Fitness Volt
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Strongman
    • Powerlifting
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Arnold Classic
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2025 WSM
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Muscle Groups
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Mobility & Stretching
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Supplements
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Calculators
  • More
    • Forum
    • Strength Standards
    • DIY
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Strongman
    • Powerlifting
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Arnold Classic
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2025 WSM
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Training Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Muscle Groups
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Mobility & Stretching
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Supplements
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Calculators
  • More
    • Forum
    • Strength Standards
    • DIY
    • Profiles
    • Motivation
    • Videos
    • MMA
No Result
View All Result
Fitness Volt
No Result
View All Result
Home » Bodybuilding

Top 12 Bodybuilders with the Biggest Biceps in the World

Looking for motivation for your next biceps workout? It doesn't get any better than this. 

Written by Vidur Saini

Last Updated on17 March, 2023 | 2:31 PM EDT

Ask Question?

Man’s fascination with big biceps is well known. Although arm size doesn’t add to your functionality or strength after a point, it doesn’t hamper its popularity amongst gym bros. 

Look around your gym and you’ll probably find people working on their guns like it’s the end of the world. Ask your buddy to flex their muscles and they will, in all likelihood, hit a front double biceps. 

Big arms are considered symbols of strength and masculinity. Biceps with good peaks, thickness, definition, and separation can make you stand apart. Many bodybuilding legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva are, to this day, acclaimed for their biceps development.

In this article, we go over the 12 bodybuilders with the biggest biceps in the world and a workout to help you grow your pythons. 

12 Bodybuilders with the Biggest Biceps in the World

It’s no secret that steroid use is widespread in bodybuilding, especially at the highest level. Hence, this article includes bodybuilders that allegedly use gear. However, we have avoided including bodybuilders who have been accused of using site-enhancement oils like synthol. But why is that, you ask?

While gear can help a bodybuilder pack on size, they still require stringent training, diet, recovery program, and genetics. On the other hand, site-enhancement oils are directly injected into the target muscles. Synthol has no medical value and doesn’t improve muscle strength. Plus, excessive use of synthol can lead to muscle disformity. [1]

Get Fitter, Faster

Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!

Please wait...
You're In! Let's Crush Your Fitness Goals Together

Expect expert-backed workouts, nutrition advice, the latest in strength sports, and a whole lot of motivation heading your way.

Disclaimer: Fitness Volt doesn’t endorse the use of drugs or site-enhancement oils. The list is for education purposes only. 

Below are 12 bodybuilders that have the mountains for biceps:

Ronnie Coleman

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ronnie Coleman (@ronniecoleman8)

You were probably expecting the eight-time Mr. Olympia champion “The King” to be on the list. Weren’t you?

In his off-season, Ronnie Coleman’s bis measured around 24-inch. However, he has previously disclosed that his arms were around 23 inches when he stepped on stage. 

Besides having some of the biggest biceps in the pro bodybuilding circuit, Ronnie’s guns had unparalleled definition and separation. Plus, his long biceps head made his peaks resemble Mount Everest. 

Phil Heath

Phil Heath Front Double Bicep
Phil Heath / Instagram

At the peak of his career, Phil Heath’s 23-inch biceps were second to none. Furthermore, his 17-inch forearms were bigger than many of his competitors’ biceps.

Nicknamed “The Gift” because of his insane genetics, Heath’s flawless physique blew his competition out of the water. His diced biceps and horseshoe triceps put him on our list of the biggest biceps in the world. 

Flex Lewis

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrew Hall (@neandrewhall)

With seven titles under his belt, James “Flex” Lewis is the winningest 212 Olympia champ. In his heydays, Lewis had 22-inch biceps, which looked humongous on his five-foot-five frame. 

The recently retired bodybuilder is known for his incredible symmetry and round and full muscle bellies. His fans will surely miss seeing him with the big boys on the Men’s Open division stage at the Olympia. 

Check Out: Bodybuilder Flex Lewis Shares Downsized Physique Update, Weighs 213.6-Lbs in Retirement

Rich Piana

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rich Piana (@1dayumay)

Rich Piana was a freak of nature. On second thought, it would not be correct to call him a freak of “nature.” If anything, Piana was hell-bent on challenging nature and molding it to his liking, which he indeed was successful in accomplishing. 

Piana loved training arms and his pythons measured a mind-boggling 24 inches. Watch his training videos, and you’ll want to employ all his training techniques in your next biceps workout. 

Kai Greene

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kai Greene (@kaigreene)

Kai Greene undoubtedly had one of the best biceps peaks in the business. In his prime, Greene’s biceps were 22 inches and had peaks that eclipsed his competition. 

A few scrolls on his Instagram profile tell you that Greene loves training and showing off his arms. Although he has never won a Sandow, bodybuilding fans consider him one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. 

Roelly Winklaar

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Roelly Winklaar " THE BEAST" (@roellywinklaar)

Thanks to his 24 inches, Roelly Winklaar earns a spot on the biggest biceps in the world list. His biceps are humongous, and the separation and lines on his arms also make him a threat to his competition. 

Besides his biceps, Winklaar has some of the best triceps in the sport of bodybuilding. Per Winklaar, his biceps don’t grow nearly as quickly as his triceps.

Lee Priest

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lee Priest (@leepriestofficial72)

In his prime, Priest had some of the best biceps in the business. The five-foot-four bodybuilder’s 22-inch guns made him stand out. Furthermore, his forearm size and conditioning added to his overall physique aesthetics. 

Priest is one of the most outspoken bodybuilders and doesn’t shy away from sharing his opinion about the developments in the sport on social media. 

Check Out: Bodybuilding Veteran Lee Priest Inducted into Muscle Beach Hall of Fame

Get Fitter, Faster

Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!

Please wait...
You're In! Let's Crush Your Fitness Goals Together

Expect expert-backed workouts, nutrition advice, the latest in strength sports, and a whole lot of motivation heading your way.

Bill Pettis

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ༒•Can "MASTER TRAINER" Ünal•༒ (@vucut.hocasi)

Although Bill Pettis is not a big name in bodybuilding, he competed with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbu. Per Joe Weider, Pettis’ arms measured a monster 23.25 inches, even overshadowing The Austrian Oak’s 22-inch and Ferrigno’s 23-inch pythons.

After his pro bodybuilding career came to an end, Pettis became homeless and was found dead near a creek in Pennsylvania at the age of 69. He was allegedly an alcoholic and suffered from mental health issues.  

Flex Wheeler

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Body Transformation Coach FLEX WHEELER (@officialflexwheeler)

“The Sultan of Symmetry” is often referred to as one of the uncrowned Mr. Olympias. His 24-inch pythons and flowing physique made him a frontrunner for the prestigious Mr. O title. 

In 1999, Flex Wheeler discovered that he had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a form of kidney disease. The bodybuilding legend had to undergo a partial leg amputation in October 2019 due to his medical condition. 

Check Out: Flex Wheeler Details Terrible Events Leading To Leg Amputation

Greg Kovacs

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Classic Physique History (@classicphysiquehistory)

At six-foot-four and a contest weight of 330 pounds, Kovacs was one of the biggest bodybuilders of all time. He made his competitors look like rookies on stage. 

The Canadian bodybuilder had 25-inch arms. Furthermore, his arms reportedly measured over 27 inches in the prime of his career. However, per experts, his guns lacked conditioning and separation.

Must Read: 21 Bodybuilders Who Died of Heart Attack

Mike Matarazzo

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chicago Adonis Bodybuilding (@chicagoadonis)

Mike “Big Guns” Matarazzo wowed audiences with his enormous 23-inch arms. Matarazzo’s competitive bodybuilding came to an abrupt end when he had to undergo triple bypass surgery at only 38 years old. 

Besides his insane arm development, Matarazzo was known for his chiseled calves and showmanship on stage. 

Markus Rühl

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Markus Rühl (@markusruehl)

At the peak of his bodybuilding career, Markus Rühl was a mass monster in his own right. The German bodybuilder boasted 24-inch biceps, which had good peaks and separation. Besides his ginormous arms, Rühl is credited with having some of the best shoulders in the business. 

Honorable Mention — Manfred Hoeberl

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arnold Strong (@thearchivesofbodybuilding)

Although not a bodybuilder, Manfred Hoeberl deserves a place on this list due to his ginormous arms. Measured 25.75 inches un-pumped and 26 inches pumped at the 1994 Arnold Sports Festival, the elite strongman competitor had the biggest arms of any strength sports athlete in the 1990s. 

Furthermore, he was the first man in history at that point to have an arm measurement that was thrice the circumference of his wrist. The six-foot-three Austrian was a two-time Europe’s Strongest Man winner and a runner-up at the 1994 World’s Strongest Man contest. 

Being a powerlifter and strongman, Hoeberl is arguably the most functional athlete on the biggest biceps in the world list. His PRs included a 628-pound raw bench press, 794-pound raw squat, and an 860-pound deadlift.  

Notably, many experts speculated that Hoeberl used synthol in his arms. However, the powerlifter dismissed such claims. 

How to Build Bigger Biceps?

Now that you’ve witnessed the biggest biceps in the bodybuilding world, you’re probably wondering how you could turn your twigs into tea trunks.

Let us take the guesswork out of the equation. Given below is eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman’s biceps training routine that will help you pack on serious mass on your upper arms:

  • Barbell Curl: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
  • Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curl: 3 sets of 10-12 reps
  • EZ-Bar Preacher Curl: 3 sets of 10-12 reps
  • Cable Curl: 4 sets of 10-12 reps

More Biceps Training Tips

Learn more about the bicep exercises and step up your biceps training even more. Check out the following articles.

  • Best Biceps Exercises
  • Build Bigger, Stronger Arms
  • Old-School Bicep Workouts
  • Simple Old-School Methods to Grow Your Biceps
  • Bicep Curl vs. Hammer Curl – Which one is Best?
  • Simple Old-School Methods To Grow Your Biceps
  • Rules of Arms Workout by Lee Priest

FAQs

Who has the biggest biceps in the world?

If you remove the synthol filter, Moustafa Ismail’s 31-inch arms earn him the crown for the biggest biceps in the world. Brazilian bodybuilder Romario Dos Santos Alves takes second place with his synthol-filled 30-inch arms. Another Brazilian, Arlindo De Souza, takes third place with his oiled-up 29-inch arms. Furthermore, Gregg Valentino takes a close fourth with his synthol, equipoise, and test-propionate injected 28-inch guns. 

Which natural pro bodybuilder has the biggest biceps in the world?

Doug Miller is a natural bodybuilder whose arms measure 20 inches. The two-time IFPA world champion has a great shape, symmetry, and conditioning in his biceps and triceps. 

Who has the strongest biceps in the world?

While there are different ways of figuring out who has the strongest arms in the world, we used the strict biceps curl as the assessment tool. Currently, Leroy Walker and Nizami Tagiev hold the strict curl world record of 114 kilograms and hence share the title for the strongest biceps in the world. 

Wrapping Up

Building sleeve-ripping pythons are easier said than done. If adding muscle mass to your upper arms was so easy, everyone would be walking around with 24-inch guns. 

However, don’t use this as an excuse to give up your gym membership. Add the biceps workout listed above to your training regimen and watch your arms take a life of their own. 

Looking for something to read next? Check out the Top 18 girls with the biggest biceps in the world.

References

Fitness Volt is committed to providing our readers with science-based information. We use only credible and peer-reviewed sources to support the information we share in our articles.
  1. Pupka A, Sikora J, Mauricz J, Cios D, Płonek T. Stosowanie syntholu w kulturystyce [The usage of synthol in the body building]. Polim Med. 2009;39(1):63-5. Polish. PMID: 19580174.

If you have any questions or need further clarification about this article, please leave a comment below, and Vidur will get back to you as soon as possible.

Stay on top of the latest fitness news and updates by adding Fitness Volt to your Google News feed: Follow us on Google News You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for even more content.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Flipboard LinkedIn Pinterest
Categories: Bodybuilding Motivation OP-ED
Previous Post

2022 Shaw Classic Official Lineup — Zydrunas Savickas Returns

Next Post

2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic Results

Vidur Saini

Vidur Saini

Vidur is an ACE-certified personal trainer, writer, and editor at FitnessVolt.com. He has been lifting since 2007 and loves sharing his hard-earned knowledge and passion for strength sports with anyone who lends him an ear. An expert at giving unsolicited advice, his writings benefit the readers and infuriate the bros. Vidur's work has appeared in leading publications such as BarBend and Generation Iron.

Related

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger Says Eating More Plant Protein Is the Ultimate ‘Anti-Aging Macronutrient’ That Helps You ‘Reach Older Age Free From Disease’

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger Says Standing Throughout the Day Can Reduce Risk of Early Death by Up to 55%

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding

Mr. Olympia Icons Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman Team Up for Delt and Arm Workout at Gold’s Gym Venice

Sam Sulek
Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger Attends FUBAR Premiere With Ronnie Coleman and Sam Sulek Before Crushing Workout With Sam

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals If Cooling Off During Workouts Enhances ‘Physical or Cognitive Performance’

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals How to Hold Onto Muscle Even When You’re Not Training

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

Forget Squats — Bear Hug Squats Are The Underrated Core + Leg Destroyer

Actor Dave Bautista Shares Shredded Physique Update at 56

Arnold Schwarzenegger Says Eating More Plant Protein Is the Ultimate ‘Anti-Aging Macronutrient’ That Helps You ‘Reach Older Age Free From Disease’

Chris Aceto Says Mr. Olympia Can’t Be Most Prestigious Contest if Arnold Classic Offers Higher Prize Money, Shares If Samson Dauda Has Gotten Too Heavy

Unlock Your Bench Press Potential: Build Scapular Strength with These 3 Drills

2025 Dubai Pro Bodybuilding Results: Behrooz Tabani, Miroslav Juricek & Others Take Big Wins

Fitness Volt

At Fitness Volt, our mission is to empower every individual on their fitness journey by providing expert advice, the latest research, and comprehensive resources. Whether you are a beginner or an elite athlete, we are here to support your goals with trustworthy and up-to-date information in strength, fitness, and nutrition. Read more.

For inquiries, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]

About Us | Careers | Contact Form

Topics

  • Mr. Olympia
  • Bodybuilding
  • Strongman
  • WSM
  • Powerlifting
  • CrossFit
  • Workouts
  • Exercises
  • Training
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Discussion Forum

More

  • Calculators
  • Fasting
  • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Workout Plans
  • At-Home Workouts
  • Programs
  • Supplements
  • Newsletter
  • Review Process
  • Accessibility
  • Advertise
  • Syndication
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Copyrights
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Disclaimer

© Copyright 2010 - 2024 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Bodybuilding
    • Powerlifting
    • Strongman
    • Armwrestling
    • CrossFit
    • Results
    • Mr. Olympia
    • 2024 WSM
    • Arnold Classic
  • Forum
  • Workouts
    • Training
    • Workout Plans
    • Muscle Groups
    • Celebrity Workouts
    • Programs
    • Mastering The Deadlift
  • Exercise Guides
    • Arms
    • Back
    • Chest
    • Core
    • Legs and Glutes
    • Shoulders
    • Yoga
  • Nutrition
    • Diet
    • Fasting
    • Diet Plans
    • Supplements
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Reviews
    • Food Facts
  • Fitness Calculator
  • More
    • DIY
    • Strength Standards
    • Motivation
    • Videos

© Copyright 2010 - 2024 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.