The Pro level BBer - is it worth it?

[Juice Authority]

Is there a real payday for a Pro BBer that's not ranked in the top 10? I mean the guys making the real money are the Ronnie Colemans and Jay Cutlers of the world. How many Ronnies or Jays are there? Not many. From from what I understand most Pro BBers have other jobs to support themselves. What real money is there once you quality for your Pro card? BBing is a full time job in itself. I would think that if you're not in the Top 10 then you're not making much $$$ at all. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 

[scriptfactory]

Why? Are you thinking about going pro?

The majority of ANY bodybuilders income is not from the contests. I'm thinking it's usually from the advertising they do, sponsorships, guest posings, etc. All of that other stuff adds up. Once you have a pro card it opens a lot more doors for these things, place in the top 10 and you can just charge more for your services. I really am not sure, though.

 

[BigAndy69]

I might get flamed for this, but many pro BBers are involved in a lot of shady dealings, very shady...not just gear.

Most do not plan on making a living off of it, there's only a handful of guys who make real $$$ off of actual bodybuilding.

 

[SuperDawgy]

Quite a few pro's already have a primary means of income before they turn pro. Levrone owns a gym, Cutler is into real estate and investments, Duval has a commercial cleaning business. I think that it's not something you do for the money. You do it in hopes of being the best of the best. There is alot of money to be made in guest posing and endorsements. Very few will ever make more than 100K a year off of contest winnings.

 

[hammertime30]

Careers such as BBing is only financially rewarding to the top few...If you can land sponsorships, modeling jobs in fitness magazines and what nots, then you can do ok, however competitions pay very little....Lots of fitness persons make a living as personal trainers and gym owners and just compete for the glory, but don't rely on the actual competition as your primary source of income or else you will fall flat on your face financially unless you are amongst the Ronnie's of the world!!!

 

[2BIG4URMOM]

I think it depends on the individual.

The smart ones would go the route that Script is saying, I know I would. While the dumbasses would try and sell gear and eventually get busted.

I see it as a lifestyle and a dream or goal, not to make cash from it. If you get paid for something that you love and would do regardless, well that's just a plus.

 

[gjohnson5]

Is there a real payday for a Pro BBer that's not ranked in the top 10? I mean the guys making the real money are the Ronnie Colemans and Jay Cutlers of the world. How many Ronnies or Jays are there? Not many. From from what I understand most Pro BBers have other jobs to support themselves. What real money is there once you quality for your Pro card? BBing is a full time job in itself. I would think that if you're not in the Top 10 then you're not making much $$$ at all. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

George Farah and Art Atwood are signed by Optimum Nutrition and I would bet they make some $$$ off endorsements. Neither are in the top 10 but George is close.

http://www.getbig.com/ranking/prorankm.htm

 

[Juice Authority]

Thanks for all your input. This just confirms what I thought all along.

 

[DMI]

I certainly believe that SOME pro level bodybuilders are involved in shady dealings. Look at Dave Palumbo being popped for ALLEGEDLY selling counterfeit GH from Asia, (perhaps just not legit GH... might be Jintropin??) And look at Victor Martinez, Rodney StCloud (though his stuff may have been for personal use.) I'm not saying for certain, I really don't know, it's just speculation really. And, yes, many other pro bodybuilders have their own businesses and other forms of income.

 

[Juice Authority]

Well, BBing is not a cheap sport and at the Pro level the monthly budget between AAS, GH, supps, food, doc visits, etc. must be north of $5,000. That's a huge capital expense with nothing really in return.

 

[Dial_tone]

Some of those supplement contracts pay a tiny amount; a few thousand bucks and products. To be successful you have to develop some sort of 'hook' and market yourself well. Take Tom Platz, who used his freaky thighs to do alot of guest posings, sell alot of photos, training programs, etc. There's good money to be made from seminars if you're knowledgeable and a good speaker. Craig Titus is doing well with his afterparty idea. Milos probably made a nice nickle prepping people for shows.

 

[Juice Authority]

Some of those supplement contracts pay a tiny amount; a few thousand bucks and products. To be successful you have to develop some sort of 'hook' and market yourself well. Take Tom Platz, who used his freaky thighs to do alot of guest posings, sell alot of photos, training programs, etc. There's good money to be made from seminars if you're knowledgeable and a good speaker. Craig Titus is doing well with his afterparty idea. Milos probably made a nice nickle prepping people for shows.

Yeah, I see that. If one is to make any real coin as a BBer then he or she would have to take the initiative and market themselves accordingly. That's the hard part and very time consuming.

 

[DIVISION]

Is there a real payday for a Pro BBer that's not ranked in the top 10? I mean the guys making the real money are the Ronnie Colemans and Jay Cutlers of the world. How many Ronnies or Jays are there? Not many. From from what I understand most Pro BBers have other jobs to support themselves. What real money is there once you quality for your Pro card? BBing is a full time job in itself. I would think that if you're not in the Top 10 then you're not making much $$$ at all. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

You are correct, JA.

The top 5 pros make the majority of the money and the rest of the field basically get the leftovers and have to support themselves with 2nd jobs. If you think about it, most of those guys make more money from their jobs than bodybuilding, so the Bodybuilding career is actually more of a hobby than anything else. The top guys make money from their supplement contracts than from any winnings and if you consider the amount of money they spend on gear it's really not that lucrative in the first place. Basically you have to sell out to a supplemement company in hopes of earning a good living; and we all know the top pros didn't get that massive from supplements.

To be a major player in the game you've got to have the genetics, the drive, and the money to invest in yourself and sadly alot of bros just don't have all three components needed to compete.

DIV

 

[gjohnson5]

Why? Are you thinking about going pro?

Yeah , You might wanna beat Satchboogie first

 

[Juice Authority]

Yeah , You might wanna beat Satchboogie first

Of course I'm not thinking about going Pro. I have money part squared away but the drive and the genetics is where I'm lacking.

 

[DIVISION]

Of course I'm not thinking about going Pro. I have money part squared away but the drive and the genetics is where I'm lacking.

If the genetics aren't there, there's no use wasting your time and money.

It's a pretty rigid 3 component system.

Ronnie Coleman has all three. Jay Cutler has all three.

Lee Priest has 2 of 3 and he hasn't won the Olympia yet.

DIV

 

[gjohnson5]

If the genetics aren't there, there's no use wasting your time and money.

It's a pretty rigid 3 component system.

Ronnie Coleman has all three. Jay Cutler has all three.

Lee Priest has 2 of 3 and he hasn't won the Olympia yet.

DIV

What the the 3 components. I dont think Lee Priest has the size to compete with Ronnie or Jay... Mr Olympia is all about muscle mass

 

[Juice Authority]

What the the 3 components. I dont think Lee Priest has the size to compete with Ronnie or Jay... Mr Olympia is all about muscle mass

Genetics.

 

[GoldenDelicious]

first pro to do a tell all book and tell all DVD will make some serious money imo

but back on topic, in general, i think these guys are in it for the lifestyle/glory. the money just isnt there

 

[2BIG4URMOM]

What the the 3 components. I dont think Lee Priest has the size to compete with Ronnie or Jay... Mr Olympia is all about muscle mass

I disagree!

The "O" is about proportion, confidence, and presence.

If it was all about mass, Franco Columbu would never have won the "O" twice and under 200lbs.

There has also been others under 200lbs, and big time contenders.

 

[gjohnson5]

I disagree!

The "O" is about proportion, confidence, and presence.

If it was all about mass, Franco Columbu would never have won the "O" twice and under 200lbs.

There has also been others under 200lbs, and big time contenders.

That's find , but if you look at it recently, say within the last 15 yers, it been Lee Hayney , Dorian , and Ronnie. What did they have in common... They were the biggest.

 

[v shape]

I disagree!

The "O" is about proportion, confidence, and presence.

If it was all about mass, Franco Columbu would never have won the "O" twice and under 200lbs.

There has also been others under 200lbs, and big time contenders.

That is the most retarted shit ive heard in a while. That may have been the case 20-30 years ago. Look at the previous Mr.O's within the past 10-15 years, they were light years ahead of the other competitors in terms of mass/balance. Ronnie just has to show up with decent conditioning and he will stay mr O unitil he retires.

 

[gjohnson5]

That is the most retarted shit ive heard in a while. That may have been the case 20-30 years ago. Look at the previous Mr.O's within the past 10-15 years, they were light years ahead of the other competitors in terms of mass/balance. Ronnie just has to show up with decent conditioning and he will stay mr O unitil he retires.

Yeah , I always thought Lee Labrada has great proportion and so do Mr. Winstrol Shawn Ray , but they never won a Mr O over TotaLee

 

[K13]

sucking dick for gear helps to save money

 

[posthuman]

Wanting to become a Pro to make money is a very stupid idea.Everybody knows there is no money for most of them.That's why many sell drugs,pose for gays etc.

Wanting to become a Pro is,or should be,about passion for the sport...because you love it.I'd love to be a Pro even if I made NO money directly from it.Standing on the Olympia stage would be payment enough...for me.

 

[IwouldSlamU]

Well, BBing is not a cheap sport and at the Pro level the monthly budget between AAS, GH, supps, food, doc visits, etc. must be north of $5,000. That's a huge capital expense with nothing really in return.

they dont pay 4 roids ect....gym owners do...ect

 

[Dial_tone]

they dont pay 4 roids ect....gym owners do...ect

You're delusional.

 

[psychedout]

they dont pay 4 roids ect....gym owners do...ect

LoL. And in turn they sell them to the pros.

But when your picking up 2-3k amps at a time, ill bet you pay way less than picking up say 100 amps.

 

[TheRide]

Some of those supplement contracts pay a tiny amount; a few thousand bucks and products. To be successful you have to develop some sort of 'hook' and market yourself well. Take Tom Platz, who used his freaky thighs to do alot of guest posings, sell alot of photos, training programs, etc. There's good money to be made from seminars if you're knowledgeable and a good speaker. Craig Titus is doing well with his afterparty idea. Milos probably made a nice nickle prepping people for shows.

Speaking of a "market-nitch" for yourself... what ever happened to Quadzilla from a few years back???

 

[BigAndy69]

Speaking of a "market-nitch" for yourself... what ever happened to Quadzilla from a few years back???

I think he was arrested on gun charges when he had some kind of fight with his girlfriend and she alleged that he shot a gun in the air.

 

[Dial_tone]

I think he was arrested on gun charges when he had some kind of fight with his girlfriend and she alleged that he shot a gun in the air.

yep, he got 30 months for that stunt....he must've been probation already.

 

[TheRide]

I think he was arrested on gun charges when he had some kind of fight with his girlfriend and she alleged that he shot a gun in the air.

...must have been roid rage...

 

[2BIG4URMOM]

That's find , but if you look at it recently, say within the last 15 yers, it been Lee Hayney , Dorian , and Ronnie. What did they have in common... They were the biggest.

Well of course if you look at the last 15 years, between 3 bb'ers the Mr. "O" title has been locked for the last 19 years. Haney held the Mr. O title for 8 years, Yates held it for 5 and coleman so far for 6.

Lee Haney never came in that big, at 5'11 244lbs. He had great symmetry and proportion, actually I always thought his legs where kind of small for the rest of his physique.

I think if it where all about size and mass Nasser El Sonbaty at 5'11" and near 300lbs would be able to place a lot better, actually Priest is probably pound per pound the largest at 5'4" 240lbs.

 

[BigAndy69]

Well of course if you look at the last 15 years, between 3 bb'ers the Mr. "O" title has been locked for the last 19 years. Haney held the Mr. O title for 8 years, Yates held it for 5 and coleman so far for 6.

Lee Haney never came in that big, at 5'11 244lbs. He had great symmetry and proportion, actually I always thought his legs where kind of small for the rest of his physique.

I think if it where all about size and mass Nasser El Sonbaty at 5'11" and near 300lbs would be able to place a lot better, actually Priest is probably pound per pound the largest at 5'4" 240lbs.

If I remember correctly Lee Haney dwarfed his competition. His arms and legs were lacking but he was the biggest. (I haven't followed BB in a while.)

If you look at the last 3 mr olympias, and we are talking about 19 years, the winners had 1 thing in common; they had the best backs by far.

 

[deejay10]

But when your picking up 2-3k amps at a time, ill bet you pay way less than picking up say 100 amps.

My ex g/f used to date a guy who had his pro card....and the prices that he got on gear were disgusting.....when you're that big people are automatically going to assume you're on AAS, and they're going to ask you about them. All the dealers want from the big guys is for them to send new "clients" in their direction and they either get a cut of the profits or get their gear for dirt cheap.

I'm not saying this is the way in all cases...just the one that I knew.

 

[IwouldSlamU]

My ex g/f used to date a guy who had his pro card....and the prices that he got on gear were disgusting.....when you're that big people are automatically going to assume you're on AAS, and they're going to ask you about them. All the dealers want from the big guys is for them to send new "clients" in their direction and they either get a cut of the profits or get their gear for dirt cheap.

I'm not saying this is the way in all cases...just the one that I knew.

i have read where Flex wheeler said poeple would some times just give him roids because they wanted to see him win. Trust me......PRO's get the "homey hook up" big time

 

[soflaguy]

Being a pro BB'er is not anything you could make a living off of even if you near the top. I know of one guy who is about 20th best and makes his living off personal training. He huffs and puffs just walking around the gym because he is so freakishly big. The average person does not want him to "train" them because they don't want to really be like him.
Other competitive BB'ers sell themselves for body-worshipping and are involved in drug selling.

 

[georgie24]

no fucking way i would ever think about "going pro" the money you have to invest in yourself and time faaaar outweights the rewards. face it guys bodybuilding is DEAD. and always will be with dumbasses like todays pro's representing that sport. they sissy squabble in magazine articles and message boards like a bunch of rosie picking pansies drive the moral to levels where im embarassed to read or listen to them speak.70's-80's guys will always be the desired bodybuilders of my choice. like i said bodybuilding is DEAD

 

[TheRide]

If I remember correctly Lee Haney dwarfed his competition. His arms and legs were lacking but he was the biggest. (I haven't followed BB in a while.)

If you look at the last 3 mr olympias, and we are talking about 19 years, the winners had 1 thing in common; they had the best backs by far.

Agree!

 

[Dieharder]

hell no i dont think its worth it. i like to be able to actually walk around without my face turning beat red from high blood pressure being hooked up to an IV backstage. bodybuilding was/is supposed to be about health, now its about looking like a fucking retarded overgrown gorilla

 

[yomama]

hell no i dont think its worth it. i like to be able to actually walk around without my face turning beat red from high blood pressure being hooked up to an IV backstage. bodybuilding was/is supposed to be about health, now its about looking like a fucking retarded overgrown gorilla

When was ever bodybuilding about health??? Maybe regular exersize was just about health, but bodybuilding always was about getting fuckin huge like a fuckin retard.

 

[got2getripped]

first pro to do a tell all book and tell all DVD will make some serious money imo

but back on topic, in general, i think these guys are in it for the lifestyle/glory. the money just isnt there

That would be awesome, I think it will happen in time.

I do think they are definitely in shady business. I bet Ronnie Coleman abused his power as a police officer to land where he is now.

 

[georgie24]

ronnies body can only hold so much muscle before he's considered absolulty rediculous. kinda like that jacked up rat in muscle mags ads. i can only imagine what his echo and bloodwork must look like

 

[BigAndy69]

When was ever bodybuilding about health??? Maybe regular exersize was just about health, but bodybuilding always was about getting fuckin huge like a fuckin retard.

LOL...quote of the day...

Btw, georgie, you are partially right; Pro Bodybuilding is dead, truth is it was never alive.

BBing is a very lucrative business for the people behind the scenes, the bodybuilders for the most part are just circus animals...vehicules to sell supplements to teenagers...(very similar to pro wrestling)

 

[georgie24]

i agree 100%. its the supplement companies, magazines, gyms that make off with the purse, and its the idoit like markus ruhl holding up a jug of creatine for the photoshoot they pay him 5k to do. minus the cost of diurects, eca stacks, masteron winny ect. circus animals pretty much sums up todays pro bodybuilders.

 

[yomama]

I never considered competing, I always wanted to look good. Bodybuilding is dead, it's true. How often do you see anything on TV about bodybuilding. The few, the proud, the bodybuilders! Damn at least we look good compared to the rest of the pigs in the world.

 

[georgie24]

btw i mean bodybuilding as the pro sport not our personal narcasism =)

 

[BigAndy69]

btw i mean bodybuilding as the pro sport not our personal narcasism =)

That's still alive in BigAndy69!!! (most muscular pose)

 

[2BIG4URMOM]

i agree 100%. its the supplement companies, magazines, gyms that make off with the purse, and its the idoit like markus ruhl holding up a jug of creatine for the photoshoot they pay him 5k to do. minus the cost of diurects, eca stacks, masteron winny ect. circus animals pretty much sums up todays pro bodybuilders.

Definately bro,

It's so hard now to buy a muscle mag and actually take any of these circus clowns seriously.

There is a BB in my gym (I don't want to bring him into the light anymore, but some of ya know who I'm talking about), and I always wondered why he would never lift longer than 30min and he has such bad form and never consistant, and he got bigger everytime I saw him. Well, now I know the truth and it really got me bummed out for awhile, I will never look at bb'ing the same.

 

[powerlord]

we've got a few NPC guys at our gym trying to get their pro cards,one is real close,all of them bounce at local clubs here and easily make 500 bucks a weekend,one does porn I don't know how much he makes,and two of them are bodyguards part time,plus they personal train most everyday,the guy that is going to get his pro card says he makes 2000 to 2500 bucks a week,you have alot of doors open to you once your that big,and there's no telling how much they make with gear.I danmn sure could handle 2 G's a week.

 

[georgie24]

another good point. be a SMART bber and market yourself like powerlord said. become your own inc and reap the profits.

 

[posthuman]

Funny how people here critisize Pro's for juicing heavily when there is no money in the sport...like money would compensate for health anyway.

And what about the NUMEROUS guys on here who don't even compete (COULDN'T compete with their development level) but still juice heavily enough to rival even some Pro's.How the hell do you justify that?!

 

[georgie24]

we juice for narcasism, they juice and lift to pay the mortgage. plus some of us are just addicts and choose to binder on gear instead of rec drugs and alcohol. nobody is justifying anything. to each his own