Summary

The iconic "spared no expense" line in Jurassic Park leads to irony as John Hammond's cost-cutting becomes evident.
Nedry's financial struggles and lack of staff & inspections show where Hammond actually spared expenses.
Spielberg's portrayal softens Hammond's character compared to the novel's version, as Hammond becomes the clear antagonist in the book.

More than three decades after Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park reinvented the idea of a Hollywood blockbuster, each rewatch offers new ways to appreciate the movie. Whether it's a subtle detail in the background or John Hammond’s now-iconic line “spared no expense,” the movie’s lore is still as good as new.

When movies are said to “age poorly”, it’s often because the story or dialogue feels dated or campy to modern audiences. But here, it's the line itself that doesn’t age well strictly within the context of events in Jurassic Park. So, each time viewers hear Hammond declare with pride that he “spared no expense,” they can’t help but chuckle at the irony.

Jurassic Park: How Scientifically Accurate Are The Franchise’s Dinosaurs?

This known and loved dinosaur blockbuster franchise has many things working in its favor, but scientific accuracy is not one of them.

Posts

By Rodrigo Facundo

What does "Spared No Expense" mean in Jurassic Park?

richard attenborough, jeff goldblum, sam neill in jurassic park scene — Spared no expense jurassic park john hammond

A quick recap is in order to better understand the popular quote from Jurassic Park. John Hammond, the billionaire behind the titular park, states several times that he "spared no expense" in creating it. As the movie unfolds, disgruntled hacker Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) disables the park's security system to steal dinosaur embryos. All hell breaks loose, and so do the cloned dinosaurs. This is when Hammond’s claim starts to contradict itself.

While Nedry is directly responsible for triggering the disaster, Hammond is also to blame for cutting corners. The billionaire owner does come off as a charming old man, in large part thanks to the late Sir Richard Attenborough’s warm on-screen persona. However, his character has a dangerous desire for quick results, despite claiming to have “spared no expense”. Though Nedry is to blame, the park spiraled out of control because it wasn’t equipped enough and up to code.

How Many Times Does John Hammond Say “Spared No Expense”?

John Hammond uses the iconic and ironic catchphrase a total of five times in the timeless dinosaur adventure movie:

The first time is when he invites scientists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) to the biological preserve he had been setting up. He hints at the dinosaurs he has created with no expense spared.
The second mention comes during a lunch meeting, where Hammond tells the group that the park will open and that the attractions are getting ready. He goes on to call them “spectacular designs,” and claims that he spared no expense.
The third instance occurs a few minutes later. Before the park tour, Hammond shows off his “top-of-the line” driver-less electric jeep, as he insists again that no expense was spared.
After the tour starts, the fourth mention of the line comes in the control room. Hammond highlights that the automated tour is narrated by Richard Kiley, who is a real-life actor.
The final and most significant moment happens near the third act, when Hammond and Dr. Sattler get honest with each other in the cafeteria. As Hammond realizes that he's put his own grandchildren's survival in jeopardy, Sattler lightens the tension and comments on how good the ice cream is. Hammond softly replies that he spared no expense, and this is where the irony of the phrase comes full circle. It goes on to cement Jurassic Park's main message that nature cannot be contained.

Moments John Hammond Did Spare Expense

Simply stating that one spared no expense doesn’t mean they actually did, and that’s the case with Hammond in Jurassic Park. The line’s irony becomes evident in the obvious cost-cutting throughout the film. Hammond tries to rush the park’s opening, while keeping up appearances.

Dennis Nedry’s Money Problems

wayne knight as dennis nedry in jurassic park

In an early interaction, Hammond dismisses Nedry's struggles. He tells him that he’s sorry for his financial trouble, but they are “his problems”. While he doesn’t blame people for their mistakes, he expects them to pay for them. Nedry’s actions are inexcusable, but moments like this hint that he’s underpaid and overworked. In fact, this character sketch is one of the main differences between the Jurassic Park book and the movie.

As the park’s sole programmer, Nedry is responsible for handling millions of lines of code and complex security systems all by himself. Hammond most likely paid what was agreed, but he could have hired additional staff or, being a billionaire, handed Nedry more money to help. In hindsight, paying the IT guy was an expense that Hammond should have paid more mind to.

Lack of Inspections and Staff

Before John Hammond even appears on-screen, the Mano de Dios Amber Mine scene explains his attitude toward cutting corners. The mine digger tells board lawyer Donald Gennaro that Hammond hates inspections because they “slow everything down.” Furthermore, the park is understaffed, with only one game warden, Robert Muldoon. The man suggests that the place cannot handle the rogue, villainous dinosaurs and that Hammond does not want his expensive investments harmed. These are critical expenses spared by the billionaire, which inevitably leads to catastrophe.

More Examples of Spared Expense

chilean sea bass in jurassic park — chilean sea bass, jurassic park, patagonian toothfish

An interesting instance is when Dr. Sattler points out that Hammond has filled the park with poisonous plants – which later end up making the Triceratops sick – simply because they looked good. Another subtle detail is the exotic-sounding "Chilean sea bass" served at lunch, which is actually just cheap Patagonian toothfish. Some fans have even gone as far as noticing that the restraint bars in the DNA presentation scene are flimsy enough to be pushed off by hand. These overlooked details prove that Hammond compromises form and function for sheer cosmetic value.

John Hammond in Jurassic Park: Novel vs. Movie

So, the question remains: is John Hammond the true villain of Jurassic Park for cutting corners in a dangerous park? In the movie, not really. But in the original Michael Crichton novel, absolutely. The book version of Hammond is a greedy, eccentric billionaire whose frugal decisions directly lead to the park's disaster story. The novel also paints Nedry as a hard-working computer genius who is wronged by Hammond's refusal to pay him more.

On the other hand, Spielberg softened Hammond by casting Richard Attenborough, who comes off as a well-meaning grandfather with an ambition to create a spectacle for the people. In the cafeteria scene with Dr. Sattler, his flea circus story paints him as a salt-of-the-earth capitalist who just dreamed a little too big. So, there’s no choice but to shift the blame and make Nedry the obvious antagonist in the movie.

The “spared no expense” line is proof that a single phrase, repeated in the right context, can become a defining moment in pop culture history. It ties directly into the theme of Jurassic Park, and echoes another defining quote from the same movie:

Life finds a way.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image