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The bodybuilding world is just one step closer to witnessing the champion of Mr. Olympia 2022. There was some serious business in the pre-judging round. The finalists walked the stage and sported spectacular poses which satiated the fans’ long wait to watch their favorites at the big event. While the speculations are on the rise about who will secure the top three spots, the popular choice for the title remains the magnificent Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay.

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Besides the title, going by the most-anticipated outcome of the event, the Sandow trophy, and boundless admiration and love from fans, Big Ramy will get a hefty six-figure check.

Highest prize money since the inception of the bodybuilding contest, Mr. Olympia

The International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) conducted the first title hunt in 1965 with prize money of $1000 to the title winner. Thereafter, as the fanbase grew every year, so did the prize money. In 2021, the prize money corpus of 11 contests of Mr. Olympia totaled $1.6 million, which is 0.2 million more than the 2020 sum.

Apparently, the title winner of Mr. Olympia gets the highest tranche of the combined total. According to The Sporting News, in 2021, Big Ramy won $400,000 with the title. In 2020, the winners of the second and third places, Brandon Curry took home $150,000 and Hadi Choopan, $100,000 respectively.

Read More | Mr.Olympia 2022 First Call Out Full of Bodybuilding Beasts: Big Ramy, Brandon Curry and Others

While the actual figures are not known yet, Ramy will walk away with a six-figure check that is expected to be higher than the yester years if he wins the title for the third straight time.

The prize money was last updated in 2015

‘The King’ Ronnie Coleman won eight titles from 1998 to 2005. The highest prize money he took home was $150,000. Dexter Jackson won $155,000 in 2008. The numbers saw an impressive rise thereafter due to the increasing popularity of the sport.

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The following year, in 2009, Jay Cutler won $200,000. While the prize money was only $275, 000 in 2014, it made a quantum leap to $400,000 in 2015 and remained unchanged thereafter. What are your thoughts on a raise this year? What significant sum will Big Ramy receive if he repeats history on the Mr. Olympia stage? Share in the comments.

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