The 50 Best Celebrity Mugshots, Hot and Famous Mugshots (of all time)
Celebrities are real humans too. Sometimes they commit crimes, get busted and have their mugshot photos taken. The main difference is their funny mugshots are headline news that gets plastered all over TV and the web for everyone’s entertainment.
Some of the most famous mugshots include wild ones like Nick Nolte or FBI most wanted. But as connoisseurs of mugshots, we have carefully researched the best celebrity mug shots ever published – including public mugshots, actors and rarely seen gems.
Here our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers have chosen the best celebrity mugshots and hot felon mugshots for their historic importance, attitude or style. The result is this 2023 curated collection of the most iconic and funniest mugshots of all time.
Look Who Got Busted: Hot Mugshots Gallery
As Jeremy Meeks has shown, sometimes hot mugshots go viral and lead to lucrative modeling careers. Look who got busted in this gallery of the most beautiful female and male criminal arrests mugshots online, celebrities, models and old famous mobsters viral on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr and Pinterest including Pablo Escobar. Bad mugshots never looked so good!
1. Bill Gates, 1977
Bill Gates famous mugshot was taken in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1977 for driving without a license and running a stop sign. A year later, Gates moved his startup company Microsoft to Seattle and he famously received 3 speeding tickets in his Porsche 911 driving to Washington state.
The arrest apparently didn’t hold Gates back. Forbes estimates he’s worth $110 billion, making him the second wealthiest person in the world after Jeff Bezos.
2. Frank Sinatra, 1938
Francis Albert Sinatra was arrested in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1938 for seducing a woman. According to FBI reports, “under the promise of marriage” Frank Sinatra “did then and there have sexual intercourse with the said complainant, who was then and there a single female of good repute.”
He was released on $1,500 bail for his sex crimes, but arrested one month later for the charge of adultery after it was determined the woman in question was married.
3. Jay-Z, 1999
Shawn Corey Carter, aka “Jay-Z”, was arrested by New York City police in December 1999 for allegedly stabbing record producer Lance “Un” Rivera at New York’s Kit Kat Club.
He was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and could have faced a 15 year prison sentence. Jay-Z later plead guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to three years probation.
4. Eminem, 2000
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, aka “Eminem” was arrested on June 4, 2000 and charged with pistol-whipping a man who was allegedly kissing his wife, Kim Mathers, outside the Hard Rock Sports Bar in Warren, Michigan.
Prosecutors dropped a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon as part of the plea deal where Eminem plead guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to two-years probation.
5. Nick Nolte, 2002
Actor Nick Nolte, 61 was arrested in Malibu in 2002 for DUI and a drug charge for being under the influence of the drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, commonly known as GHB. Nick Nolte’s infamous mugshot was one of the most viral mugshots online in history.
Nolte later wrote in his memoir: “It went viral — my hair wild, my expression unsettling, looking like an asylum inmate out for a lark. In 1992, People magazine had named me the Sexiest Man Alive, and now, 10 years later, I looked to all the world like a madman.”
6. Jeremy Meeks “Hot Felon”, 2014
Jeremy Meeks is a former Crips gang member and convicted felon who became famous due to his mug shot. After arrested during a California gang sweep called Operation Ceasefire, Stockton Police posted his arrest mugshot on their Facebook page.
His ‘Hot Felon mugshot’ went viral, racking up 96,000+ likes. While serving his prison sentence for firearm and grand theft charges, Meeks was recruited for a modeling contract and is now a fashion model with 1.6mm+ instagram followers.
7. David Bowie, 1976
English Rockstar David Bowie (born David Robert Jones) took a stylish mugshot for a marijuana possession arrest in Rochester, New York in May 1976 after a performance at the Community War Memorial. Both Bowie and Iggy Pop were arrested when police found 6 ounces of marijuana in their hotel rooms.
Iggy Pop and David Bowie spent one night in jail and were then released on bail. Drug charges were dismissed when a grand jury declined to indict them.
8. Keanu Reeves, 1993
Movie star actor Keanu Reeves was arrested for driving under the influence and reckless driving in Los Angeles, California in May 1993. Reeves allegedly admitted to DUI but was not charged.
9. James Brown, 2004
James Brown, the iconic “Godfather of Soul”, 70, was no stranger to run ins with the law. Brown was busted here in January 2004 in Aiken County, South Carolina and charged with domestic violence against his 33 year old wife Tomi Rae Brown.
Brown was reportedly arrested multiple times over the years for domestic violence incidents with multiple wives. Brown pled no contest and paid a fine of just over $1,000.
10. Robert Downey Jr, 1999
Robert Downey Jr was arrested on a bench warrant in 1999 in California issued for missing required drug tests while on probation for 1996 drug charges of possession of heroin, cocaine and a .357 magnum handgun.
Downey was arrested many times before finally conquering his struggles with drugs. In November 2000 he was arrested at the Merv Griffith Resort in Palm Springs for drug possession and again in April 2001 in Culver City for controlled substance usage.
11. Al Pacino, 1961
Alfred James Pacino was arrested in Woonsocket, Rhode Island in 1961 for possession of a concealed weapon. The actor Pacino and two friends kept driving in a circle around the same block wearing black face masks.
When police pulled over the suspicious car and searched the vehicle, they found a loaded .38 caliber pistol in the trunk. Pacino was arrested for the crime of possession of a concealed weapon and spent 3 days in jail as he was unable to come up with the $2,000 bail. Charges were later dropped.
12. Justin Bieber, 2014
Justin Bieber and the singer Khalil were arrested in Miami, Florida in 2014 allegedly for drag-racing a yellow Lamborghini, resisting arrest and driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs. Bieber later pled guilty to resisting arrest without violence and a lesser charge of driving without due care and attention.
13. Elvis Presley, 1970
This stylish famous mugshot is believed to not actually be a real mugshot. Rather it was taken November 17, 1970 by the Denver Colorado Police for Elvis’s honorary Police badge.
Elvis was being honored for donating to the construction costs of a local gymnasium when the iconic mugshot was snapped.
14. Martin Luther King Jr, 1956
Martin Luther King Jr was famously arrested in 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama while participating in the Rosa Parks inspired bus boycotts protesting bus segregation.
King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for combatting racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. At age thirty-five, he was the youngest man ever to receive the Nobel prize.
15. Lindsay Lohan, 2010
Lindsay Dee Lohan has been arrested many times. Here she was photographed in 2010 after checking into the Lynwood Jail in California for probation violations. Lohan was sentenced to serve 3 months in jail and 90 days in rehab for repeatedly violating probation terms on two DUI arrests in 2007.
16. Bruno Mars, 2010
Singer Peter Gene Hernandez, aka “Bruno Mars” was arrested in 2010 in a bathroom of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada for felony cocaine possession. Mars pled guilty to cocaine possession (2.6 grams).
Under his plea deal, charges were eventually dismissed after he paid a $2,000 fine and completed 200 hours of community service and eight hours of drug counseling.
17. Meek Mill, 2017
Robert Rihmeek Williams, aka rapper “Meek Mill” was arrested in 2017 in Philadelphia, PA for violating probation on a 2008 drug and gun case. Mill was sentenced to 2 to 4 years prison for his involvement in a scuffle at St. Louis airport and for riding a dirt motor bike in his music video in New York.
Mill’s famous case became a lightning rod for criminal justice reform prompting high profile op-eds by Jay-Z and Kevin Hart, mass protests and calls for probation and sentencing guideline changes. His 12-year case was finally resolved in 2019 when Mill’s misdemeanor lawyer was able to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor firearm charge.
18. Mick Jagger, 1967
Mick Jagger was arrested in this stylish mugshot taken in Sussex England in 1967 for Amphetamine possession. He was with Keith Richards who was allowing guests to smoke cannabis in his home.
Both Jagger and Richards were convicted and sentenced to prison. But they appealed the drug charges which were overturned on appeal.
19. Nina Dobrev, 2009
Nina Dobrev, whose real name is Nikolina Konstantinova Dobreva, and her Vampire Diaries costars Candice Accola, Sara Canning and Kayla Ewell were all arrested in 2009 in Smarr, Georgia for dangling from a bridge and flashing drivers on Highway I-72.
The entire group with their model good looks was charged with disorderly conduct and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine.
20. Mickey Rourke, 1994
Philip Andre “Mickey” Rourke Jr. was arrested in 1994 in Los Angeles, California for spousal abuse of his 25 year old wife Carré Otis. Rourke allegedly slapped Otis, knocked her down and kicked her in an encounter at their publicist’s office.
At the time, Rourke was on a break from his acting career pursing professional boxing. Domestic violence charges were later dropped.
21. Cher, 1959
Cherilyn Sarkisian, aka “Cher” was only 13 years old in this arrest mugshot. Cher was arrested in 1959 for “borrowing” a friend’s car and driving it without a license in Los Angeles, California.
22. 50 Cent, 1994
Rapper Curtis Jackson, aka “50 Cent” was photographed at age 19 while serving time in New York State Department of Correctional Services, in August 1994. Jackson had pleaded guilty to felony charges of selling heroin and crack cocaine.
23. Paris Hilton, 2010
Paris Hilton was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2010 on suspicion of felony cocaine possession after a container of the drug fell out of her handbag at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel.
She later pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of drug possession and obstructing an officer. She was sentenced to 1 year of probation, 200 hours of community service and agreed to complete an intensive substance abuse program.
24. Khloé Kardashian, 2008
Reality TV star Kardashian turned herself into Los Angeles County jail in California in 2008 for violating terms of her probation for a 2007 DUI conviction. Khloé did not complete the alcohol education program or the community service that she promised to under her probation terms.
Khloé was supposed to serve up to 30 days in jail, but was released just 30 hours later due to overcrowding.
25. Snoop Dogg, 1993
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., aka “Snoop Dogg” turned himself in to face murder charges in the shooting death of Phillip Woldemarian in the Palms district of Los Angeles, California in this 1993 booking photo. He was later acquitted of all charges.
26. Tyga, 2012
Michael Ray Stevenson, aka rapper “Tyga” was arrested in in Las Vegas in 2012 due to an outstanding bench warrant. According to media reports, the warrant was due to 4 outstanding prior incidents including driving without a license, registration violations and other unlawful acts of financial responsibility. Tyga sparked tabloid controversy over his alleged romantic relationship with underage reality star Kylie Jenner.
27. Chris Tucker, 2005
Christopher Tucker, aka “Chris Tucker” was arrested in Georgia in April 2005 for reckless driving. Tucker was driving his Bentley at 109 mph when police attempted to pull him over. The pursuit lasted 10 miles before he stopped.
Tucked pleaded guilty to speeding and eluding police and paid a fine of $6,999.
28. Terence Howard, 2000
Terrence Howard was arrested in August 2000 for allegedly assaulting a Continental Airlines flight attendant. Howard was placed under arrest when the flight landed in Cleveland, Ohio.
The misdemeanor charges were later dropped due to lack of jurisdiction.
29. Tupac Shakur, 1993
Tupac Amaru Shakur, aka “2Pac” and “Makaveli” was arrested for sexually assaulting a 19 year old woman he met at a New York nightclub along with three of his friends. He was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison but received an early release after serving only 9 months in Clinton Correctional Facility.
Shakur was later shot and killed in September 1996. His murder has never been officially solved.
30. Shia LeBeouf, 2007
According to LeBeouf’s essay “Error Breeds Sense” he has been incarcerated five times, starting with a shoplifting arrest at age 9 for taking Nike Cortezes from a store. In this mugshot, Shia LaBeouf was arrested in Chicago, Illinois in 2007 for misdemeanor trespassing.
He visited a Walgreens many times in one night in a drunken state and refused to leave after several requests by security. Charges were later dropped.
Hot Mugshots Gallery
Some beautiful criminals set the internet on fire with their stylish, hot mugshots. Here are law enforcement’s hottest male and female mugshots that look more like models or movie stars than criminals. Many have gone viral on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest in 2020-2021 and some even launched successful model careers. Check out the some of the hottest mugshots online. #PrisonBae #HotFelon #BustedMugshots.
31. Mehki Alante Lucky Mugshot, aka “Prison Bae”, 2017
32. Monica Leon Mugshot, aka “Danger”, 2010
33. Meagan McCullough Mugshot, aka “Attractive Convict”, 2010
34. Angela Coates Mugshot, 2014
35. “Mugshot Bae”, 2019
36. Cedrick Wilcox Jr. Mugshot, aka “Hot Mugshot Man”, 2014
37. Jennifer Jensen Mugshot, 2011
38. Mirella Ponce Mugshot, 2017
39. Cristina Davalos Mugshot
40. “Prison Bae” Mugshot
41. Sarah Seawright Mugshot, aka “PrisonBae”, 2016
42. Toni Lee Hopkins Mugshot
43. “Hot Mugshot Girl”
44. Alysa Bathrick Mugshot, aka “Cute Mug Shot Girl”, 2014
Famous Mobster and Historical Mugshots
Here we show Columbia drug lord, famous mobsters and mafia mugshots along with rare archival old mugshots of pivotal historical communist and fascist leaders.
45. Pablo Escobar mugshot, 1977
46. Al Capone, aka “Scarface” mugshot, 1930.
47. John Gotti, aka “The Dapper Don” mugshot, 1990
48. Joseph Stalin mugshot, 1911
49. Vladimir Lenin mugshot, 1895
50. Benito Mussolini mugshot, 1903
Mugshots were invented by French criminologist Alphonse Bertillon in 1888, shown here in a self portrait in the mugshot photography template he created. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
What is a mugshot?
Mugshots are police photographs of a person after arrest for a crime. They are used by law enforcement to create a photographic record of individuals to aid in identification by investigators, criminal victims and the public at large.
Photographing criminals began in the 1840’s, shortly after the invention of photography. French criminologist Alphonse Bertillon standardized the mug shot photography process of criminal identification in 1888 into what is commonplace today.
French criminologist Alphonse Bertillon (left) created the mugshot system of criminal identification that police still use today. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The mugshot standard is a two-part image combining a photograph from the front with a side view. The photographs are typically taken against a simple background in order to not distract from the facial image. Often the arrested person holds a placard with their name, booking ID and other identifying information.
It is believed that the two-part image was originally inspired by Alexander Gardner’s 1865 prisoner portraits of the accused conspirators in the Abraham Lincoln assassination trials.
Beyond their use in law enforcement, mugshots have permeated pop culture and art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2016 exhibition “Crimes Stories: Photography and Foul Play” highlighted works inspired by the criminal underworld including art by: Richard Avedon, Larry Clark, Walker Evans, John Gutmann, Andy Warhol, and Weegee.
In recent years, the mugshot publication industry has monetized mugshots online via websites such as TMZ, Mugshots.com, LookWhoGotBusted, Busted Mugshots, EraseMugshots.com and TheSmokingGun.com and by publishing books and stories.
Mugshot FAQs
Are mugshots public record and how do they get published?
Arrest mugshots are public record images originally published by the law enforcement agency on their public websites following an arrest.
The mugshot publishing industry scrapes the arrest information and public mugshots to republish them online, in mugshot databases and in tabloids.
One way to reduce the probability of a mugshot being published online is for the arrestee to surrender and be booked in a rural sheriff or police department that does not publish mugshot information online.
How can I find my mugshot?
You can find your mugshot by requesting a copy from the law enforcement agency that booked you and took the photo. You can lookup booking photos published online by searching via Google image search or mugshot databases like: Mugshots.com, TheSmokingGun.com, CheckThem.com and LookWhoGotBusted.com.
Which cities and counties were searched for these mugshots?
Our reviewers searched far and wide to find the most iconic mugshots. Public domain records searches, city and county jail mugshot websites and online databases nation-wide were all searched to find the best mug shot photos of all time.
The largest number of mugshots were reviewed by searching: ADA county arrests in Idaho, Putnam county jail in NY, St Louis STL mugshots, Gainesville mugshots in Florida, Medford mugshots in Oregon, Erj mugshots in West Virginia, Iron county bookings mugshots in Utah, Kentucky KY arrests, Leon County booking report in Florida, Ocala mugshots in Florida, Gage county inmates mugshots, Etowah county mugshots in Alabama, Pierce county jail roster, MCSO mugshots in Arizona, Kitsap county jail roster in WA, Lucas county booking photos in Ohio, Stewart county booking log in Tennessee, Times News mugshots, Alamance County mugshots in NC, Lincoln Journal Star mugshots in Lancaster County NE, Santa Rosa County mugshots, JSO inmate search, Jacksonville mugshots, and Skagit county jail bookings in WA.
Mugshot News & Resources
- The Mug Shot, a Crime Story Staple, Is Dropped by Some Newsrooms and Police, The New York Times
- Newsrooms Rethink a Crime Reporting Staple: The Mugshot, The Marshall Project
- Innocent until your mugshot is on the internet, The New York Times
- Lawmakers crack down on Mugshots.com, Vice
- Amazon face recognition falsely matched 28 Congressmen with Mugshots, ACLU
- Essential mugshot removal tips and tricks, Brandyourself
- Using copyright law to battle mugshot extortion, ABA Journal
Disclaimer
One of the most sacred principles in the American criminal justice system is that those accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt or they plead guilty in a court of law. A mugshot does not imply or prove guilt and is not evidence that an actual crime has been committed. Mugshots shown here are previously published public records. If you would like your mugshot removed from this page, please call (844) 325-1444. There is no charge for removing your mugshot.