Arnold Schwarzenegger sent shockwaves through the bodybuilding world at the Arnold Classic 2024. After presenting the 2024 Arnold Classic champion, Hadi Choopan, with $300,000, Arnie announced something no one expected. The Austrian Oak said that the Arnold Classic will offer $500,000 to the winner in 2025. In 2022, the Arnold Sports Festival announced that the champion would receive $300,000, which was more than the previous editions of the show.

However, after just years, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that his show would offer more prize money than Mr. Olympia. “As you know the winning prize for the Olympia is $400,000. And I don’t feel obliged to the rules so we’re going to go up to $500,000 for the winner next year,” said Arnie. Schwarzenegger’s audacious move instantly changed the land space of bodybuilding.

What rule did Arnold Schwarzenegger mention?

At the Arnold Classic 2024, the 76-year-old said he no longer felt “obliged” to follow the rules. However, the uninitiated might be wondering what rule Schwarzenegger mentioned in his statement. The rule Arnie mentioned was an agreement he made with the IFBB. The Austrian Oak had to agree that his show couldn’t offer more prize money than the Olympia.

The reason behind putting forward such a clause was manyfold. IFBB co-founder Joe Weider established the Mr. Olympia contest in 1965. When Weider started his show, the NABBA Mr. Universe was the most prestigious bodybuilding show in the world. However, Weider desired for his show to become the Superbowl of Bodybuilding.

So, about half a decade into its existence, Weider decided to bar any bodybuilder from Mr. Olympia who would compete outside the IFBB. Since Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva’s rivalry had heated up, the best bodybuilders of the era flocked to compete at the Mr. Olympia. After Arnie dominated the Olympia, he became the man to beat.

Weider got his wish. However, when Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer teamed up to create the Arnold Classic, the IFBB didn’t want to turn into the next NABBA. The IFBB knew that the man who won seven Olympia and put the sport on the map had enough star power to dethrone the Olympia with his bodybuilding event.

Read More | Arnold Schwarzenegger Gives the Ultimate Compliment to 6′2″ Arnold Classic Champ Who Reminds Him of Lou Ferrigno

So, Arnold Schwarzenegger played by the rules for decades out of respect for his mentor, Joe Weider. However, the man who played a massive role in making bodybuilding popular wants the sport to take another leap.

Arnie wants athletes to get paid more

Arnold Schwarzenegger recently appeared on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce and recounted how he felt about competing in the 70s. The bodybuilding icon mentioned Joe Namath’s pantyhose endorsement. Schwarzenegger recalled seeing the NFL star appear in the commercial and getting paid a million dollars in 1974. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger barely earned money, while Namath earned a million dollars from an endorsement. “I had to go into bricklaying. I made no money in bodybuilding. There was nothing—sponsorships or anything,” Schwarzenegger told the Kelce brothers. So Arnie decided to push for the sport to become more popular.

The champion bodybuilder started “promoting bodybuilding competitions to raise the cash prizes and sponsorships.” His efforts culminated in establishing the Arnold Sports Festival. While prize money in bodybuilding has increased and sponsors support athletes, Arnold Schwarzenegger feels now is the time to push for more. 

The prize money in bodybuilding is still minuscule compared to basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, and other sports. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger hopes to pressure the Superbowl of Bodybuilding to step up their game and offer even more prize money. In fact, the dominoes have already started falling.

IFBB Pro League Vice President Tyler Manion announced that prize money would increase across the board, for every division shortly after Arnie’s audacious announcement. Other IFBB pro shows also followed suit. The Detroit Pro announced that the winner would receive $25,000. The Dubai Pro announced that they were doubling the total prize money for the 2024 edition.

Read More | Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award: From a Boy Who Hated Working in the Family Business to One of the Most Celebrated Bodybuilding Legends

However, fans and veterans think this is only the beginning. Bodybuilding legend and four-time Arnold Classic champ Flex Wheeler spoke about the defiant move by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Sultan of Symmetry explained that the Mr. Olympia stands a chance of getting overthrown. Wheeler said the premier bodybuilding show should offer over $500,000 to the winner in 2025.

So, it’s safe to say that Arnold Schwarzenegger changed the course of the sport with a single announcement.