12 of the most tattoo-obsessed celebrities, from David Beckham, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber, to Rihanna, Billie Eilish and Angelina Jolie – but who has over 100 on their body?

Nov 30 , 2023

Tattoos are an important part of David Beckham, Angelina Jolie and Ed Sheeran’s lives. Photos: @_Beckham_75, @thequeenangiejolie, @sheerangalway/Instagram

The recent Beckham Netflix documentary reminded us just how many tattoos the footballer has accumulated over the years, while Justin Bieber started young and got his first ink at 16

Ed Sheeran has tattoos designed by artist Damien Hirst, while Rihanna’s iconic body art of the goddess Isis is instantly recognisable – but many live to regret their tats, including Angelina Jolie

Is there a celebrity tattoo you can instantly picture without having to look it up? Rihanna’s goddess Isis for example, or Justin Bieber’s cross? For some stars, their body art has become as much a part of their identity as the clothes they wear.

Some are famous for etching their lovers’ names onto their bodies, only to cover them up months later – we’re looking at you, Ariana – while others have us wondering where they’re keeping theirs. Did you know that Ed Sheeran has as many as 60 tattoos, for example?

Let’s take a look at the most tattoo-obsessed celebrities – and the stories behind some of their more unusual ink.

1. Ariana Grande

Toulouse is the name of Ariana Grande’s family dog. Photo: @awianahq/Instagram

Grande reportedly has an impressive tally of over 40 tattoos, which range from Harry Potter-themed ink and the names of her dogs, to numerous celestial bodies including the sun, moon and stars on the back of her left hand. Previous small tattoos on her hand and rib cage dedicated to her ex Pete Davidson have since been turned into other designs.

2. Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish showed off her Chinese dragon tattoo in an Instagram post and recently got a massive, futuristic tattoo on her back. Photos: @billieeilish/Instagram

Unlike Grande’s 40 or so tiny tattoos, when Billie Eilish decides to get inked, she goes big. Although the “Ocean Eyes” singer told Vanity Fair back in 2020 that she’d never show her tattoos to the public, it seems she’s since had a change of heart, revealing not only the sizeable Chinese dragon inked across her right hip in an Instagram post, but now a huge abstract design on her back too.

3. David Beckham

If you watched the recent Beckham documentary on Netflix, you’d have been reminded once again of just how many tattoos the football legend has by now. Having covered almost every inch of his torso, the 48-year-old appears well and truly addicted to going under the needle.

The footballer is believed to have almost 80 tattoos, according to Men’s Health, and they’re mostly dedicated to his family. He also has Chinese characters written down the left side of his torso that reportedly read, “Death and life have determined appointments.”