“We Got Like 750 Dollars”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Once Revealed His Peanut Earnings Compared to $400,000 Mr. Olympia Prize Money Today

While the fitness and bodybuilding industry might look lucrative and glamorous from the outside, the harsh reality is that it requires a lot of dedication and perseverance from the athlete’s end to succeed in this field. Compared to what an athlete spends during his prep on his diet, training, supplements, etc, a bodybuilder earns next to nothing, even if they win on the biggest stage of bodybuilding. Realizing this, seven times, Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to bring a change. 

The bodybuilding veteran competed for many years during his prime years. Despite his retirement, he has been connected to the sport in one way or another. During his time on Nick’s Strength and Power, ‘The Austrian Oak’ made a candid confession revealing the amount that bodybuilders back in the golden era of bodybuilding used to get after winning Olympia. He also revealed why he couldn’t pay a hefty price money in the Arnold Classic despite his willingness to do so. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger admits the amount that he received during the Mr. Olympia 1976

The sport of bodybuilding has evolved manyfold since the time when Schwarzenegger retired. With the introduction of Classic Physique back in 2016, there have been mixed views about this class. Giving his take on the Classic Physique vs Open Class, Schwarzenegger explained that he believes it is better to have multiple weight classes and multiple events so that the athletes can also get something out of competing. 

Recalling his prime years, Schwarzenegger revealed, “In my days there was no money. I mean, imagine I win the Mr. Olympia competition, I remember in 1974, we got like 750 dollars…but again, we did not do it for the money.” Continuing further, he disclosed, “Franco and I were working in construction at that time and we were doing petty paying jobs and rebuilding Los Angeles after the earthquake.” 

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Being a part of the bodybuilding sphere for so long, Schwarzenegger was determined to increase the cash prize in the Arnold Classic later. So, what stopped him from doing so? 

Arnold explains the restrictions put by IFBB

Growing up in a small village in Austria, Schwarzenegger had a tough time in his initial years of bodybuilding. Even during his initial years as a bodybuilder, he worked several jobs to earn the money required to continue his bodybuilding venture. However, he was disappointed by how little IFBB paid to the winners. Fueled by this, Arnold Classic became the first bodybuilding federation to offer a $5000 cash prize to winners back in 1976. 

However, Schwarzenegger stated, “The IFBB came along…Ben Weider said we have to have an agreement for you to be sanctioned by the IFBB as an official IFBB competition. I said what is the agreement. He said to me, says you cannot offer more money than we offer for the Olympia.”

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Due to this, Schwarzenegger had to stay within the boundaries set by IFBB. As Mr. Olympia 2023 is about to start in a short while, we hope that IFBB will make some changes in its cash prize in the coming years. What are your views on this? Let us know in the comments.