Top 10 Famous Male Bodybuilders

Top 10 Famous Male Bodybuilders

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Despite it being one of the most physically taxing sports out there, it’s very rare the world pays tribute to the legends of mass and aesthetics. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our top 10 famous male bodybuilders. These entries will be based on the bodybuilders who have all made a name for themselves, in or outside of their respective sport. We don’t need for them to still be competing, but they must have professionally competed at one point or another. And, as mentioned, today we’re focusing on the men in the sport, as the women deserve their own list.

Astonishing the masses with his role as Hercules in the late-1950s, Reeves seemed to accomplish as much as an actor as he did as a bodybuilder – but don’t think that means he wasn’t an impressive bodybuilder. This Montana native won several competitions – including Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe all before the age of 25 – and his is often considered one of the most impressive natural male physiques ever. He then left competition to focus on acting, and his Hercules flicks helped him rake in box-office returns worldwide. Once Europe’s highest-paid actor, Reeves’ later career was primarily spent extolling the virtues of drug-free bodybuilding.

Referred to by some as the “father of aesthetics” and by others as the “bodybuilder you’d most want to look like,” Zane made huge contributions to his sport during. Aside from winning the Mr. Olympia crown three years running from ‘77-’79, this muscleman inspired a shift that saw the focus move away from pure mass and towards a competitor’s proportions and aesthetics. Some credit his belief in an ideal physique rather than a massive one with turning the sport into an artform. One of only three bodybuilders to ever beat Arnold Schwarzenegger in a competition, Zane’s abdominals are said to be some of the best ever.

Known as “The Gift” – either for his natural, genetic attributes or ‘cause he’s God’s gift to bodybuilding – Heath has dominated the Mr. Olympia tournament since 2011, winning four years in a row after dethroning Jay Cutler. Famous for his more-than-ample arm development and revered biceps and triceps, Heath just has that “it factor” like few before him. Coming from a basketball background and playing all the way through college, Heath broke onto the bodybuilding scene in 2002 and has since dominated the sport, now owning his own apparel company and supplement brand as well as the best guns going.

#7: Jay Cutler

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This four-time Mr. Olympia became only the third Mr. Olympia ever to win the title in non-sequential years. Plus, he’s come second six additional times. How? After graduating college, Cutler intended to become a correctional officer at a maximum security prison… That is, until he met personal trainer Marcos Rodriguez, who coaxed him into the world of bodybuilding. To say he was a natural would be an understatement, and today this ultra-wide competitor has bulk that allows him to pose and flex with the best of ‘em. With rumors circulating about his retirement, Cutler now has his own clothing and supplement lines, so he’s still a busy, big guy.

This bodybuilder was never much a talker, but more of a shower. Winning the Mr. Olympia title six successive times starting in 1992, Yates earned himself the nickname “The Shadow” by retreating from the spotlight for a while before shows, and coming back with a vengeance to win unexpectedly. A fan of his solitude and low-profile personal life, he turned down endorsements and interviews to stay private. A proponent of HIT or “High Intensity Training,” a style of bodybuilding that favors short bursts of high-intensity rather than drawn-out workouts, Yates is stills considered one of the top figures in his field.

In a conversation about the origins of bodybuilding, one can’t leave this man out. Crowned “The father of modern bodybuilding,” Sandow was the first strongman ever to showcase his physique for audiences by way of the poses we see today. With spectators more taken by his muscles than the amount of weight he could lift, he decided to focus on his proportions and physique. In fact, he spent a lot of time perfecting the “Grecian Ideal,” which meant he was a living, breathing version of a Greek or Roman sculpture. That’s how he became his era’s most well-built man.

Becoming a world-renown bodybuilder is tough, especially when you’ve sworn to protect and serve your community. Add in the fact that the man holds a record eight consecutive wins as Mr. Olympia, and it’s safe to say Ronnie Coleman is a pretty big deal. Considered by some to be the world’s best bodybuilder with a workout that aims for size and definition, Coleman has parlayed that success to training videos, endorsements and more. Plus, the guy is full of catchphrases and wise sayings [“Everybody wanna’ be a bodybuilder, but nobody want to lift this heavy ass weight!”].

Here’s another individual that used strength training as a gateway to get into the bodybuilding industry. Columbu started his athletic career in boxing, moved into weightlifting and powerlifting, and eventually took his place as a bodybuilder. Along with winning the Mr. Olympia title twice, Columbu competed in the first ever World’s Strongest Man competition and placed fifth – and that’s because he was injured. A longtime buddy and training partner to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Columbu also enjoyed a lengthy acting career, as well as a job as a qualified chiropractor.

To call him a hulk of a man would be…fairly accurate. Best known for his performance as the Incredible Hulk in the late-‘70s TV adaptation, Ferrigno enjoyed a successful acting career that blossomed thanks to his bodybuilding. Inspired to body build by Steve Reeves, Ferrigno began weightlifting at 13, long after he’d already lost the majority of his hearing. But his true rise to fame came from his appearance in the bodybuilding documentary “Pumping Iron,” which showcased his attempts to beat his good friend Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Olympia competition. Today, as a retired bodybuilder, Ferrigno does his part in the fitness world as a personal trainer and consultant. Before we spot our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Kai Greene - Serge Nubret - Joe Weider

This pick should come as no surprise. Nicknamed “the Austrian Oak” due to his massive size, Schwarzenegger is the most prominent name in bodybuilding, a onetime amateur and three-time pro Mr. Universe and a seven-time Mr. Olympia, with his influence stretching far past his chosen sport. Known for his upper body size and definition, but also careful not to neglect his lower half, Arnie’s legacy in the sport is memorialized by his annual Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition, as well as his constant presence at contests and expos. As you well know, Schwarzenegger is also an actor whose career landed him in some of the most iconic action roles ever. Oh, and did we mention he served two terms as Governor of California? Do you agree with our list? What bodybuilder do you think did it the biggest? For more awesome Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.