Published on: February 19, 2026, 09:55h.

Updated on: February 19, 2026, 09:55h.

A television producer in Hollywood may have unwittingly created one of the most viral moments of his career with a brief clip shot inside the MGM Grand, stirring up renewed internet outrage regarding the overpriced nature of Las Vegas.

Michael Levitt, known for his work on Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D‑List, The Billboard Music Awards, Hollywood Squares, The Teen Choice Awards, and Celebrity Duets, shared a 31-second clip on TikTok from MGM Grand’s gift shop on February 15. He showcased a Snickers bar, revealing its price of $13.

“People are questioning why tourism in Vegas is declining,” he remarks. “Isn’t that just outrageous?”

Initially, the TikTok video garnered about 14,700 likes. However, after being shared on the X platform by @WallStreetApes on February 18, its popularity soared to 1.2 million views within a day.

“This is precisely why Las Vegas should be boycotted,” the account stated. “This price is not just a scam; it borders on criminal.” This resonated, leading to a flurry of comments from viewers.

Local news outlet Las Vegas Locally chimed in, asserting that MGM can command $13 “because enough people are willing to pay for it,” elaborating that “the price isn’t just for a Snickers; it’s for the convenience of not walking to the nearby Walgreens, where it’s only $2.”

Complicating the argument, the Snickers bar featured was not a typical U.S. product but rather a special Cherry Whip edition, often priced higher. Many commenters highlighted this lack of context.

“That’s misleading — it’s an imported candy bar,” one user pointed out. “Good luck finding it in a regular store.”

Another TikTok user critiqued the video for not showing the price tag. In response, Levitt shared a follow-up clip the same day, illustrating that the entire row of candy bars was priced at $13 by purchasing a Kit-Kat Chunky Drumstick for $12.99.

“See, it is $13!” he exclaimed, with a graphic stating, “Hi Kelly, I accept your apology.”

The $13 Snickers is poised to join the ranks of infamous price markups in Las Vegas, such as:

• $25 silverware fee for room service at Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, and Mandalay Bay,
• $26 bottle of minibar water at Aria
• $50 cord unplugging fee at Paris Las Vegas
• $50 early check-in charge at Flamingo

Discover more about these and other frustrating examples of Las Vegas price gouging in our November 2025 article, “Fee & Loathing.”

‘Shame on Us’

MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle recognized the pricing issue as well. During a conference call last October, he conceded that the company had set certain prices too high.

“Regarding the pricing that has caught everyone’s attention, such as the infamous $26 bottle of water or the $12 coffee at Excalibur, shame on us,” he stated. “We needed to be more aware of the overall experience for guests at Excalibur.”

“To our customers, you can’t offer a $29 room paired with a $12 coffee.”

Levitt’s video highlights that customers at the MGM Grand — a non-budget property within MGM Resorts — are equally dissatisfied with such prices.