” (1), “Suit & Tie” (1), and “Mirrors” (2). He was also awarded Male Artist of the Year, Quadruple Threat of the Year, and the Video Vanguard Award. He has been nominated five times for Video of the Year, winning for “Mirrors.”
-
Madonna (20 wins)
Image Credit: Steve Eichner/WWD The queen of pop took home VMAs for her videos “Papa Don’t Preach” (1), “Express Yourself” (3), “Like a Prayer” (1), “Vogue” (3), “The Immaculate Collection” (1), “Rain” (2), “Take a Bow” (1), “Ray of Light” (5), “Frozen” (1), and “Beautiful Stranger” (1). She also received the honorary Video Vanguard Award. Out of four nominations for Video of the Year, she won once, for “Ray of Light.”
-
Beyonce (29 wins)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Andrew White/Parkwood Entertainment As a member of Destiny’s Child, she won VMAs for “Say My Name” (1) and “Survivor” (1). As a member of The Carters, she won VMAs for “Apeshit” (2). As a solo artist, she took home awards for “Crazy in Love” (3), “Naughty Girl” (1), “Check on It” (1), “Beautiful Liar” (1), “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (3), “Run the World (Girls)” (1), “Countdown”(1), “Pretty Hurts” (2), “Drunk in Love” (1), “7/11” (1), “Hold Up” (1), “Lemonade” (1), “Formation” (6), and “Brown Skin Girl” (1). She also received the Video Vanguard Award. Out of seven nominations for Video of the Year, she prevailed for “Single Ladies” and “Formation,” the latter of which is one of the most awarded videos of all time.
-
Taylor Swift (29 wins)
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores for Variety She won VMAs for “You Belong with Me” (1), “I Knew You Were Trouble” (1), “Blank Space” (2), “Bad Blood” (2), “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” (1), “You Need to Calm Down” (2), “Me!” (1), “The Man” (1), “All Too Well: The Short Film” (3), “Anti-Hero” (6) and “Fortnight” (4). With Video of the Year wins for “Bad Blood,” “You Need to Calm Down,” “All Too Well,” “Anti-Hero” and “Fortnight,” she has won the top category more than any other artist.
