How Much Does A Bodybuilder Make?
In the United States, the average bodybuilder makes $42,571 per year. This income can come from many sources, including competitions, sponsorships, modeling, and personal training. Below is a more in-depth look at what money can be made in bodybuilding.
Competitions
Professional Bodybuilders can make money at competitions when they win or place. The range of the prize money is from $250 to $400,000. The more major the competition, the more money on the line. The lowest amount of money earned in a competition, $250, is won at the IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Pro Men’s Physique for earning 3rd place. However, the most money earned is for Mr. Olympia, which is $400,000. Egypt’s Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay has won this prize twice, meaning that he has won at least $800,000 in competitions.
State competitions are a way that a lot of bodybuilders make their money. These annual contests pay bodybuilders an annual income of $56,000-$95,000. There is a range in income because each state pays differently.
Mr. Olympia is the biggest bodybuilding competition, and it gave out a total of $1.6 million in prize money in 2021. It is also a worldwide competition that is held in the US. Also, in Mr. Olympia, there are multiple contests for each gender competing. For men, there is Men’s 212 Olympia, Men’s Physique Olympia, and Classic Physique Olympia. The prize money for these events in 2021 ranged from $2,000-$50,000 when placing in the top five.
Women also compete in this event, and Ms. Olympia specifically gave out $50,000 to Andrea Shaw in 2021. Other women's contests include the Women’s Bikini Olympia, the Women’s Figure Olympia, the Women’s Fitness Olympia, and the Women’s Physique Olympia. The prize money for these events in 2021 ranged from $4,000-$50,000 when the bodybuilder placed in the top five.
Sponsorships
Bodybuilders also make their money by becoming sponsored. These sponsorships involve merchandise, being an ambassador for gyms, and TV deals. The value of these sponsorships may be given in free supplements and clothing from specific companies for lower-level bodybuilders. However, for high-level bodybuilders, sponsorships can earn cash payments, and they can make as much as $250,000 a year from these sponsors. Also, some sponsors may include performance incentives, meaning that if their bodybuilder places high in a competition, they may pay them extra money.
Modeling
Modeling is another way for bodybuilders to make money. Magazine modeling is the first way, and it earns bodybuilders $500-$2,000 a day. However, magazine deals are rare, so they aren’t a reliable source of income for most bodybuilders. Nude modeling is also an avenue of earning money for bodybuilders. Posing for art classes is the go-to, and pay is around $10-$100 per hour.
Personal Training
Bodybuilders can also earn money through personal training. This can mean simply training customers one-on-one, earning a bodybuilder an average of $50,000 a year if they are certified. The amount a bodybuilder makes in this field also depends on how good their physique is, and the better it is, the more clients they will have. Also, as bodybuilders become more successful in this field, many will start their own gyms to make money.
FAQ
Who is the highest paid bodybuilder ever?
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the wealthiest bodybuilder in the world. He has a net worth of $300 million, which is $210 million more than the second wealthiest bodybuilder, Rich Gaspari. The most significant reason for Schwarznegger’s wealth being so far above other bodybuilders is because most of it didn’t come from bodybuilding but from his involvement in Hollywood. His acting career included movies like The Terminator, Commando, and Predator, all three making a gross of more than $30 million.
How much money does a bodybuilder win from winning Mr. Olympia?
In 2021, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay earned $400,000 for winning Mr. Olympia. For 2020, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay of Egypt also won Mr. Olympia, and he won $400,000 that year. The prize money for Mr. Olympia has been $400,000 since 2015, which is $125,000 more than the previous year’s prize money and $150,000 more than in 2013.
How do bodybuilders make their money?
Bodybuilders make money in a lot of ways. One way is by winning or placing in competitions, and these can be ones held in their state annually, or they can be world competitions, like Mr. Olympia. They can also earn money by getting sponsorships, which involve merchandise, being an ambassador, and advertisement deals. Other ways that bodybuilders earn money include modeling, becoming personal trainers, and owning gyms. Bodybuilders can even earn money as celebrities, like Arnold Schwarzenegger.