The famously private, yet intensely loyal, friendship between Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy has been immortalized in the most painful—and hilarious—way possible: a permanent tattoo that serves as a constant reminder of DiCaprio’s prophetic insight. After starring together in the brutal wilderness epic, The Revenant (2015), DiCaprio was so confident in his co-star’s performance that he laid down a high-stakes bet.
The Bet: Oscar Nod or Permanent Ink
The wager was struck after filming wrapped on the grueling film, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. DiCaprio, who played the lead role of Hugh Glass, predicted that Hardy would receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 88th Academy Awards for his turn as the sinister frontiersman John S. Fitzgerald. Hardy, ever the skeptic, took the bet. The terms were simple: if Hardy lost the bet—meaning he did receive the nomination—he would have to get a tattoo designed by DiCaprio.
The result proved DiCaprio’s prophetic ability. Tom Hardy was indeed nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The win ultimately went to Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies, but the nomination alone was enough to seal Hardy’s fate. Adding insult to injury, DiCaprio went on to win his first-ever Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the same film. DiCaprio chuckled gleefully as he claimed his prize, forcing his friend to pay the price.
The Design: “Leo Knows Everything”
Hardy later revealed in an interview with Esquire the hilarious, unprofessional design that DiCaprio forced upon him. “He wrote, in this really sh—ty handwriting: ‘Leo knows everything.’ Ha! I was like, ‘OK, I’ll get it done, but you have to write it properly.’”
Despite the playful resistance and a two-year delay, Hardy is a man of his word. He eventually got the words permanently inked on his right bicep, settling on the slightly cleaner, abbreviated version, “LEO KNOWS ALL.” The tattoo, which has since been spotted in fan photos, stands as a permanent tribute to DiCaprio’s winning prediction.
Hardy’s resigned yet affectionate reaction to the “ugly words,” stating, “I’m covered in sh*t tattoos anyway, so it doesn’t make any difference to me,” delighted fans. It perfectly captured the essence of their close bond—a bond built on competition, professional respect, and the ability to ruthlessly prank each other. For fans, the tattoo serves as a public mark of a private, hilariously brutal friendship.