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9 of the best (and worst) celebrity mugshots of all time: from Donald Trump and Michael Jackson to Justin Bieber, Khloé Kardashian and Reese Witherspoon – but who looked happiest at being arrested?

Michael Jackson, Lindsay Lohan and Hugh Grant all got arrested at one point or another. Photos: @celeb_mugshots, @borninfluenced, @photos.from.history/Instagram

It’s surprising just how many of our favourite stars have been behind bars – or at least have gotten arrested. From driving under the influence to drug possession, many have found themselves on the wrong side of the law – and subject to having their mugshot taken as a result.

Mugshots in the US are deemed to be public records. The American Constitution defines public records as information that is available to anyone who requests it – making it particularly easy for the press to get hold of the photos and for them to go viral.

Still, some of these celebrities seem positively over the moon about being arrested. Here are nine of Hollywood’s most iconic mugshots of all time.

1. Khloé Kardashian

Khloé Kardashian was arrested for a DUI. Photo: @amusingstreet/Instagram
Diehard Keeping Up with the Kardashians fans will remember when Khloé Kardashian was arrested for a DUI in 2007, and the stress it caused her mum Kris Jenner. However, Jenner did admit that her daughter looked “cute” in her arrest photo.

“Malika (Haqq) did my hair for my mugshot,” Khloé replied, referring to her actress friend. “I did my own make-up.”

2. Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon has looked back on her 2013 arrest with regret. Photo: @celebritymugshotz/Instagram
All-American good girl and mother of three, Reese Witherspoon has to be one of the most surprising celebs on this list. In 2013, she tried to defend her then husband Jim Toth for drunk-driving, and was arrested for disorderly conduct as a result.

“I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job,” Witherspoon told Us Weekly after the arrest. “The words I used that night definitely do not reflect who I am.”

A picture paints a thousand words and if her mugshot could talk, that is definitely what it would be saying.

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3. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods’ mugshot sparked plenty of memes – and a fan even wore it on a T-shirt to attend one of the golfer’s tournaments. Photo: @otjsports/Instagram

No one’s mugshot says “busted” quite like Tiger Woods’. The famous golfer was arrested on Memorial Day in Florida in 2017 on suspicion of driving under the influence. The internet had a field day with the less than flattering shot, however, and it wasn’t long before it became a popular meme.

Two years later though, the troubled golfer appeared to be amused when a fan sported the image on a T-shirt during one of his tournaments.

4. Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber looking inexplicably delighted at getting arrested in 2014. Photo: @byherownrules/Instagram
The only explanation we can think of for Justin Bieber’s apparent delight at having his mugshot taken in 2014 is that he misguidedly thought it would improve his street cred. Or perhaps he really was that drunk at the time. Either way, the reformed star has since turned things around.

The “Baby” singer was arrested on suspicion of DUI and for drag racing, per Billboard.

5. Lindsay Lohan

 

A list of iconic mugshots wouldn’t be complete without Lindsay Lohan, whose numerous run-ins with the law have produced more post-arrest photos than most. The Mean Girls actress was in and out of rehab in her early 20s and arrested for cocaine possession, DUIs, driving on a suspended license and violating her probation, among others.

6. Donald Trump

Donald Trump looked particularly scary in his 2023 mugshot … but that didn’t stop him from leveraging the would-be negative press. Photo: @greekreporter/Instagram
Love him or hate him, former president Donald Trump knows how to use negative press to his advantage. After being indicted on racketeering and related charges last August, his glaring mugshot suddenly appeared on merchandise across the US, funded by his own campaign. As The Guardian put it, “First came the mugshot. Then came the mugs. Then the shot glasses.”

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7. Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant’s reputation took a hit when he was arrested in 1995. Photo: @photos.from.history/Instagram

Hugh Grant should probably win the prize for most sheepish mugshot the world has ever seen after his arrest in 1995 on “lewd conduct” charges. The Wonka actor was arrested in LA with sex worker Divine Brown in his car – and his polite British persona was shot to pieces overnight.

8. Yasmine Bleeth

Baywatch star Yasmine Bleeth once got arrested too. Photos: @munkimatt/X, vintage_beauty5/Instagram
Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff weren’t the only mainstream Baywatch stars in the 90s. Yasmine Bleeth was just as big at the time, but began abusing cocaine after becoming famous. In 2001, she was arrested after driving her car off the highway in Michigan while under the influence.

A reformed Bleeth later told Glamour, “My friends said I looked like an alien, that my eyes were popping out of my sockets.”

9. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was arrested in 2003. Photo: @celeb_mugshots/Instagram

In November 2003, pop star Michael Jackson surrendered himself to police in California on charges of “lewd or lascivious acts with a child younger than 14”, per People magazine. The stark photograph was shocking enough, but it was his weight – listed at the time of arrest as just 54kg – that was perhaps even more shocking.

  • Celebrity mugshots often capture stars at the lowest points in their lives, but some were clearly taking things less seriously than others, including Justin Bieber, Donald Trump and Khloé Kardashian
  • Romcom king Hugh Grant and America’s sweetheart Reese Witherspoon looked the most sheepish, while friends and fans alike were worried at Michael Jackson and Baywatch star Yasmine Bleeth’s photos