Originally Posted by
Metalject
In regards to endorsements, that depends on your definition of "real $$$."
You're right in that the payouts have increased in the past few years but for something that's supposed to be Professional and the cost associated with being a professional bodybuilder it's still very low. Could more prize money be afforded? Yes,
massive amounts more. However, as kelkel mentioned in another post this is a subculture, which makes overall demand extremely low, which makes payouts even lower. And if you don't think it's the sub of all subcultures consider Street League Skateboarding, which already pays out more in only 4yrs than the Olympia has been able to pay in 50yrs. And these guys are paid for a single event just as you described Olympia competitors being paid for a single event.
Only a very few bodybuilders make very decent money, and those are simply the ones that have better endorsement deals and several of them that combine for good money. Again, we're talking about very few. Most bodybuilders, the majority that competed at the Olympia, which makes them the top bodybuilders in the world, while they may not live check to check they constantly put together small deals that pay a few thousand bucks here and there and hope it adds up to be enough. A large portion have jobs or small business that have nothing to do with bodybuilding as that's the only way for them to continue.
The current bodybuilders that do very well financially:
1. Phil Heath
2. Kai Greene
3. Jay Cutler (primarily because of investments outside of bodybuilding)
4. Branch Warren (same as Jay Cutler)
5. Dennis Wolf (same as Cutler and Warren and is also able to market himself in ways they cannot.
6. Dexter Jackson but to a lesser extent of the above 5 for various reasons
7. Flex Lewis doesn't bring in the bigger prize money but very marketable and is able to get endorsements normally held for larger guys - has also been a bit smarter than most and a bit of an entrepreneur.
While he can't be put on the list due to recent struggles, Victor Martinez had an opportunity to at least make some decent money but he's got a pretty big hole to climb out of.
Johnnie Jackson, makes a decent living because he is an absolute work horse. Very family oriented man who won't turn down opportunities to make a couple grand that many others might due to pride. Absolutely one of the best most solid men in bodybuilding.
Some of the men on this list have done well - most will be broke when it's over. The cost of living is tremendous and often far exceeds what they're bringing in. A lot of them feel the need to live rock star lives since they're pro bodybuilders but rarely does their bank account handle it well. Very few can see through and past this detriment. Flex has been one to see through it and I hope as he continues he continues to see though it. Otherwise you end up a 40 something year old man, broke with no skills and become just like the rest of society. I've known some bodybuilders like this over the years who really struggle to get past this nasty reality. They were a pro at something very few could ever attempt much less minimally succeed and now they find themselves carrying lumber at Home Depot or loading trucks at Rent-A-Center just hoping and praying some big name magazine or website will throw them a bone. But when there are only a few bones to throw and hundreds of these bodybuilders, the picture isn't pretty for most.
Professional bodybuilding is a dark and harsh world with very few gleaming lights at the end. Being told your whole career that those lights will show at the end doesn't help the person at all as very few are prepared for the cold reality that awaits at the end of the tunnel.
And now we're left with the 100+ other active IFBB pros and low and behold there isn't very much money left, at least none that's willing to be spent.
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