Celebrities are just like us! And, just like millions of Americans, famous people have criminal records too.
You probably know about Chris Brown’s arrest record. But what about the time Bill Gates got arrested? And did Mark Wahlberg really try to murder someone? Find out today as we identify 7 famous celebrities you forgot had criminal backgrounds.
7) Bill Gates – Driving Without A License And Speeding
In 1975, long before he was a famous billionaire or even a millionaire, Bill Gates was arrested for driving without a license and speeding.
Bill clearly didn’t learn from his lesson: in 1977, he was arrested for driving without a license and not stopping at a stop sign. Fortunately, Bill’s record has been clean ever since (at least, as far as we know).
6) Jay Z – Stabbing Someone
Jay-Z stabbed someone once. And this isn’t back in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he was (allegedly) slinging cocaine on the streets of New York City.
Instead, in 1999, Jay Z stabbed a record executive in the stomach during a fight at a night club. Hova would later plead guilty to an assault charge and received three years’ probation.
5) Vanilla Ice – Possession Of A Firearm, Assault, And Battery
When you think of famous hardcore rappers with a criminal background, you probably don’t think of Vanilla Ice. Surprisingly, Vanilla Ice has had multiple brush-ins with police.
In 1991, Vanilla Ice – whose real name is Robert Matthew Van Winkle (seriously) – was arrested after he allegedly pulled out a pistol and threatened a homeless man.
To celebrate the anniversary of his first arrest (I’m guessing), Vanilla Ice was arrested for assaulting his wife in 2001. During an altercation, Mr. Ice pulled out some of his wife’s hair. He would later plead guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to probation.
Vanilla Ice couldn’t wait ten years for his next arrest. In 2008, he allegedly kicked and hit his wife and was charged with battery. Charges were later dropped, however, after it was revealed that he had only pushed his wife.
4) Marilyn Manson – Sexual Misconduct
Marilyn Manson is one of those wild card famous celebrities: he’s well-educated and successful but also does some pretty crazy things from time to time.
One of those “crazy things” was when he was arrested for sexual misconduct after he rubbed his crotch against a security guard’s head. Manson later had the charge reduced to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct and paid a $400 fine.
3) Bruno Mars – Drug Possession
Even before Bruno was arrested, a lot of people could see this one coming (it’s just something about his eyes). In 2010, right before he shot to fame, Bruno Mars was arrested for possession of cocaine. He would plead guilty and reduce his sentence to a $2,000 fine and 200 hours of community service.
2) Matthew McConaughey – Drug Possession
For a lot of people, walking into a house and finding Matthew McConaughey naked is their wildest dream.
But for police in 1999, that was a dream that came true. In 1999, McConaughey was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after a neighbor made a noise complaint. Police arrived at the resident to find McConaughey naked and dancing in his home. They found “illegal substances”, but charges were eventually dropped and McConaughey pleaded guilty to an all right fine of $50.
1) Mark Wahlberg – Attempted Murder
This might be the best-known celebrity criminal record on this list. Mark Wahlberg was arrested in 1986 and charged with assault and attempted murder after he was accused of attacking a man in the street with a wooden stick and knocking him unconscious.
Mark’s criminal past goes all the way back to the age of 13, when he became addicted to cocaine. He was also accused of assault against minority groups in his neighborhood numerous times. At age 16, he approached two Vietnamese men in the street in separate incidents. He attacked one man with a stick and another with his fists. Later that day, Wahlberg was arrested while reportedly yelling racial slurs.
Wahlberg would eventually plead guilty to assault and served just a 45 day sentence. Wahlberg, however, has a felony on his arrest records to this day.