The history of bodybuilding has seen some of the biggest muscle monsters who look way bigger than a normal human being. In this post, we will take a look at the top 10 biggest bodybuilders of all time. These men boasted a physique that was simply terrifying but spectacular at the same time.
A lot of bodybuilders aim to get the biggest body but not everyone can achieve it. Even after using unnatural substances, many fail to build a body as big as the men we’ve featured below. These 10 men have the most humongous yet sculpted physique that impresses any viewer.
Top 10 Biggest Bodybuilders Ever:
Size is a very crucial factor for a bodybuilder’s physique. So, every aspiring bodybuilder puts in a helluva effort in getting big. However, only a few manage to bulk up beyond the unimaginable limit. This list consists of those men who have the biggest and the most humongous physique on this planet.
Surprisingly, bodybuilding legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, and others are not featured in this list. It’s not because they didn’t have huge bodies. Of course, they were some of the biggest bodybuilders to compete but there are men bigger than them with more massive bodies.
1. Greg Kovacs:
Greg Kovacs was a Canadian bodybuilder who is primarily remembered for his monstrous physique. Standing at 6’4″, the beast weighed around 420 pounds during the off-season and competed at a weight above 300 pounds. His arms were measured at more than 25-plus inches and were the main attraction of his body.
Despite being the biggest bodybuilder with massive muscles, Kovacs failed to achieve much success as a professional bodybuilder. His best was a 13th-place finish at the 2004 Arnold Classic. Unfortunately, the ‘mass monster’ passed in 2013 at the age of 44 due to heart failure.
- Height: 6 Feet 4 Inches
- Competition Weight: 330 Pounds
2. Ronnie Coleman:
Ronnie Coleman is one of the greatest, biggest, strongest, and most successful bodybuilders of all time. The American mass monster made his debut in 1992 at the IFBB World Amateur Championships. He then went on to win eight Mr. Olympia titles in consecutive years from 1998 to 2005.
Standing at 5’11”, Coleman weighed around 295 pounds on the stage and bulked up to 330 pounds during the off-season. The legendary bodybuilder retired in 2007 with a record eight Olympia titles.
- Height: 5 Feet 11 Inches
- Competition Weight: 295 Pounds
3. Phil Heath:
Phil Heath is the next contender on our list of the biggest bodybuilders of all time. The American star made his pro bodybuilding debut in 2006 by winning both the Colorado Pro and New York Pro Championships. He then cemented his legacy in history by winning the prestigious Mr. Olympia title seven times.
Heath claimed the Eugene Sandow trophy for consecutive years from 2011 to 2017. Standing at 5 feet 9, Phil Heath weighed around 250 pounds on the stage and pumped up to 275 pounds when he was not preparing for any competition.
- Height: 5 Feet 9 Inches
- Competition Weight: 250 Pounds
4. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay:
Mamdouh Ellsbiay, popularly known as “Big Ramy,” is a widely famous Egyptian bodybuilder, known for his monstrous muscles. The two-time Olympia winner made his professional debut at the 2013 New York Pro and has dominated every competition since then.
Standing at 5’10” and weighing 300 pounds during contests, Big Ramy is a force to reckon with for anyone. When he is not preparing for any competition, he can weigh as much as 341 pounds. Despite having massive muscles, Big Ramy has an incredibly ripped structure which helped him win numerous trophies.
- Height: 5 Feet 10 Inches
- Competition Weight: 300-315 Pounds
5. Paul Dillette:
Paul Dillette was one of the most terrifying dudes in the 1990s due to his humongous size. Hailing from Quebec, Canada, Dillette made his Pro debut at the 1993 Arnold Classic. His most memorable victory came at the 1999 Night of Champions and his best finish at Olympia was the fourth rank in 1993 and 1994.
Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 285 pounds on the stage, the Canadian bodybuilder had a successful career. Dillette retired from competitive bodybuilding in 2006. After that, he founded the World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (WBFF), one of the biggest professional bodybuilding associations.
- Height: 6 Feet 2 Inches
- Competition Weight: 285 Pounds
6. Markus Rühl:
Markus Rühl is the next name on our list of the biggest bodybuilders ever. The German mass monster is world-famous for his humongous upper body. Ruhl started his career as a football player but had to give up on his dreams due to an injury. That’s when he explored bodybuilding and pursued it professionally.
Standing at 5’10” and weighing 282 pounds during competitions, Ruhl was the winner of the 2000 Toronto Pro and 2002 Night of Champions. He was also placed third at the 2006 Austria Pro Grand Prix and his best finish at Olympia came in 2004 when he was placed fifth. Eventually, Ruhl retired in 2010.
- Height: 5 Feet 10 Inches
- Competition Weight: 282 Pounds
7. Lou Ferrigno:
Lou Ferrigno is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time to not win an Olympia trophy. The 6’5″ tall American bodybuilder made his pro debut at the 1972 NABBA Mr. Universe. When he appeared in the 1975 Mr. Olympia in South Africa, he was the biggest bodybuilder in the world at that time.
However, Ferrigno failed against Schwarzenegger to lift the title. He then started working as an actor and appeared in the 1977 film Pumping Iron. Ferrigno also played the role of The Hulk in the 1977 film. Eventually, he returned to bodybuilding in the 1990s but didn’t manage to claim the prestigious Olympia title.
- Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches
- Competition Weight: 285 Pounds
8. Günter Schlierkamp:
Günter Schlierkamp was a German professional bodybuilder who relocated to the United States to pursue his dreams. He won the 1993 World Amateur Bodybuilding Championship and was one of the most exciting rookies at that time. However, it took him almost a decade to claim his pro card.
Schlierkamp received a special invitation to compete at the 2002 Olympia due to his spectacular size but he finished fifth. He also had a fourth-place finish at the 2005 Olympia. The 6’1″ bodybuilder weighed around 290 pounds on the stage and surpassed 330 pounds during the off-season.
- Height: 6 Feet 1 Inch
- Competition Weight: 290 Pounds
9. Nasser El Sonbaty:
Nasser El Sonbaty is the next contender on our list of the biggest bodybuilders of all time. Born in Germany in 1965, “The Professor” (a moniker he earned due to wearing his iconic glasses and being able to speak several languages) represented the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in bodybuilding.
Sonbaty first appeared at the Olympia stage in 1994 where he finished in seventh position. At the 1997 Olympia, his best finish came he ended up as the runner-up behind Dorian Yates. He was also the winner of the 1999 IFBB Arnold Classic. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2013 due to kidney failure.
- Height: 5 Feet 11 Inches
- Competition Weight: 290 Pounds
10. Dorian Yates:
Dorian Yates, famously called “The Shadow,” is the ultimate name on our list of the largest bodybuilders. Hailing from the United Kingdom, Yates stood at 5’10” and weighed around 260 pounds on the stage. During the off-season, he weighed as much as 310 pounds.
Yates had a very successful career in bodybuilding as he went on to win the prestigious Mr. Olympia title a then-record six consecutive times from 1992 to 1997. He has the fifth-highest number of Olympia victories, only behind Coleman, Haney, Schwarzenegger, and Heath.
- Height: 5 Feet 10.5 Inches
- Competition Weight: 260 Pounds
Honorable Mentions: Kai Greene, Rich Piana, Jean Pierre Fux, Jay Cutler, and Lee Haney.
Final Words:
These are the 10 biggest bodybuilders of all time. It’s almost impossible to achieve what these guys possessed for a normal human being. Their physiques were a result of sheer dedication, hard work, and discipline. If you also aspire to build a body like these biggest bodybuilders, our website can be a go-to resource for you.
You can check out other health, fitness, and workout-related posts here. Also, here’s a quick recap of the list shared above for people who prefer TL;DR:
- Greg Kovacs
- Ronnie Coleman
- Phil Heath
- Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
- Paul Dillette
- Markus Rühl
- Lou Ferrigno
- Günter Schlierkamp
- Nasser El Sonbaty
- Dorian Yates
That’s all for this post. Feel free to share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments section.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the biggest bodybuilders:
Who is the largest bodybuilder ever?:
Late Canadian bodybuilder Greg Kovacs is widely regarded as the largest bodybuilder ever due to his humongous stature and massive muscles. According to Muscle Insider, he stood at 6 feet 4 inches, weighed around 420 pounds during the off-season, and competed at around 330 pounds.
Who is the strongest bodybuilder ever?:
Ronnie Coleman is known as the strongest bodybuilder as due to his incredibly big size, sheer strength, and never-ending stamina. The eight-time Mr. Olympia champion used to squat 765 lbs for four reps and 800 lbs for two. He can also deadlift 800 pounds for two reps and bench press 200 lbs for 12 reps.
Who is the biggest natural bodybuilder?:
Ron Williams is widely popular as the biggest natural bodybuilder due to his impressive size and physique. The American legend stood at 5 feet 11 inches and weighed 190 pounds for competitions. He had won 21 world titles including 7 Mr. Natural Olympia, 7 Mr. Natural Universe, and 7 Mr. Natural World titles.
Who is the tallest bodybuilder ever?:
“The Dutch Giant” Olivier Richters is the tallest professional male bodybuilder standing at 7 feet 2 inches and weighing around 337 pounds for competitions. He has appeared in numerous documentaries and Hollywood productions due to his impressively big stature.
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