You won’t believe these human powerhouses—scroll down to meet the world’s strongest people, ‘cause each entry is crazier than the last!
#10 Hwang Chul-joon
Most bodybuilding fanatics are from Europe or the US, but Asia’s got its own muscle beast—South Korea’s Hwang Chul-joon. Dude’s got the face of a K-pop heartthrob and the physique of a muscle god, and that contrast? Pure chaos (in the best way). Sure, his build isn’t quite on par with Mr. Olympia greats like Ronnie Coleman, but it’s way more in line with mainstream vibes—no surprise he’s got a massive fanbase that loves his mix of charm and raw strength!
#9 Martyn Ford
Say “Martyn Ford,” and boom—you picture a muscle giant. Standing at 6’8” (2.03m), he went from a skinny legend to a 324-pound (147kg) mountain of muscle. These days, he’s not just a standout among regular bodybuilders—his frame is so massive he needs a custom seat on planes, and every time he walks into a room, all eyes lock on him. This guy is low-key a real-life giant! Stick around, ‘cause the next entries are even more mind-blowing.
#8 “The Beast” Kali Muscle
Standing at 5’9” (1.75m), weighing 260 pounds (118kg), and rocking just 4% body fat—Kali Muscle is a bodybuilder, philanthropist, actor, dad, and total “fitness monster.” His nickname isn’t just ‘cause of his muscles, though; he used to run a gang and did 11 years in prison. Get this—those years behind bars are where he built this insane physique, and now he inspires millions to turn their lives around. Wild, right?
#7 Rich Piana (The Arm Guy)
Let’s keep it 100—PEDs are an open secret in bodybuilding. Tons of athletes will do whatever it takes for the perfect physique, and American Rich Piana was no different. He injected steroids for 20 years just to bulk up his arms, becoming a polarizing figure in the community. Tragically, his body couldn’t handle the toll, and he left us way too soon, sparking debates about fitness extremes.
#6 Markus Rühl
Markus Rühl—this German beast goes by “German Giant” or “German Tank.” When he first hit the IFBB New York Pro at 26, he weighed 270 pounds (122.5kg) and took 9th place. After that? His clout blew up, and his competition wins kept piling in—eventually racking up countless championships. Keep reading, the strongest of the strong are still ahead!
#5 Arnold Schwarzenegger
Born in Austria in 1947, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Hollywood icon, 7-time Mr. Olympia, former California Governor, and dual U.S.-Austrian citizen. Let’s be real—Arnold is basically American pop culture royalty. To millions, he’s the face of strength and power—a total legend who turned bodybuilding from a niche sport into a global phenomenon.
#4 Kai Greene
Never use “I’m broke” or “no gym” as an excuse to skip lifting—Kai Greene is living proof that grit beats circumstance. Born in the projects, he dreamed of being strong enough to protect himself, so he got into bodybuilding. That move changed his life forever. These days, he’s such a big deal in the game, thanks to his electrifying stage presence, that he gets paid $46k (around 300k RMB) for just 10 minutes on stage in China!
#3 Lee Haney
Only two people have flipped the script on bodybuilding: First, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who changed the ideal height for a champ (before him, you didn’t need to be 6’2”/187cm to be the best). Second, Lee Haney, who redefined the ideal weight. Once Haney blew up, winning 8 Mr. Olympia titles, bodybuilding entered the “giant era”—where champs tip the scales over 230 pounds. His legacy even outshines Arnold’s—and no one’s matched it yet.
#2 Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler started bodybuilding competitions at 19, and his come-up was rapid fire—he quickly became a top pro and one of the strongest guys on the planet. Between 2001 and 2011, he hit 10 Mr. Olympia contests, nabbing 4 wins and 6 runner-ups in epic battles with rivals. Dominating that hard for a decade? Unheard of in bodybuilding history. Hence, the “King of the Decade” title.
#1 Ronnie Coleman: The Strongest Man Alive
IRL, there’s actually someone with muscles as crazy as the Hulk—American bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman. He’s universally hailed as the strongest man alive, with a physique that looks like it’s about to pop with power. And to top it all off? He won 8 straight Mr. Olympia titles, plus his iconic “Yeah buddy!” catchphrase, earning him the nickname “The God of Bodybuilding” among fitness bros worldwide.
Comments