ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons Confirms He Turned Down $1 Million Offer To Shave His Beard

ZZ Top

Outside of Adelaide’s own The Beards, it’s likely that ZZ Top are the most prominent bearded musicians in rock history.

In fact, so much was facial hair associated with their image, guitarist Billy Gibbons has confirmed that the group once turned down a very lucrative offer to shave their iconic beards.

Gibbons’ comments were made in the latest episode of Mohr Stories, a podcast hosted by comedian Jay Mohr, who asked the legendary guitarist about the oft-repeated story.

“It’s true,” Gibbons said of the 1984 offer, confirming the company in question was Gillette, who officially “deny it.”

“It was a million dollars per man,” Gibbons explained. $1 million USD in 1984 is equivalent to $3.06 million USD today, which in turn is $4.55 million AUD.

“We called [music industry PR figure Bob Merlis],” Gibbons continued. “I said, 'Bob, we got this offer.' 'What?' I said, 'We've been offered a million dollars each to shave on TV.' He said, 'Well,' he said, 'The money's good.'

“He said, 'You might as well consider doing it, but I'm not so sure you guys – any of you guys – know what's under there.' So we passed. We passed, and our fans loved it. Word got out.”

Gibbons had actually mentioned the topic before, explaining that reason for turning down the offer was that the reality of he and bandmate Dusty Hill being clean-shaven was too much to bear.

“No dice. Even adjusted for inflation, this isn’t going to fly,” he recalled. “They prospect of seeing oneself in the mirror clean-shaven is too close to a Vincent Price film … a prospect not to be contemplated, no matter the compensation.”

“We’re too ugly without ’em,” Gibbons had earlier said of the band’s choice to sport the facial hair.

In 2021, ZZ Top’s longtime bassist Hill passed away, putting an end to the group's 51-year line-up of Gibbons and the ironically-named (and clean-shaven) drummer Frank Beard.

Since Hill's passing, the hirsute Elwood Francis has been a member of the group, with Gibbons telling The Music in 2025 that the current iteration of the band are working towards a new album – their first since 2012.

“That’s often asked so suffice it to say, we’re watching the stars line up to get down to gettin' down,” he explained. “We have some new, freshly penned numbers, along with some tried and true things out of the blue in mind.

“The next open date in the roadshow’s calendar will see it happen.”