From Office Worker to the World’s Most Modified Man Rolf Buchholz once lived a quiet, ordinary life in Dortmund, Germany. He studied telecommunications, got a degree, and worked in IT. For years, he blended in—calm, reserved, and unnoticed.
But at age 40, everything changed. He got his first tattoo, followed by piercings. What began as a small act of self-expression turned into a dramatic transformation.
Today, Rolf holds the Guinness World Record for the most body modifications—over 560 in total, including more than 170 facial piercings, a split tongue, horn-like implants, and tattoos covering nearly his entire body. Despite his extreme look, Rolf says it’s not about records or attention. For him, body modification is art—a way to show who he truly is.
In person, he’s friendly and soft-spoken. While many admire his boldness, others react with shock. In 2014, he was even denied entry into Dubai over concerns about his appearance, which authorities linked to “black magic.”
Now, Rolf travels the world, meets fans, and continues to challenge what society considers “normal” when it comes to beauty and identity.
Would you ever use body modification as a form of self-expression? Let us know your thoughts
