Bodybuilding has been around for decades but it’s a tough industry to make a living from. Typically bodybuilders earn money from competing in professional competitions and sponsorship deals with supplement companies. Only the top athletes make millions while the rest struggle to survive. Below, we put together a list of the richest bodybuilders in 2023.
Top 20 Wealthiest Bodybuilders:
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger – $400 Million
Whether you are a fan of bodybuilding or not, you likely know about the great Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold is the most iconic bodybuilder in history but made the majority of his wealth after retiring from the sport.
Arnold began lifting weights at 15 years old and won Mr. Universe at just 20 years old. The Austrian-American went on to win Mr. Olympia seven times! Schwarzenegger is the originator of the Arnold Sports Festival, which is regarded as the second-most prominent bodybuilding contest after Mr. Olympia.
With his influence, Schwarzenegger also became an actor, producer, and politician. He is famous for starring in The Terminator franchise and served as the governor of California from 2003 to 2011. All these pursuits gave the living legend a $400 million net worth.
2. Rich Gaspari – $90 Million
Richard Gaspari is a retired bodybuilder who turned pro in 1984 and was a member of the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB). He is considered an uncrowned king, as he never won the Mr. Olympia competition during his career.
As a teenager, Rich used to sneak into the workout room at Rutgers University to use the lifting machines. During Lee Haney’s long reign as a champ in Mr. Olympia, Rich finished second place on two occasions and third on another.
Despite never getting first place, Gaspari still earned a hefty fortune from the sport. He used his money to start a supplement brand called Gaspari Nutrition. This is a big reason why Gaspari is now worth $90 million.
3. Jay Cutler – $30 Million
Jayson Cutler is a four-time Mr. Olympia and was at the peak of his powers from 2006 to 2010. After graduating with a criminal justice degree, he began working as a prison officer at a maximum-security jail. He first dove into the world of competitive bodybuilding in 1993 and won the Arnold Classic three times in a row from 2002 to 2004.
As Mr. Olympia, Jay has appeared in various media including DVDs, documentaries, interviews, publications, and films. In addition, Jay runs his own business, Cutler Nutrition, which adds to his $30 million fortune.
4. Lou Ferrigno – $12 Million
Louis Ferrigno is another popular old-school bodybuilder. The strongman and actor broke into the mainstream as the original Incredible Hulk. Ferrigno earned his first big title, IFBB Mr. America, after finishing high school in 1969. He conquered Mr. Universe four years later. Lou trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger and tried to beat him several times.
In 1977, Lou was chosen to play the main character in the CBS series, The Incredible Hulk. Aside from acting, Ferrigno also worked as a personal trainer. He was appointed to Donald Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in 2018. Currently, Ferrigno has a net worth of $12 million.
5. Ronnie Coleman – $10 Million
Ronnie Coleman dominated the Mr. Olympia contest for eight consecutive years, putting him in the number one spot for most wins in the tournament. With 26 total titles, he also has the most wins in the IFBB.
Coleman was working as a sheriff when he first started working out and only started competing to get a free gym membership. Eventually, he took it more seriously after winning some amateur shows. Coleman won his first tournament as a pro in the 1995 Canada Pro Cup.
From 1998 to 2005, Coleman ruled Mr. Olympia until Jay Cutler ended his winning streak in 2006. Nowadays, Ronnie is recovering from back injuries sustained from years of lifting. Still, his net worth is sitting at $10 million, enough to make fifth on the list!
6. Phil Heath – $8 Million
Also known as ‘The Gift’, Phillip Heath is another Mr. Olympia great, having won seven straight titles from 2011 to 2017. His most recent triumph ties him with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the second most Mr. Olympia victories of all time.
Heath began competing in bodybuilding in 2002. Three years later, he earned the right to compete as an IFBB Pro after winning the National Physique Committee title.
Phil clinched the Iron Man competition in 2008. After this, he decided to improve his career by competing in Mr. Olympia. From 2008 to 2010, second place was his best finish. Heath’s career has resulted in an $8 million fortune.
7. Gary Strydom – $8 Million
Gary Strydom competed as a bodybuilder in the 1980s and early 90s. He was at the top of his game when the sport was at its pinnacle, and he took full advantage of it. Overall, Strydom picked up four IFBB titles.
However, he is most famous for being the only athlete to receive a World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF) championship title under Vince McMahon’s now-defunct organization.
Strydom opted to take an extended vacation from competing after the WBF folded in the mid-1990s. He made a return in 2006, competing in the Colorado Pro Championships and placing seventh. Gary is currently focused on building his brand and $8 million net worth.
8. Lee Haney – $5.5 Million
Ronnie Coleman is not the only one to win eight straight Mr. Olympia titles. He shares the all-time most first-place wins in the competition with Hall of Famer Lee Haney, who, unlike Coleman, aspired to be a bodybuilder at a young age.
At 14, his physique was remarkable and was invited to join sports teams as a result. His first bodybuilding title was Teen Mr. America in 1979. As fate would have it, Lee won Mr. Olympia from 1983 to 1991.
Haney was named head of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by Bill Clinton. Haney also hosts the TV program TotaLee Fit with Lee Haney, where he is accompanied by fellow Christian athletes. Haney holds an impressive net worth of $5.5 million.
9. Dorian Yates – $4 Million
Dorian Yates is a renowned English bodybuilder and international champ. Due to his enormous stature, he sparked the era of the Mass Monster. His back was infamous for its width and thickness and it helped him achieve six Mr. Olympia gold medals.
Yates has the fifth most Mr. Olympia wins. He acquired the nickname “The Shadow” as he liked to keep a low profile and won major bodybuilding competitions without any ego.
After retiring, Yates has focused on his business ventures and operates the Temple Gym in Birmingham, England. Dorian also founded Heavy Duty, Inc. to market books and apparel related to bodybuilding. Lastly, he has a supplement line, DY Nutrition, to add to his $4 million fortune.
10. Hodgetwins – $3.7 Million
The Hodgetwins, sometimes referred to as the Conservative Twins, is a stand-up comedy pair of twin brothers named Keith and Kevin Hodge. They are also bodybuilding trainers certified by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).
Hailing from the state of Virginia, Keith and Kevin were once enlisted in the Marines. They established a YouTube channel to showcase their physique and bodybuilding talents.
Now, their channel is mostly focused on conservative political commentary. As for their stand-up career, they successfully toured Australia and the United Kingdom. They’ve racked up a combined net worth of $3.7 million through their endeavors.
11. Mike O’Hearn – $2.5 Million
It’s likely that you’ve seen Mike O’Hearn on a magazine cover somewhere since he’s been on over 500 of them. The bodybuilder, model, and trainer has been around for decades, but he is known for his youthful appearance.
Mike started his career as an actor and is most recognized for his work on the 2008 reboot of American Gladiators. There, Mike was the one who played the character “Titan.”
O’Hearn is always shredded as he reportedly keeps a single-digit body fat percentage. This is why people are attracted to his training program, Power Bodybuilding, which is his main source of income and $2.5 million net worth.
12. Mike Rashid – $2.1 Million
Mike Rashid is a bodybuilder, professional boxer, fitness instructor and author from Brooklyn, New York. Since beginning his career, Rashid has had a lot of success in different fields.
At the age of 12, Mike stepped into the ring as a boxer. His Youtube channel boosted his profile, where people learn how to enhance their mind, body, and soul through hard work and commitment.
Mike is the owner of the Miami-based Iron Addicts fitness gym and the director of his own clothing line, IMSOALPHA. Overtraining is a series of eBooks he has released. All his hustles have paid well, as Rashid is worth an estimated $2.1 million.
13. Dexter Jackson – $2 Million
After defeating Jay Cutler in a shocking upset, Dexter ‘The Blade’ Jackson became the 2008 Mr. Olympia winner and ended Cutlet’s streak. However, this is not the only highlight of his career.
Jackson holds the record for the most professional men’s bodybuilding titles with 29 victories. He also has the record for winning the Arnold Classic five times. Dexter has won numerous other events over the years, resulting in major sponsorships and media appearances that gave him a $2 million fortune.
14. Lazar Angelov – $2 Million
With his eye-catching aesthetic, Lazar Angelov has acquired a massive following on social media. He is a bodybuilder, model, and trainer from Bulgaria. In 2006, he began entering bodybuilding competitions. However, his highest achievement was only bronze. Instead, he shifted his focus to other ways to make money with his physique.
The National Sports Academy awarded him a certificate in personal training. Then, he became an influencer. His online success led him to his fortune worth $2 million.
15. Mike Chang – $2 Million
Michael Chang is a professional fitness instructor from China who was once a popular YouTuber. He is most recognized for founding the Six-Pack Shortcuts, a training program that sold a lot of copies and put him on the map.
As a child, Chang was overweight and got interested in fitness at an early age. At 14, he began going to the gym and underwent a significant physical transformation. Based on his success, Chang started a YouTube channel in 2010.
He started selling workout programs alongside uploading videos. Mike is currently a mentor, assisting others in developing the right mindset and habits. His $2 million net worth is only expected to grow with his online presence.
16. Calum Von Moger – $2 Million
Calum Von Moger is a young bodybuilder once labeled the “next Arnold Schwarzenegger” due to his resemblance to the legendary icon. They have a similar body and facial structure. This is also why was cast to play Arnold in the 2018 film Bigger.
Von Moger has won multiple competitions, competed in the Classic Physique division at the Olympia, and participated in his own Netflix documentary. He’s also featured on Generation Iron 2.
Von Moger also has a considerable following on social media. Calum is still healing from an injury and attempting to gain muscle mass. Even as he takes a break, Calum Von Moger’s net worth remains near the $2 million mark.
17. Christian Guzman – $2 Million
Christian Guzman is a fitness entrepreneur, public speaker, and amateur bodybuilder who vlogs on YouTube. He hasn’t joined any contests in his fitness career, but makes enough money to feature on the list.
In college, he was the guitarist in a rock band, but after the members went their separate ways, Guzman focused on health and fitness planning. Christian didn’t finish his degree since he wanted to focus on his growing business.
Guzman started his vlog at 19 years old, with weightlifting recommendations and fitness instructions videos. Now, he has over one million subscribers. Guzman earned his $2 million net worth by founding Alphalete Athletics and UP energy drinks.
18. Steve Cook – $1.9 Million
Steve Cook has been participating in the Men’s In the Physique division for a decade and has won numerous IFBB and NPC titles. Furthermore, Cook has been a top ten finisher on two occasions in the Mr. Olympia competition.
He began his professional bodybuilding career in 2010 at a Muscle & Fitness contest held over the Mr. Olympia weekend. Steve quickly rose to prominence after winning the M&F Male Model Search. Shortly after, Steve became a spokesperson.
Now, he is focusing his efforts on expanding his YouTube channel and steady revenue from advertisements and brand deals. Steve’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.9 million.
19. Kai Greene – $1.6 Million
Kai ‘The Predator’ Greene was an IFBB pro bodybuilder with a lot of potential. He competed in several Arnold Classic events. On stage, he and Phil Heath had some memorable rivalries. Many fans would even argue that Greene deserved at least one Mr. Olympia title.
Unfortunately, Kai had a public dispute with the IFBB and opted to retire to explore other interests. After leaving the bodybuilding world, he made his acting debut in the 2015 comedy movie titled College Debts and featured in season 2 of Stranger Things.
Greene is also showing the world his other artistic abilities by creating self-portraits. Alongside fitness model Krystal Lavenne, he started co-hosting the Generation Iron podcast in 2015. This, along with other media appearances, helped Kai gain a net worth of $1.6 Million.
20. Jeff Seid – $1.5 Million
Arguably the youngest professional bodybuilder to make the cut, 28-year-old Jeff Seid has already made a name for himself in the industry. Seid is a model, actor, and social media personality.
Jeff began training at an early age, and his early transformation videos have received millions of views on YouTube. Because of this, he is regarded as one of the most famous fitness influencers on the internet right now.
Aside from bodybuilding and content creation, Jeff has pursued a career in acting. In 2018, Said featured in a short film called Kommando 1994 as a character named Lancaster. Around this time, he released his book, Guide to Aesthetics, to add to his $1.5 million net worth.
