Only a select few bodybuilders globally have achieved the acclaim and honor of being Mr. Olympia. To provide some perspective, this title represents the pinnacle of achievement in the bodybuilding world, with the esteemed competition held every year. In this article, we will review all the Mr. Olympia champions until 2023.
Founded in 1965, this illustrious event is organized by the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB). The competitor with the most outstanding and sculpted body is declared the victor and is bestowed with the prestigious Eugen Sandow trophy.
The Complete List of Every Single Mr. Olympia Winner:
In nearly six decades of history, there have been 18 Mr. Olympia titleholders. You may recognize some familiar names, such as the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates, Phil Heath, and Lee Haney. However, there are several other champions you should be aware of.
Each individual who claimed the prestigious title has left an indelible impact on the sport, etching their legacy in the annals of bodybuilding with golden letters. Let’s delve into the history from 1965 to 2023, and as an extra, we will speculate on the prospective contenders for 2024.
1. Larry Scott (1965 – 1966):
- Nickname: “The Legend” or “The Golden Boy”
- Birthdate: October 12, 1938
- Birthplace: Blackfoot, Idaho, USA
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 205 lbs (93 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1965, 1966
2. Sergio Oliva (1967 – 1969):
- Nickname: “The Myth”
- Birthdate: July 4, 1941
- Birthplace: Guanabacoa, Havana, Cuba
- Height: 5’10” (178 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 240 lbs (109 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1967, 1968, 1969
3. Arnold Schwarzenegger (1970 – 1975, 1980):
- Nickname: “The Austrian Oak,” “Arnie,” and “Governator”
- Birthdate: July 30, 1947
- Birthplace: Thal, Styria, Austria
- Height: 6’2″ (188 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 235 lbs (107 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980
4. Franco Columbu (1976, 1981):
- Nickname: “The Sardinian Strongman”
- Birthdate: August 7, 1941
- Birthplace: Ollolai, Sardinia, Italy
- Height: 5’5″ (165 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 185 lbs (84 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1976, 1981
5. Frank Zane (1977 – 1979):
- Nickname: “The Chemist”
- Birthdate: June 28, 1942
- Birthplace: Kingston, Pennsylvania, USA
- Height: 5’9″ (175 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 185 lbs (84 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1977, 1978, 1979
6. Chris Dickerson (1982):
- Nickname: “The Golden Eagle”
- Birthdate: August 25, 1939
- Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, USA
- Height: 5’6″ (168 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 190 lbs (86 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1982
7. Samir Bannout (1983):
- Nickname: “The Lion of Lebanon”
- Birthdate: November 7, 1955
- Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 210 lbs (95 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1983
8. Lee Haney (1984 – 1991):
- Nickname: Total-Lee Awesome
- Birthdate: November 11, 1959
- Birthplace: Fairburn, Georgia, USA
- Height: 6’0″ (183 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 250 lbs (113 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
9. Dorian Yates (1992 – 1997):
- Nickname: “The Shadow”
- Birthdate: April 19, 1962
- Birthplace: Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, England
- Height: 5’10” (178 cm)
- Competition Weight: Approximately 260 lbs (118 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Titles: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
10. Ronnie Coleman (1998 – 2005):
- Alias: “Big Ron” or “The King”
- Date of Birth: May 13, 1964
- Place of Birth: Bastrop, Louisiana, USA
- Stature: 6’2″ (188 cm)
- Prime Weight: Approximately 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victories: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
11. Jay Cutler (2006 – 2007, 2009-2010):
- Alias: “Jay”
- Date of Birth: August 3, 1973
- Place of Birth: Sterling, Massachusetts, USA
- Stature: 5’9″ (175 cm)
- Prime Weight: Approximately 275 lbs (125 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victories: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
12. Dexter Jackson (2008):
- Alias: “The Blade”
- Date of Birth: November 25, 1969
- Place of Birth: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- Stature: 5’6″ (168 cm)
- Prime Weight: Approximately 240 lbs (109 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victory: 2008
13. Phil Heath (2011 – 2017):
- Alias: “The Gift”
- Date of Birth: December 18, 1979
- Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, USA
- Stature: 5’9″ (175 cm)
- Prime Weight: Approximately 250 lbs (113 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victories: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
14. Shawn Rhoden (2018):
- Alias: “Flexatron”
- Date of Birth: April 2, 1975
- Place of Birth: Kingston, Jamaica
- Stature: 5’10” (178 cm)
- Prime Weight: Around 250 lbs (113 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victory: 2018
15. Brandon Curry (2019):
- Alias: “The Prodigy”
- Date of Birth: October 19, 1982
- Place of Birth: Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Stature: 5’8″ (173 cm)
- Prime Weight: Around 260 lbs (118 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victory: 2019
16. Mamdouh Elssbiay (2020 -2021):
- Alias: “Big Ramy”
- Date of Birth: September 16, 1984
- Place of Birth: Baltim, Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt
- Stature: Roughly 5’10” (178 cm)
- Prime Weight: Approximately 290-310 lbs (131-141 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victories: 2020, 2021
17. Hadi Choopan (2022):
- Alias: “The Persian Wolf”
- Date of Birth: September 20, 1988
- Place of Birth: Dezful, Khuzestan, Iran
- Stature: Around 5’6″ (168 cm)
- Prime Weight: Approximately 230-240 lbs (104-109 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victory: 2022
18. Derek Lunsford (2023):
:
- Alias: N/A
- Date of Birth: May 14, 1993
- Place of Birth: Illinois, USA
- Stature: Roughly 5’7″ (170 cm)
- Prime Weight: Approximately 225-230 lbs (102-104 kg)
- Mr. Olympia Victory: 2023
All Mr. Olympia Winners & Runner-Ups by Year:
Here’s a summary of all Mr. Olympia competitions through 2023, including champions, second place, and third place finishers:
Year | Champion | Second Place | Third Place | Location |
1965 | Larry Scott | Harold Poole | Earl Maynard | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
1966 | Larry Scott | Harold Poole | Earl Maynard | New York City, New York, USA |
1967 | Sergio Oliva | Chuck Sipes | Harold Poole | New York City, New York, USA |
1968 | Sergio Oliva | Harold Poole | Chuck Sipes | New York City, New York, USA |
1969 | Sergio Oliva | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Dave Draper | New York City, New York, USA |
1970 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Sergio Oliva | Reg Lewis | New York City, New York, USA |
1971 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Serge Nubret | Sergio Oliva | Paris, France |
1972 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Serge Nubret | Sergio Oliva | Essen, Germany |
1973 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Serge Nubret | Lou Ferrigno | New York City, New York, USA |
1974 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Lou Ferrigno | Serge Nubret | New York City, New York, USA |
1975 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Serge Nubret | Lou Ferrigno | Pretoria, South Africa |
1976 | Franco Columbu | Frank Zane | Ken Waller | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
1977 | Frank Zane | Robby Robinson | Franco Columbu | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
1978 | Frank Zane | Robby Robinson | Ed Corney | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
1979 | Frank Zane | Mike Mentzer | Boyer Coe | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
1980 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Chris Dickerson | Frank Zane | Sydney, Australia |
1981 | Franco Columbu | Chris Dickerson | Tom Platz | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
1982 | Chris Dickerson | Samir Bannout | Mohamed Makkawy | London, England |
1983 | Samir Bannout | Mohamed Makkawy | Lee Haney | Munich, Germany |
1984 | Lee Haney | Mohamed Makkawy | Jusup Wilkosz | New York City, New York, USA |
1985 | Lee Haney | Albert Beckles | Rich Gaspari | Brussels, Belgium |
1986 | Lee Haney | Rich Gaspari | Mike Christian | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
1987 | Lee Haney | Rich Gaspari | Andreas Munzer | Gothenburg, Sweden |
1988 | Lee Haney | Rich Gaspari | Berry de Mey | Los Angeles, California, USA |
1989 | Lee Haney | Lee Labrada | Vince Taylor | Rimini, Italy |
1990 | Lee Haney | Shawn Ray | Muhammad Benaziza | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
1991 | Lee Haney | Dorian Yates | Shawn Ray | Orlando, Florida, USA |
1992 | Dorian Yates | Kevin Levrone | Shawn Ray | Helsinki, Finland |
1993 | Dorian Yates | Flex Wheeler | Shawn Ray | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
1994 | Dorian Yates | Shawn Ray | Kevin Levrone | Atlanta, Georgia, USA (2) |
1995 | Dorian Yates | Kevin Levrone | Shawn Ray | Atlanta, Georgia, USA (3) |
1996 | Dorian Yates | Kevin Levrone | Shawn Ray | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
1997 | Dorian Yates | Nasser El Sonbaty | Shawn Ray | Los Angeles, California, USA |
1998 | Ronnie Coleman | Flex Wheeler | Nasser El Sonbaty | New York, New York, USA |
1999 | Ronnie Coleman | Flex Wheeler | Chris Cormier | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
2000 | Ronnie Coleman | Kevin Levrone | Shawn Ray | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (2) |
2001 | Ronnie Coleman | Jay Cutler | Dexter Jackson | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (3) |
2002 | Ronnie Coleman | Kevin Levrone | Chris Cormier | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (4) |
2003 | Ronnie Coleman | Jay Cutler | Dexter Jackson | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (5) |
2004 | Ronnie Coleman | Jay Cutler | Gustavo Badell | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (6) |
2005 | Ronnie Coleman | Jay Cutler | Gustavo Badell | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (7) |
2006 | Jay Cutler | Ronnie Coleman | Dexter Jackson | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (8) |
2007 | Jay Cutler | Victor Martinez | Dexter Jackson | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (9) |
2008 | Dexter Jackson | Jay Cutler | Phil Heath | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (10) |
2009 | Jay Cutler | Branch Warren | Dexter Jackson | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (11) |
2010 | Jay Cutler | Phil Heath | Branch Warren | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (12) |
2011 | Phil Heath | Jay Cutler | Kai Greene | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (13) |
2012 | Phil Heath | Kai Greene | Shawn Rhoden | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (14) |
2013 | Phil Heath | Kai Greene | Dennis Wolf | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (15) |
2014 | Phil Heath | Kai Greene | Shawn Rhoden | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (16) |
2015 | Phil Heath | Dexter Jackson | Shawn Rhoden | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (17) |
2016 | Phil Heath | Shawn Rhoden | Dexter Jackson | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
2017 | Phil Heath | Mamdouh Elssbiay (Big Ramy) | William Bonac | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
2018 | Shawn Rhoden | Phil Heath | Roelly Winklaar | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
2019 | Brandon Curry | William Bonac | Hadi Choopan | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
2020 | Mamdouh Elssbiay (Big Ramy) | Brandon Curry | Phil Heath | Orlando, Florida, USA |
2021 | Mamdouh Elssbiay (Big Ramy) | Brandon Curry | Hadi Choopan | Orlando, Florida, USA |
2022 | Hadi Choopan | Derek Lunsford | Nick Walker | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
2023 | Derek Lunsford | Hadi Choopan | Samson Dauda | Orlando, Florida, USA |
Final Thoughts:
These are the Mr. Olympia champions up to 2023. The forthcoming competition is scheduled for October 2024, and four participants have already qualified: reigning champion Derek Lunsford, former title holder Hadi Choopan, Samson Dauda, and Theo Leguerrier are all strong contenders for the esteemed prize.
We are eagerly anticipating who will next hoist the renowned Eugene Sandow trophy and solidify their mark in bodybuilding history. In the meantime, explore other informative guides on our website about this visually appealing sport. Share your preferences if you’d like to see a similar post about Ms. Olympia champions here.
That concludes this guide. Feel free to leave your opinions and questions in the comments section.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Below are the most common questions about Mr. Olympia winners:
Who was the first Mr. Olympia champion?:
American bodybuilder Larry Scott, fondly called the “Golden Boy” and “The Legend,” was the inaugural Mr. Olympia winner in 1965. He also became the second man to secure back-to-back titles by defending his crown the following year.
Who holds the record for most Mr. Olympia titles?:
Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman are tied for the most Mr. Olympia victories, each having claimed the title eight times. Haney captured the coveted prize from 1984 to 1991, and Coleman won it from 1998 to 2005. The second place for most wins goes to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Heath, both of whom have secured the trophy seven times.
Who secured the 2023 Mr. Olympia title?:
American bodybuilder Derek Lunsford claimed the 2023 Mr. Olympia title, earning $400,000 in prize money. Iranian champion and previous titleholder Hadi Choopan came in second, while Nigerian athlete Samson Dauda finished third.
Who was the victor of the 2023 Mr. Olympia Classic Physique?:
Canadian bodybuilder Chris Bumstead, widely known as CBum, triumphed in the 2023 Mr. Olympia Classic Physique competition, winning $50,000. The IFBB pro bodybuilder has consecutively won the title from 2019 to 2023.