Top 15 Bodybuilders in History

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Step into the extraordinary world of bodybuilding, where raw power and sculpted physiques reign supreme. In this article, we’re shining a spotlight on the elite – the Top 15 Bodybuilders who’ve etched their names in the annals of strength and muscle mastery.

From old-school trailblazers to modern-day icons, each of these individuals has redefined what it means to be a powerhouse.

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger

arnold schwarzenegger legendary pose
via arnold schwarzenegger instagram

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the most legendary bodybuilding figure of all time. No shock, he appears at the top of this list.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Austria on 30 July 1946. He was the second son of a policeman. He has been influenced by the moral upbringing of his parents which attached too much to his success.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s professional competition started when he won the Junior Mr. Europe contest at the age of 20 years, and he was the youngest person to have this achievement. He went to America after this success.

He worked towards the goal of proving himself the greatest bodybuilder in the world. From 1971 to 1975, he won the title of Mr. Olympia.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Body Size

Arnold Schwarzenegger Calves Size20 Inches
Arnold Schwarzenegger Thighs Size28.5 Inches
Arnold Schwarzenegger Waist Size34 Inches
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Arms Size57 Inches
Arnold Schwarzenegger Arms Size22 Inches

2. Seth Feroce

seth feroce bodybuilding
via seth feroce instagram

Seth Feroce was born on November 21st, 1984 in the United States. During his young age, Seth studied several sporting activities just like most of his peers in a quest to acquire strength and confidence. He engaged in sports like wrestling and football.

In 2010, he competed in the 202 Division Europa Super Show organized by IFBB where he got the gold medal in the lightweight category. As Seth Feroce gained more popularity, he decided to increase his training and chest workouts.

Now he lives in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, previously from Cleveland, Ohio. He married Elise Feroce, he trained his daughter. Seth Feroce is a personal trainer as he coaches people in his Feroce Iron Academy. His height is 5 feet and 5 inches. He is 35 years old now.

3. William Kazmaier

William Kazmaier was born on December 30, 1953, in America. He is a former world champion powerlifter, world champion strongman, and professional wrestler. Boiled eggs were one of his best diets.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he hatched many powerlifting and strongman world records and won two International Powerlifting Federation World Championships and 3 World’s Strongest Man titles.

In 1980, he became popular for his right to be “the strongest man who ever lived” by reaching and surpassing spectacular and versatile feats of strength of great strongmen of the 20th century. He is considered to be one of the all-time greatest contenders in strength competitions.

His nickname is “Kaz”, and he is the youngest child of William Bartholomew. His father had soda water bottling plants. He has a son, Eric, and lives in Auburn, Alabama. He is 66 years old and has 6.3 feet in height.

4. Dorian Yates

dorian yates mr olympia wins
via dorian yates instagram

Dorian Yates was born on 19 April 1962, in England. He is an English former professional bodybuilder. He got the Mr. Olympia title six continuous times from 1992 to 1997.

He is generally considered to be one of the top bodybuilders in recent history and is most well-known for his wide and thick back.

Dorian Yates is married to Brazilian fitness model Glauce “Gal” Ferreira, who won the IFBB South American Body Fitness event and was also the IFBB World Body Fitness Champion in 2007. Protein was one of the best diets in his whole career.

His son, Lewis, from a previous relationship, has also carried up bodybuilding and works similarly with his father.

Dorian Yates’s Body Size:

Dorian Yates Height5 Feet and 10.5 Inches
Dorian Yates Weight125 KG
Dorian Yates Upper Arm Size21 Inches
Dorian Yates Thigh Size31 Inches
Dorian Yates Waist Size34 Inches
Dorian Yates Calf Size22 Inches
Dorian Yates Chest Size58 Inches

5. Ronnie Dean Coleman

ronnie coleman leg press record
via ronnie coleman instagram

Ronnie Dean Coleman was born on May 13, 1964, in America. He is an American professional bodybuilder. The winner of the Mr. Olympia title for eight years in a series, he is generally regarded as one of the most famous and greatest bodybuilders of all time.

Ronnie Coleman met French Lebanese personal trainer Rouaida Christine Achkar at a festivities show in Paris, and they were married in Beirut on December 28, 2007. They divorced soon after that.

Later on, on April 11, 2016, he married personal trainer Susan Williamson. He has four children now.

Ronnie Coleman’s Body Size:

Ronnie Coleman Height5 Feet 11 Inches
Ronnie Coleman Weight130 to136 KG
Ronnie Coleman Chest Size60 Inches
Ronnie Coleman Arms Size24 Inches

6. Jason Isaac Cutler

jay cutler bodybuilder height
via jay cutler instagram

Jason Isaac Cutler was born on August 3, 1973, in America. He is an American professional bodybuilder. He is a four-time Mr. Olympia winner in a row from 2006 to 2010.

He was very motivated to enter bodybuilding after meeting special trainer Marcos Rodriguez. Jay Cutler exceeded in bodybuilding, aspiring to be one of the largest competitors ever, and got his first overall win in 1993 at the Iron Bodies Invitational.

His first competition was the 1992 Gold’s Gym Worcester Bodybuilding Championships, at which he took the second position overall.

In 2012, Jay Cutler was incapable of competing at Mr. Olympia due to his biceps injury. Cutler competed in the 2013 Olympia and got the 6th position.

Jay Cutler currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jay Cutler’s Body Size:

Jason Height5 Feet and 10 Inches
Jason Competition Weight118 KG
Jason Upper Arm Size22 Inches
Jason Chest Size58 Inches
Jason Thigh Size30 Inches
Jason Waist Size34 Inches

7. Brandon Curry

brandon ifbb curry
via brandon curry instagram

Brandon Curry was born on October 19, 1982, in America. He is an American professional bodybuilder who fights in the heavyweight division. He is the 15th Mr. Olympia and currently owns the title of Mr. Olympia.

Brandon Curry won his first bodybuilding competition in 2003 which was the Supernatural Bodybuilding competition.

Brandon Curry is married to his girlfriend, Brandy Leaver. They have one daughter, named Zoey Curry, and three sons.

Brandon Curry’s Body Size:

Brandon Height5 feet and 8 inches
Brandon Weight115 to 120 kg
Brandon Arm Size21 inches

8. Lee Priest

young lee priest pictures
via lee priest instagram

Lee Andrew McCutcheon was born on 6 July 1972 in Australia. He is a professional bodybuilder and athlete. The 1986 Sydney Bodybuilding Classic was his first bodybuilding contest

He won the Mr. Australia three times in a row from 1989 to 1991. He got the sixth place at the 1997, Mr. Olympia, at the tender age of 25.

Lee Priest attended Plattsburg Primary School for his early education. He has only one sister, who is two years older. Lee Priest’s mom also was a bodybuilding competitor and performed with Lee on stage posing together once.

He is married to Cathy Lee Priest, who is also a beautiful female bodybuilder. They got married on July 1st, 2000 in Australia.

Lee Priest’s Body Size:

Lee Priest’s Height5 Feet and 4 Inches
Lee Priest’s Weight89 to 93 KG
Lee Priest’s Arms Size22 Inches
Lee Priest’s Chest Size58 Inches
Lee Priest’s Waist Size30 Inches
Lee Priest’s Quads Size30.5 Inches

9. Lee Haney

lee haney mr olympia wins
via lee haney instagram

Lee Haney was born on November 11, 1959, in America. He is an American former IFBB professional bodybuilder.  Haney gives the record for most Mr. Olympia titles at eight with Ronnie Coleman.

He grew up in South Carolina. He is a graduate of Spartanburg Methodist College, where he got a degree in youth counseling. He married Shirley. 

Now, he and his wife, Shirley, reside in Georgia. This couple has two children.

He was appointed the chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by Bill Clinton.

Lee Haney’s Body Size:

Lee Haney’s Height5 Feet 11 Inches
Lee Haney’s Weight104 KG
Lee Haney’s Chest Size56 Inches
Lee Haney’s Neck Size20 Inches
Lee Haney’s Arm Size21 Inches
Lee Haney’s Waist Size31.5 Inches
Lee Haney’s Thigh Size30 Inches
Lee Haney’s Calf Size20 Inches

10. Francesco Maria Columbu

franco columbu height in feet
via franco columbu instagram

Francesco Maria Columbus was born on August 7, 1941, in Italy. He was an Italian professional bodybuilder, author, producer powerlifter, actor, and licensed chiropractor.

He was originally a boxer. He won the title of Mr. Olympia in 1976 and then in 1981. He also had an acting career and authored various books on nutrition and bodybuilding.

He won the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

On August 30, 2019, after enduring a heart attack while swimming off the coast of Sardinia, Franco Columbu drowned and later died during transport by helicopter to the hospital in Olbia, at the age of 78.

11. Louis Jude Ferrigno

Louis Ferrigno was born on November 9, 1951, in America. He is an American actor, trainer, fitness consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder.

Lou Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two back-to-back IFBB Mr. Universe titles and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron in his bodybuilding career.

Lou Ferrigno Bodybuilder
via ronnie coleman instagram

Lou Ferrigno married Susan Groff in 1978 and divorced her a year later. On May 3, 1980, he married Carla Green, who then also began working as his manager she later became a personal trainer of him. Now, they have three children.

Lou Ferrigno’s Body Size:

Lou Ferrigno’s Height6 Feet and 5 Inches
Lou Ferrigno’s Weight146 KG
Lou Ferrigno’s Chest Size59 Inches
Lou Ferrigno’s Waist Size34 Inches
Lou Ferrigno’s Arm Size22 Inches
Lou Ferrigno’s Thighs Size29 Inches
Lou Ferrigno’s Neck Size19 Inches

12. Flex Wheeler

flex wheeler vs ronnie coleman
via flex wheeler instagram

Kenneth “Flex” Wheeler was born on August 23, 1965, in America. He is an American professional bodybuilder. He gained the Arnold Classic a then-record four times and was once represented by Arnold Schwarzenegger as one of the greatest bodybuilders he had ever seen. 

Ronnie Coleman has said that Flex Wheeler was the best bodybuilder he competed against in his whole career.

He announced his resignation from competitive bodybuilding in 2000 but continued to fight until 2003.

After his retirement, he focused on martial arts, his favorite being Keep-Kwon-Do, a variant of Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido. In 2003, he received a kidney transplant.

Flex Wheeler’s Body Size:

Flex Wheeler’s Height5 Feet and 9 Inches
Flex Wheeler’s Weight109 KG
Flex Wheeler’s Arm Size23 Inches
Flex Wheeler’s Leg Size31 Inches
Flex Wheeler’s Chest Size54 Inches

13. Kevin Levrone

kevin levrone mr olympia placings
via kevin levrone instagram

Kevin Levrone was born on July 16, 1964, in America. He is an American IFBB Hall of Famer, professional bodybuilder, musician, and blogger.

During his professional bodybuilding career, Levrone competed in 68 IFBB Professional competitions.

He is considered one of the best bodybuilders of the 1990s even though he never won the title of Mr. Olympia.

Since finishing his competitive bodybuilding career, Kevin Levrone has enjoyed playing other games like tennis and golf, etc. He has acted in many films and he is also a musician.

Kevin Levrone’s Body Size:

Kevin Levrone’s Height5 Feet and 11 Inches
Kevin Levrone’s Weight110 to 115 KG
Kevin Levrone’s Arm Size24 Inches
Kevin Levrone’s Leg Size32 Inches
Kevin Levrone’s Waist Size29 Inches
Kevin Levrone ’s Chest Size57 Inches

14. Chris Heria

chris heria bodyweight
via chris heria instagram

Chris Heria was born on December 21, 1991, in Miami, Florida. He graduated from St. Brendan High School in 2008.

Chris Heria has built a name as a Street Workout Champion, Pro Bar Athlete, and Certified Personal Trainer in his bodybuilding career. He served the United States in the Street Workout World Championship and is a spokesperson for BarStarzz.

It is unclear, Chris Heria has ever had a wife. But he is the only father of a son named Zen who was born in 2011. 

Chris Heria’s Body Size:

Chris Heria’s Height5 Feet and 9 Inches
Chris Heria’s Weight75 KG
Chris Heria’s Arm Size21 Inches

15. Dexter Jackson

dexter jackson the blade mass gainer
via dexter jackson instagram

Dexter Jackson was born on November 25, 1969, in America. He is an American professional bodybuilder and Mr. Olympia in 2008 as the bodybuilding champion. Dexter Jackson has won more professional bodybuilding titles than any other bodybuilder.

2008 was a great year for Dexter Jackson, as he won many titles like the Arnold Classic, New Zealand Grand Prix, Australian Pro Grand Prix VIII, Russian Grand Prix, and Mr. Olympia. Dexter Jackson won 3rd place in the 2009 Mr. Olympia competition.

Dexter Jackson is one of only three bodybuilders to have won both the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contests.

Dexter Jackson’s Body Size:

Dexter Jackson’s Height5 Feet and 6 Inches
Dexter Jackson’s Weight98 KG
Dexter Jackson’s Chest Size52 Inches
Dexter Jackson’s Arm Size20 Inches
Top 15 Bodybuilders in History
Top 15 Bodybuilders in the History
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Maqsood Ali
Maqsood Ali
Maqsood Ali is a freelance writer, proofreader, English tutor, editor, and content strategist. He has over 06 years of experience, specializing in health, fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle content. Before becoming a freelancer, Maqsood held part-time staff positions at various companies and agencies, including Faizi Homeopathic clinic. Maqsood became heavily involved in CrossFit and fitness after finishing his Master's degree in English at the University of Okara. You can find his work at Tikkaykhan, GetSixpackab, and other fitness and nutrition companies and media outlets.
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