The dream of 4x Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, to be a professional bodybuilder started from a fascination related to cartoon characters and superheroes. The unreal strength and muscles that these superheroes possess often captivate the younger generations. Inspired by the aesthetic physiques of these comic characters, Cutler got inspired to get a membership and get muscular as well. 

A clip of Cutler from a podcast has resurfaced on YouTube as he talks about his initial inspirations. Apart from the superheroes and cartoon characters, there was another person in Cutler’s life who unintentionally sparked the fire that burnt bright years later.

Chris Dickerson’s Influence on Jay Cutler

After expressing the role of comics in his initial admiration towards muscles, Jay Cutler continued by revealing that when he was 12 years old, he came across a bodybuilding magazine that belonged to his sister’s boyfriend. The magazine had a few images of Chris Dickerson after he lifted the Sandow trophy back in 1982. Cutler reveals that Dickerson’s chiseled physique was a revelation for Cutler, who got motivated to delve deeper into the realm of bodybuilding.

“I would probably say the first influence…I was 12. And my sister’s boyfriend had a bodybuilding book, and it featured the…82 Olympia, Chris Dickerson won that and I remember seeing his physique and I was like, Man, this is unbelievable,” Cutler explained in the YouTube shorts video.

Read More: Jay Cutler, Who Spent Millions of Dollars on Food During His Prime, Unveils Stomach-Stirring Diet That Might Sound Insane for Normal People: “Would Buy 30 Dozen Eggs”

In order to make his dreams come true, Cutler started working really hard in the gym. However, it was not a bed of roses for Cutler, who had a tough childhood after his parents got divorced when he was just 4 years old. Due to this, he had to start working at the age of 11 years to fund his diet and chicken breast.

Cutler struggled to earn himself a good piece of chicken breast

Back in 2022, Cutler was featured on an episode of Straight Outta the Lair with Flex Lewis’ podcast. During the podcast, Cutler revealed his struggles while growing up and the financial issues that his family went through. He disclosed that there was just one bread earner and 7 stomachs to feed. Because of this, Cutler had to start finding jobs at the age of just 11.

He said, “I was broke. I was working just miscellaneous just doing like security and whatever else. I think I was actually working on a golf course doing maintenance at this point um because I was just trying to fund like my chicken breast yeah and whatever.”

Watch This Story: From Ronnie Coleman to Jay Cutler: Bodybuilding Legends Show Up At Arnold Classic 2022 In Absence Of Arnold Schwarzenegger 

What do you have to say about Cutler’s story of rags to riches? Let us know in the comments.