The modern mug shot was invented in 1888, and famous portraits have been coming out ever since. From the days of the Wild West to today, mug shots have shown the faces of arrested citizens and celebrities, alike. For some celebrities, it’s hard to hide from the past when their mug shot is iconic.
The original purpose of a mug shot was to give law enforcement a photographic record of arrested individuals. While still used for that today, it’s become a common thing to end up seeing some of these celebrity mug shots on t-shirts and monetized in some way.
Natasha Lyonne appears in a Miami-Dade jail mug shot taken as she is booked August 28, 2001 (Photo by Joe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images)
Mug shots go on to become iconic for a number of reasons. These reasons vary, and are rarely ever for a good reason. Sometimes it’s for the story behind the arrest. However, most of the time it seems like these pictures end up going viral because of how the individual looks in the picture.
When you hear the phrase ‘celebrity mug shot,’ who do you think of? Is there one specific example that comes to mind? There have been several over the hundreds of years of their existence that have stuck out, for one reason or another. Some of these photos will live on in infamy forever, unfortunately. However, others have totally embraced their photo. It’s different for each case and person, and understandably so.
I put together a list of 10 iconic celebrity mug shots. All of these stand out amongst the others. For some, it’s how bad they look. On the other hand, some mug shots are iconic and famous for how good they look. Every picture is noteworthy for its own unique reason.
10 Iconic Celebrity Mug Shots
Nick Nolte
Photo: California Highway Patrol/AP
This mug shot was taken in 2002 after Nolte was arrested for DUI. Later, Nolte, himself, said that he looked “like an asylum inmate out for a lark.”
Frank Sinatra
Photo: Bergen County Sheriff’s Office
In 1938, Sinatra was arrested and booked on charges of Seduction. Looking at this mug shot, I believe it.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton is seen in her booking photo. (Photo by Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department via Getty Images)
Who says you shouldn’t try to look cute in a mug shot? Paris Hilton tried her best after her arrest in 2006.
Bill Gates
Photo: Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Department /Wikimedia Commons
Bet you didn’t expect to see his name and face here. In 1977, he was arrested for running a stop sign and driving without a license.
Matthew McConaughey
Photo: Austin Police Department
Sure, the story is probably more iconic than the actual mug shot. However, when you’re arrested naked playing the bongos you’re going to make the list.
Jane Fonda
Photo: Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department
No stranger to being arrested, Jane Fonda gave us this iconic mug shot in 1970.
David Bowie
Photo: Rochester (NY) Police Department
Bowie’s mug shot for a marijuana charge in 1976 is one of the most iconic mug shots of all-time.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is seen in a police booking photo after his arrest (Photo by The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
It was sad seeing this in 2017. It showed how far the world’s greatest golfer had fallen in recent years. However, he’d bounce back and win another Master’s tournament a couple years later.
Ozzy Osbourne
Credit: Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
Ozzy’s mug shot in the St. Louis Blues jersey became one of rock’s most iconic mug shots. It’s from 1984.
Donald Trump
Photo: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images
The internet was buzzing waiting for this mug shot to drop in mid-2023. It was replicated by politicians and comedians, alike. It was instantly iconic.
