Work hard, get paid. When it comes to stacking cash, some call the piles of bills the root of all evil, while others claim they’re merely fun coupons.
With money comes the power to buy any material comforts in the world, from suits to yachts; if you want it, you’ll need to spend a pretty penny on it.
However, finance talk aside, bank notes can symbolize more than just status, greed, and power. For others, the value of money lies in freedom.
For instance, currency artwork can represent good health. Sure, you can’t buy eternal life, but you can pay for medical care to prolong life and postpone death with it. In another light, money can be a symbol of hard work, passion for success, and dedication to business. Not to mention that with it comes the virtue of responsibility; otherwise, you’ll go broke.
A money tattoo design is a constant reminder to stay organized and focused until the end. In other words, strive for a better quality of life but understand that you must be patient before receiving your reward.
If riches and wealth are on your mind, take a look at these top 50 best money tattoos for men. You’ll discover a wealth of masculine tattoo design ideas, from bills to coins. I’ve also included cool 100 dollar artwork and Benjamin Franklin portraits that are sure to inspire just about any man.
1. Monopoly Man Money Tattoos
What better way to immortalize an iconic board game than to have it inked on your skin? The Monopoly Man, originally known as Uncle Pennybags, is a symbol all over the world of the contented, happy-go-lucky, rich elderly man.
The board game itself either brings families together or breaks them apart — we can all agree on that. The following pieces of body art display the dimensions of the character interpretation of the Monopoly Man, sometimes showing the expression as the emblem of innocence. Other tattoo ideas emphasize a sneaky, sly grin, implying more malevolent tropes and themes surrounding the concept of wealth.
2. Fathers of Cash: Portrait Realism
Sometimes life can feel like it’s all about the Benjamins, which can either be viewed in a positive or negative valence light. The faces that adorn the currency notes of the American economy have been transformed into the following pieces of tattoo art, with some styles relying on heavy shading and photorealism.
Money tattoo ideas vary and even include a reference to the Ben Affleck-directed bank-robbing film The Town. Why a person would want to ink on their bodies a perpetually lasting image of dead men who represented wealth is probably more personal than generalized or even a blatant admission of greed and the willingness to bow to money‘s compelling nature.
3. Thriving in Power: Life Money Tattoos
Wealth and its attainment are often associated with feelings of great power. Power can then be associated with more monovalent elements, such as evil and generally negative motivations. But power can also be associated with themes that connote life — thriving, flourishing, and confident exuberance.
Many of these money design ideas exemplify these positive notions — 100 dollar notes folded gently like origami into shapes, bold imagery of currency residing in nature, and a confident and defiant fist held high while clutching some hard-earned cash. Among the most popular body art featuring currency is the money rose tattoo design.
Most of these pieces lack color, but their intense detail and photorealism relay the lush vibrancy of nature and the many symbolic energies that come with it. Sometimes money reminds people of how hard they have worked to get where they are in life or immortalizes the time when attainment of basic income was an uphill battle, one which they managed to conquer.
4. Sinister Wealth: Death & Money Tattoos
There are a plethora of reasons why some people would want to eternally remind themselves about the sinister associations that come with gaining and attaining wealth. Many of these pieces of body art display the darker side of the money hunt, which requires questioning morals, greed, and even a meditation upon the concept of inevitable death. Many of these pieces blend currency imagery with skulls, an hourglass alluding to the colloquialism “time is money,” and notions of behavior committed in the name of a financially comfortable life.
A tattoo artist may apply several tattooing styles, such as Gothic with the heavy shading on the skulls and even portrait realism with a visual reference to Al Capone. The wealth we gain over our lifespans cannot go with us into the grave, so perhaps some of these pieces are making a good point about being mindful when considering what is eternal and what is not.
5. Living for the Tangible: Bills and Coins
Some tattoos exist for the mere aesthetic pleasure they provide; not everyone requires a deep-seated meaning behind what is inked on their skin. Coins, bills, the dollar sign, and buried treasure adorn these individuals’ bodies as a reminder of the sheer beauty and unique designs that have existed over centuries of currency exchange. Larger pieces of dollar signs are thick, Gothic-looking styles with heavy shading and old-fashioned text work. Intensely detailed folded bills are stunning examples of photorealism. Perhaps these individuals respect the value of money and what it can do for us in our lives and the ones we love.
Money Tattoo FAQ
What is the meaning of the Monopoly man tattoo?
The Monopoly man, aka Rich UnclePennybags, has been a symbol of wealth since the invention of the popular board game in 1936. What he represents, in general, tends to vary. On one hand, hecan be seen asthe innocent, thriving, and neutral face of the board game. On the other hand, his motivescan be seen asmuch more sinister, acting as the cold hand of the law, the government reaching out for payment, or the ever-growing appeal of greed. What this character means in tattoo art is solely dependent upon the design of the tattoo itself, the character’s expression, and the intention of the individual being tattooed.
