Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a historic increase in the 2025 Arnold Classic prize money. The announcement came right after Hadi Choopan’s win at the 2024 Arnold Classic. Established in 1989, the Arnold Classic is the second most prestigious professional bodybuilding competition after the Mr. Olympia.
Former Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan bounced back from the 2023 Olympia loss and won the 2024 Arnold Classic title, taking home the $300,000 prize. His victory proved that ‘The Persian Wolf’ was still the top contender and could present a formidable challenge to reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford at the 2024 Olympia.
But Choopan’s win was not the biggest storyline heading out of the event as Arnold Schwarzenegger took to the mic and announced that they would increase the 2025 Arnold Classic prize money to $500,000. Schwarzenegger started by acknowledging Mr. Olympia for increasing the first prize and added:
“I have more good news and that is, this year the winning prize is $300,000. But next year, as you know the winning prize for the Olympia is $400,000, and I don’t feel obliged anymore for the rules anymore for the rules so we are going to go up to $500,000 for next year for the Arnold Classic.”
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2024 Arnold Classic – Wesley Vissers, Diogo Montenegro, and Lauralie Chapados emerge victoriously among others
The 2024 Arnold Classic took place from March 1-3 in Columbus, Ohio and competitors in seven divisions tried their hand at winning the first major pro show of the year.
The Classic Physique division witnessed a close and exciting battle for the top spot. Experts favored the Previous year’s winner Ramon Rocha Queiroz to defend the title. However, Dutch bodybuilder Wesley Vissers pulled off a historic upset, defeating Queiroz (second place) along with fan favorite Urs Kalecinski (third place) and former AC champ Breon Ansley (fourth place).
Elsewhere, Lauralie Chapados took home the Bikini title with superior posing. Ariel Khadr and Francielle Mattos emerged victoriously in the Fitness and Wellness divisions, respectively.
In the Wheelchair division, a relatively new Rajesh John secured the victory and established himself as a serious contender.
Many speculate that the prize hike might lead to intense competition between the Arnold Classic and Olympia. While the bodybuilding community considers winning the Mr. Olympia title as the ultimate achievement in professional bodybuilding, a higher number of elite bodybuilders could participate in the Arnold Classic for a potential half-a-million paycheck. It is also possible that the 2025 Olympia prize might increase to far exceed Arnold’s.
Irrespective of the one-upping game and the motivation behind it, a bigger prize is a positive development from bodybuilders’ perspective.
Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger announce the decision to increase the prize money below (3:22:00 onwards), courtesy of ASTHETIC YouTube channel:
2024 Arnold Classic Results
Day One
Day Two
- Arnold Classic Open Bodybuilding Results
- Arnold Classic Men’s Physique Results
- Arnold Classic Bikini Results
- Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair Results
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