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Gratuity Included: A Quick History of Big Celebrity Tippers

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Is this what he means by “why you ridin my tip?”

We’ve spent enough time working restaurant jobs and slogging through part-time drudgery to truly appreciate any baller who knows how to tip big. And in celebrity circles, a huge gratuity (made public) is a surefire path to good PR and image rehabilitation. Yesterday, we learned that John Travolta wasn’t too shabby with a tip at a fortuitously timed dinner at Mr. Chow in New York. So today, we present some huge tipping moments that might make you think, however, briefly, that the celebrities who left them aren’t such bad people after all — even notorious ne’er-do-wells such as Naomi Campbell and Russell Crowe. Check it out, straight ahead.

Related: Stiffed: Eleven Celebrities Who Are Terrible Tippers

Tips waitress big at a Chicago steakhouse, then randomly asks her what she wants from the Army-Navy store. A little later, she receives a pair of camo pants, compliments of the funny man. Photo: Francois Durand/2011 Getty Images
Tips $30 on a $20 bill in a Tennessee Waffle House. Photo: D Dipasupil/2012 Getty Images
POTUS leaves 35 percent at D.C.’s Ted’s Bulletin, which probably drives Republicans crazy. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/2012 Getty Images
Gives waitress 200 percent on bill at IHOP where he’s eating with Selena Gomez. Photo: ST / Splash News/???? www.splashnews.com
The actor leaves $100 on a $382 bill at New York’s Mr. Chow, possibly exonerates himself from sexual assault accusations in the process. Photo: Caroline McCredie/2011 Getty Images
The pro gives his waitress a $200 tip on top of the included 18 percent at Raleigh’s Angus Barn. She gets fired for posting the receipt online. Photo: Justin Edmonds/2012 Getty Images
Famous for being a generous tipper, the comedian and Price Is Right host leaves $400 on a $250 bill at Arnie Morton’s. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/2012 Getty Images
In 2008, the soccer star made big headlines in L.A. after giving a waitress at Joxer Daly’s a $1,000 tip on a $100 tab. Photo: Ethan Miller/2012 Getty Images
The funnyman left a $1,000 tip for his server at Teddy’s nightclub, which he left in singles. Now who’s going to make it rain? Photo: John Shearer/2012 Getty Images
While filming Robin Hood in Wales, the action star gives a £600 gratuity on a £250 bar tab. We’d let him throw a phone at us for that! Photo: Frazer Harrison/2012 Getty Images
Gave his server at Tao a $1,000 tip on a $2,000 bill. Photo: Jason Merritt/2011 Getty Images
The mega-rich entrepreneur topped off a $90,000 bottle of Champagne with a $20,000 tip. Not too shabby for a night’s work.
In need of some good PR/Karma, the model dropped a £5,000 tip on a waitress at London’s Whiskey Mist. Photo: Mike Coppola/2012 Getty Images
Tales of his generosity abound, such as the time in 2009 when the actor dropped a $4,000 tip on a $4,440 bill at a Chicago steakhouse. Photo: Jason Merritt/2012 Getty Images
Leaves $50,000 at Scarpetta Beverly Hills after ordering $250,000 in Champagne. Sure that’s just a straight 20 percent, but still. Photo: Jason Kempin/2012 Getty Images
Gratuity Included: A Quick History of Big Celebrity Tippers