Many people want tattoos to express their artistic or personal identity, but the expense to the artist may quickly escalate. Many people get tattoos for a variety of reasons. Some seek attention and disobedience, while others seek artistic expression and personal identity. Tattoos can serve as mementos of a person's heritage, culture, or life experiences.

For some artists, it's all about the complexity of their creations, while for others, it's all about their fame and years of practice that have paid off big. It's not uncommon for someone to wait up to two years to get tattooed by one of these in-demand artists. The length of their waiting list is no laughing matter. The most expensive tattoo artists in the world are listed below.

Bob Tyrrell ($155 Per Hour)

Originally from the state of Michigan, Bob now works as a tattoo artist. In his forties, he became famous for inking the back of Kid Rock. Both LA Ink and London Ink have both highlighted him. During the inaugural Chaudesaigues Grant in 2012, he served as a juror for the prize, recognizing tattoo artists' professionalism and skill.

For the 2012 WorldWide Tattoo Conference, Tyrrell was also present. When Ink Master debuted in late 2012, he was an amazing guest judge. It's often photorealistic, yet it's genuine. Bob has become a legend with his unique approach and ability to convert darkness into a flawless piece of art on the skin.

Keith Underwood ($200 Per Hour)

Taylor Street Tattoo and Austin Tattoo Company are co-owned by Keith. He was taught the fundamentals of tattooing by more traditional tattoo artists. As an apprentice of Mike who has also worked with legendary traditional tattoo artists Ed Hardy and "Sailor Jerry" Collins, Keith mastered the traditional ways of inking. His graffiti painting has made him a household name. You'll need to bring at least $200 to his new shop in Austin, Texas, to acquire one of his tattoos.

Kat Von D ($210 Per Hour)

As a tattoo artist and model from Mexico who is also a businesswoman with a vision, Kat has a lot going for her. The former CEO of Kat Von D Beauty, known as KVD Vegan Beauty, is well recognized for her work in the beauty industry. Additionally, according to a Huffington Post, she appeared in the original reality TV show about tattoos, Miami Ink, which is credited with standardizing tattoos in the workplace.

Jonathan Valena Or JonBoy ($300 Per Hour)

The Christian megachurch Hillsong is where JonBoy, a former youth preacher, first met Hailey Baldwin Beiber. She got her parents' wedding date in Roman numerals on her wrist when she turned 18 and received her first tattoo from JonBoy. Justin Bieber's face was inked by him, as well. Kendall Jenner, Travis Scott, and Zayn Malik are just a few celebrities who sought out JonBoy's micro tattoo services. He has been a tattoo artist for a long time and is now debuting his first clothing line with Coachella.

Keith Scott "Bang Bang" McCurdy ($400 Per Hour)

According to Keith, his greatest strength is his availability. Nobody ever hears him whine about getting tattooed in the wee hours of the morning or about having to drive long distances to ink others. His prominent customers are Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez. In 2004, he placed an internet order for tattoo ink and began practicing on members of his family and friends. He began working at Rage of the Needle in Delaware the following year. A tattoo of the word "Bang Bang" coupled with two firearms on either side of his neck soon gained him the title "Bang Bang" and sealed his fate as a tattoo artist.

Anil Gupta ($450 Per Hour)

After the Gulf War, the United States was in the midst of a recession, so Anil traveled to New York City in 1991. Artists were not being hired. Inking was also illegal in New York then, so tattoo artists had to operate secretly. Anil, a tattoo artist, had no tattoos until Paul Booth and Guy Atchison convinced him to acquire a few tats. His realistic pictures and tattoos in the tribal style have made him a household name. He previously inked a tattoo of a duplicate of a Leonardo Da Vinci picture on his body! Online Studio, where he gets his tattoos, is located in Manhattan, New York.

Ami James ($500 Per Hour)

Ami is a tattoo artist, model, and entrepreneur born in the United States and raised in Israel. Lou of Tattoos by Lou taught him how to be a traditional tattoo artist through apprenticeships. When he was 15 years old, he received his first tattoo and set his sights on becoming a tattoo artist. When he initially began tattooing, he experimented with many styles before settling on the Japanese-influenced Love Hate and Wooster Street Club.

Scott Campbell ($1000 For The First Hour, $200 For The Next)

Scott grew up in a Southern Baptist household in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the beginning of his search for something new. The year was 1995, and he was a Kingwood High School graduate. He went to the University of Texas to study biochemistry, but he finally dropped out. Scott is currently co-owner of Saved Tattoo in Brooklyn, New York, with Stephanie Tamez, after receiving years of instruction from the Picture Machine.

Don Ed Hardy ($1,500 Per Hour)

'Don Ed In comparison to other tattoo artists, this is a pitiful sum. A true legend, he is unquestionable. An artist of Ed's caliber, He graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute with a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Japanese aesthetics greatly influences his tattoo technique due to his training under the tutelage of Horihide, a renowned Japanese tattoo expert. Mayor Jerry Brown selected him to serve on the Cultural Arts Commission of Oakland.