Ben Affleck’s unique tattoos provide a glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood’s elite. Affleck has created an award winning acting/directing career spanning decades and crossing every conceivable genre.  

Initially cast as a bully and heel in early films like Kevin Smith’s Mallrats and Richard Linklater’s seminal coming of age film Dazed and Confused, the turning point in Affleck’s career came with the success of Good Will Hunting.

Since then, Affleck has largely escaped the pigeonholes of many Hollywood leading men, demonstrating versatility and range as an actor, writer, Oscar winning producer, and director.

Affleck has certainly had his fair share of controversy and his personal life has often been held to the scrutiny of the paparazzi’s lens. Despite the public nature of both his successes and failures—several high-profile relationships have crashed and burned and personal battles with addiction have been cast in the public eye—Ben Affleck remains a powerhouse in Hollywood that is unashamed of his humanity, including his interesting and unique collection of tattoos.

How Many Tattoos Does Ben Affleck Have?

Affleck has five tattoos, from small cover-ups to a stunning, full back piece. That variety of subjects and styles demonstrate the eclectic tastes of the actor, providing a glimpse into the psyche of one of Hollywood’s most prolific artists.

1. Full Back Phoenix Tattoo

Most recently, Ben’s ink has been back in the limelight with the unveiling of a large, full back tattoo of a Phoenix applied in vibrant colors. When the tattoo was first glimpsed and reported on by The Daily Mail, it was speculated the piece was perhaps a temporary tattoo for an upcoming film role. After the rumored ink was not featured in Affleck’s recent movies speculation shifted. Finally, after Affleck was snapped shirtless at the beach, images of the massive design hit the front page of celebrity magazines around the world.

The symbolism of rebirth after struggle associated with the Phoenix is powerful imagery, many have surmised that this tattoo represents overcoming the difficult and painful divorce from longtime partner and mother of his children, Jennifer Garner. Ben has stated that this piece “represents something really important to me”, so this interpretation seems likely.

The rest of the celebrity universe has chimed on Ben’s new ink. Former flame Jennifer Lopez said “It’s awful!”, while Garner had a more nuanced reaction. According to a Vanity Fair article: “…Garner’s main issue with the tattoo was its admittedly on-the-nose symbolism; ‘Am I the ashes in this scenario?’ she wondered. ‘I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.’”

Ben’s own explanation maintains a commendable sense of humor, telling Ellen DeGeneres: “It’s a phoenix rising from my ass,” when asked about the ink during an interview.