Determining the Greatest Bodybuilders All Time is not an easy decision, in my opinion. One main factor I go off is who has won the most Mr. Olympia shows over time.
That isn’t everything my decision is based on.
There are other factors, such as how many years they competed and their impact on the industry.
The Olympia is the most prestigious bodybuilding competition in the world.
This is the show every serious bodybuilder would dream of winning. To have someone win it eight years in a row is just amazing! Especially with all the dieting and working out that is needed to beat everyone in the world.
I mean, could you eat…
- 15 egg whites
- 6 oz steak
- 1/2 Avocado
- 4 oatmeal packs and a 1/2
EVERY single morning for Breakfast?
This is just 1 of 5 meals professional bodybuilders usually eat each day. One Bodybuilder I follow eats 3 dozen egg whites a day.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
.As the youngest Bodybuilder to ever win Mr. Olympia at the young age of 23. My all-time greatest Bodybuilder is none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the best bodybuilders of all time. He was born in Thal, Austria, in 1947. His father was a police chief, and his mother was a housewife. Arnold began lifting weights at the age of 15.
He won his first bodybuilding contest at the age of 18. After winning Mr. Universe at age 20, Arnold moved to America to pursue his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder. In America, Arnold won Mr. Olympia seven times. He also became a successful actor and businessman. In 2004, Arnold was elected Governor of California. He served two terms as governor and left office in 2011.
Arnold won a total of 7 Mr. Olympia shows total. He is, by far, the most recognized bodybuilding figure. If I was to ask someone to name a Bodybuilder, even if they don’t know much about Bodybuilding, it’s usually him.
Arnold Schwarzenegger had my favorite physique out of all the other competitors. He still has a natural look, unlike some bodybuilders nowadays.
One of the movies I own, and most would say is the best Bodybuilding movie of all time, is called Pumping Iron. This is an inside look at how bodybuilding got started and where it originated.
The movie takes place in the most well-known gym in America, “The Mecca.” The Mecca is Golds Gym in Venice, California.
Arnold nowadays is most known for his acting and political career. I think this makes the younger generation unaware of how dominant he was in Bodybuilding.
RONNIE COLEMAN
Nobody in the Bodybuilding industry has ever won more total and consecutive than Ronnie Coleman. Ronnie has won 8 total, and all of those wins were consecutive.
He actually took a little while to rise to the 1st place finishes and wasn’t always the champion.
He wasn’t even ranked in 1992 for Mr. Olympia, then placed 15th
in 1994. Four years later, in 98 when he started his domination. Ronnie is worth an estimated 10 million dollars.
Ronnie Coleman was an absolute monster; he was only 5 ft 11 and would weigh up to 300 pounds during the contest. Considering he was somewhere around 5% body fat on stage, that is ridiculous.
Ronnie Coleman was a Police officer in Texas from 1989 to 2000 and a reserve officer until 2003.
I’ve watched many interviews with him, and he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. I’ve seen him at a few Fitness expos, and he is the same in person.
Watch a few Ronnie Coleman YouTube videos, and a phrase he made popular will get stuck in your head, ” Yeah Buddy.”
LEE HANEY
.Lee Haney is an American former IFBB professional bodybuilder, 8-time winner of the Mr. Olympia titles, and current CEO and founder of Lee Haney Nutrition.
Haney began bodybuilding in 1978 and turned professional in 1984. He won his first Mr. Olympia title in 1984, becoming the youngest ever winner at 23. He successfully defended his title eight times, making him the most successful Mr. Olympia champion.
After retiring from bodybuilding in 1991, Haney founded Lee Haney Nutrition, a company that produces health and fitness supplements. He has remained involved in the bodybuilding community as a judge and commentator and was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2009.
Born November 11, 1959, and weighing around 250 pounds. Lee is the only other person to win eight total, Mr. Olympias, which he also won consecutively.
Lee Haney dominated the 80s. He was the first out of him and Arnold to win eight total and the youngest to retire at age 31.
After his bodybuilding career came to an end, he was appointed by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by Bill Clinton himself.
After retirement, he has been contacted by some professional athletes to train them, like Evander Holyfield, Shawn Bradley, and Gary Sheffield.
PHIL HEATH
Born December 18th, 1979, with a competition weight of 215 pounds. Phil Heath is tied with the second most total Olympia wins, with Arnold at 7.
Nicknamed “The gift.”
He was given because of his gifted genetics and talent with everything sports-related.
He was a natural athlete, having played basketball in High School, and received an athletic scholarship to play Division 1 Basketball at the University of Denver.
Phil is still competing to this day, hoping to break the all-time Olympia record. There is also some other motivation for Phil when you think about the money he has won.
In 2017 his first-place prize was a nice chunk of change, $400,000. Phil Heath has a net worth of 5 million for doing something he is passionate about.
That still doesn’t compare to the richest bodybuilder of all time Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is estimated at 300 million, which is, of course, not all from bodybuilding.
DORIAN YATES
Dorian Yates was born in England in 1962 and began weightlifting at 14. He turned professional in 1988 and won his first Mr. Olympia title in 1992. After winning six more Mr. Olympia titles, he retired from bodybuilding in 1997.
Yates is considered one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time and is known for his extremely muscular physique. He popularized the “blood and guts” style of bodybuilding, which involves pushing your muscles to extreme fatigue and even muscle damage.
While his training methods were often criticized, they produced some of the most impressive bodybuilding feats. Yates was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2008.
Dorian Yates is coming in with having the fifth-highest number of Mr. Olympia wins with 6.
These also were won in consecutive years. He is most known for his wide and thick back. Yates had earned the nickname of the Shadow.
This was because he was known to remain out of the public eye.
For long periods, show up unexpectedly at a Bodybuilding show and win them.
Since he retired from Bodybuilding, he has worked with supplement companies and has a gym franchise in California and Las Vegas.
MORE OF THE GREATEST BODYBUILDERS OF ALL TIME
Here are some more of the best bodybuilders that almost made the top 5 and would definitely make a top 10 list.
FLEX WHEELER
Flex Wheeler is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder. He won the Arnold Classic a then-record four times.
Most recently, Flex competed in the 2017 Mr. Olympia competition, where he placed 3rd.
Despite his impressive bodybuilding accomplishments, Flex Wheeler has dealt with some personal demons over the years. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and depression, and he even spent time in jail for drug possession.
Thankfully, Flex seems to have overcome these struggles and is now living a healthy and happy life. He frequently posts about his fitness journey on social media, and he continues to inspire others to reach their fitness goals.
FRANK ZANE
Frank Zane is a retired American professional bodybuilder. He was born on June 28, 1942, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He started bodybuilding in the early 1960s and won his first title in 1969. He continued to win championships throughout the 1970s, including three consecutive titles at the Mr. Olympia competition from 1977 to 1979. He retired from bodybuilding in 1981.
Zane is widely considered to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He has a distinctive physique with well-defined muscles and proportionate features. He has also been credited with popularizing the ” aesthetics ” bodybuilding style, which emphasizes symmetry and proportion over size and mass.
In addition to his bodybuilding accomplishments, Zane is also a successful businessman and author. He has written several books on bodybuilding and fitness and launched his own line of nutritional supplements.
Frank Zane is a legendary figure in the world of bodybuilding. He is considered to be one of the greatest champions in the sport’s history, and his influence can still be seen today. If you’re interested in learning more about Frank Zane or bodybuilding in general, be sure to check out his books and supplements!
JAY CUTLER
Jay Cutler is a retired American professional bodybuilder. He is a four-time Mr. Olympia champion and has been competing in bodybuilding competitions since the early 1990s.
Cutler’s most impressive bodybuilding accomplishments are his four Mr. Olympia titles. He first won the title in 2006 and has since won it in 2009, 2010, and 2013. He is also the only bodybuilder to have ever won the Arnold Classic four times.
Due to his impressive achievements in the world of bodybuilding, Jay Cutler is considered by many to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He has inspired many people to start lifting weights and pursue a career in bodybuilding, and he continues to be a role model for aspiring athletes all over the world.
DEXTER JACKSON
Dexter “The Blade” Jackson is one of the most accomplished professional bodybuilders in the world. He is a two-time Mr. Olympia winner (2008, 2009) and a four-time Arnold Classic champion (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011). He has also won the IFBB Night of Champions five times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) and the IFBB World Championships twice (2005, 2006).
Born on October 3, 1971, in Miami, Florida, DexterJackson began bodybuilding at the age of 18. He turned pro in 1998 and soon became one of the most successful bodybuilders in the sport. He is known for his incredibly shredded physique and his exceptional conditioning.
In addition to his bodybuilding achievements, DexterJackson is also a successful businessman. He owns several gyms and supplement companies. He is a role model to many aspiring bodybuilders and an inspiration to all who know him.
Dexter Jackson is unquestionably one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. His impressive list of accomplishments makes him a true champion in every sense of the word. We can all be proud to call him our own.
FRANCO COLUMBU
Franco Columbu is a world-renowned former professional bodybuilder. He was born in Sardinia, Italy, on August 7, 1941. When Columbu was just eighteen years old, he won the Italian weightlifting championship. He later moved to the United States and began pursuing a bodybuilding career.
In 1977, Columbu competed in the Mr. Olympia competition for the first time. He would go on to compete in this event twelve more times, and he eventually won the title twice – in 1981 and 1982. Columbu is also a two-time winner of the World Muscle Championship. In addition to his success as a bodybuilder, Columbu has also had a successful career as an actor. He has appeared in films such as Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator.
Columbu is considered to be one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. His combination of size and definition has rarely been matched. In addition to his impressive physique, Columbu is also known for his great sense of humor and warm personality. He is a beloved figure in the bodybuilding community, and he continues to inspire others with his story of determination and success.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
And there you have it, my top 5 Greatest Bodybuilders of All Time. Who is your favorite bodybuilder of all time?
Bodybuilding has definitely changed over the years, and many have to do with what the competitors are taking for supplements. Some of you may be thinking, are these Pro Bodybuilders natural?
Then there are the others that already know that answer which is….NO! I know this because I have a few friends who compete for pro and are completely open to me about it.
I personally stay 100% Natural but have nothing against people who use steroids because that is their choice. Even with Steroids, they still have to put in the hard work of working out and a healthy diet.
Some people have died over the years because of excessive steroid use, but most pro athletes do proper blood work and closely monitor everything.
So what is your opinion on who the best bodybuilders of all time are?
” Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder but don’t nobody want to lift heavy ass weights!”
-Ronnie Coleman
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