Tom Hardy thought he was making a safe bet with Leonardo DiCaprio concerning an Oscar nomination, but he had no idea that losing would force him to get the most embarrassing tattoo of his career. The bond between the Hollywood co-stars is cemented not just by their intense on-screen collaboration, but by a notorious wager made on the set of the brutal 2015 survival film, The Revenant. The bet, concerning a potential Academy Award nod, resulted in Hardy receiving a permanent piece of body art that he initially described as “shitty.”
The ‘Leo Knows All’ Wager
During the grueling production of The Revenant, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the two actors were constantly pushing their emotional and physical limits. DiCaprio, who played the lead role of Hugh Glass, was deeply convinced that Hardy’s performance as the morally bankrupt antagonist, John Fitzgerald, was strong enough to earn him an Academy Award nomination. Hardy, known for his self-deprecating humor and humility, was skeptical. He confessed to Esquire magazine that he considered his own work “never going to happen.”
The two men decided to make a wager: if Hardy received an Oscar nomination, he would get a tattoo of DiCaprio’s design and handwriting. Conversely, if he didn’t, DiCaprio would get a tattoo of Hardy’s choosing.
The Nomination Proves DiCaprio Right
The outcome was a resounding win for DiCaprio’s intuition. At the 88th Academy Awards in 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio secured his first-ever Oscar, winning Best Actor for his role. Crucially for the bet, Tom Hardy was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his visceral portrayal of the villain.
Hardy lost the bet. His reward was a permanent piece of body art designed and handwritten by DiCaprio himself.
The Tattoo: ‘Leo Knows All’
DiCaprio originally scribbled the victorious phrase in what Hardy later described as “really sh**ty handwriting.” The required tattoo was the phrase: “Leo Knows All” (often cited with the slight variation, “Leo knows everything”). Hardy initially stalled on getting the tattoo, reportedly telling Esquire he hadn’t gotten it “because it sucks.”
However, Hardy is a man of his word. In 2018, nearly two years after the bet was settled, photos circulated online confirming that he had fulfilled his obligation. The phrase “Leo Knows All” is now clearly visible on his right bicep in a simple, almost childlike script. It stands as a permanent reminder of his co-star’s prophetic confidence in his talent. The story has since become a legendary anecdote, illustrating the camaraderie between the two stars and solidifying DiCaprio’s reputation as a man whose predictions regarding acting excellence are simply infallible.