Greatest Bodybuilders of All Time
A composite ranking combining Olympia dominance, competition record, era dominance, cultural impact, longevity, and historical significance. A transparent, data-driven case for who is the greatest of all time.
Who is the greatest bodybuilder of all time?
Ronnie Coleman ranks as the greatest male bodybuilder of all time on Fitness Volt's composite GOAT score, with 8 Mr. Olympia titles. Among women, Iris Kyle leads with 10 Olympia titles.
GOAT scores are not a magic number
The formula combines measurable contest dominance with a smaller editorial impact layer. The table exposes the component scores so researchers can see whether an athlete is winning on Olympia titles, total competition record, longevity, or historical context.
- Olympia dominance carries the most weight, scored per title and capped inside the formula.
- Competition record covers wins, win rate, Arnold Classic value, and contest volume.
- Cultural impact is curated separately so popularity never silently overwhelms verified results.
Men's Bodybuilding - Greatest of All Time
| Rank | Athlete | Division | Olympia | Wins | Win % | Oly | Comp | Era | Cult. | Long. | Hist. | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronnie Coleman | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 8 | 27 | 38.0% | 35.0 | 8.1 | 15.0 | 10 | 9.7 | 2 | 79.8 |
| 2 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 7 | 16 | 84.2% | 31.5 | 9.1 | 13.5 | 15 | 8.6 | 1 | 78.7 |
| 3 | Lee Haney | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 8 | 15 | 65.2% | 35.0 | 7.5 | 15.0 | 8 | 8.5 | 2 | 76.0 |
| 4 | Phil Heath | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 7 | 17 | 68.0% | 31.5 | 8.0 | 13.5 | 6 | 8.7 | 1 | 68.7 |
| 5 | Dorian Yates | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 6 | 15 | 83.3% | 27.0 | 8.9 | 12.0 | 8 | 8.0 | 1 | 64.9 |
| 6 | Harold Kelley | Men's Wheelchair | 6 | 32 | 76.2% | 27.0 | 14.9 | 12.0 | 0 | 10.0 | 1 | 64.9 |
| 7 | Chris Bumstead | Men's Classic Physique | 6 | 10 | 62.5% | 27.0 | 6.5 | 12.0 | 8 | 6.0 | 1 | 60.5 |
| 8 | Jay Cutler | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 4 | 17 | 50.0% | 18.0 | 9.6 | 9.0 | 7 | 8.7 | 0 | 52.3 |
| 9 | Franco Columbu | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 4 | 15 | 65.2% | 18.0 | 7.5 | 9.0 | 4 | 8.5 | 0 | 47.0 |
| 10 | Sergio Oliva | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 3 | 20 | 55.6% | 13.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6 | 9.0 | 0 | 43.5 |
| 11 | Frank Zane | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 3 | 16 | 59.3% | 13.5 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 5 | 8.6 | 0 | 41.7 |
| 12 | Jeremy Buendia | Men's Physique | 4 | 8 | 50.0% | 18.0 | 5.2 | 9.0 | 0 | 7.8 | 0 | 40.0 |
| 13 | Larry Scott | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 2 | 9 | 69.2% | 9.0 | 6.9 | 6.0 | 5 | 7.9 | 2 | 36.8 |
| 14 | Dexter Jackson | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 34 | 33.7% | 4.5 | 11.8 | 4.5 | 5 | 10.0 | 0 | 35.8 |
| 15 | Brandon Hendrickson | Men's Physique | 3 | 12 | 40.0% | 13.5 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 0 | 7.7 | 0 | 35.7 |
| 16 | Ryan Terry | Men's Physique | 3 | 9 | 45.0% | 13.5 | 6.0 | 7.5 | 0 | 6.9 | 0 | 33.9 |
| 17 | Derek Lunsford | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 2 | 10 | 58.8% | 9.0 | 7.2 | 6.0 | 3 | 6.5 | 0 | 31.7 |
| 18 | Robby Robinson | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 2 | 25 | 34.2% | 9.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 0 | 9.5 | 0 | 31.0 |
| 19 | Breon Ansley | Men's Classic Physique | 2 | 11 | 45.8% | 9.0 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 0 | 8.1 | 0 | 30.4 |
| 20 | Chris Dickerson | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 24 | 44.4% | 4.5 | 7.2 | 4.5 | 3 | 9.4 | 0 | 28.6 |
| 21 | Flex Wheeler | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 20 | 48.8% | 0.0 | 10.9 | 3.0 | 5 | 9.0 | 0 | 27.9 |
| 22 | Mamdouh Elssbiay | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 2 | 9 | 37.5% | 9.0 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 0 | 7.9 | 0 | 27.3 |
| 23 | Hadi Choopan | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 10 | 45.5% | 4.5 | 6.1 | 4.5 | 4 | 8.0 | 0 | 27.1 |
| 24 | Brandon Curry | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 11 | 17.2% | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 3 | 8.1 | 0 | 25.1 |
| 25 | Flex Lewis | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 32 | 76.2% | 0.0 | 11.9 | 3.0 | 0 | 10.0 | 0 | 24.9 |
| 26 | Shawn Rhoden | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 9 | 22.0% | 4.5 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 3 | 7.9 | 0 | 23.0 |
| 27 | Kamal Elgargni | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 24 | 66.7% | 0.0 | 9.9 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.4 | 0 | 22.3 |
| 28 | Karl Marshall | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 25 | 75.8% | 0.0 | 9.8 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.5 | 0 | 22.3 |
| 29 | Ken Waller | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 12 | 40.0% | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 0 | 8.2 | 0 | 22.2 |
| 30 | Mark Anthony | Men's Physique | 1 | 7 | 50.0% | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 0 | 7.7 | 0 | 21.8 |
| 31 | Greg Grant | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 43 | 33.3% | 0.0 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 0 | 10.0 | 0 | 21.7 |
| 32 | Kiyoshi Moody | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 20 | 80.0% | 0.0 | 9.4 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.0 | 0 | 21.4 |
| 33 | Kai Greene | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 18 | 46.2% | 0.0 | 9.4 | 3.0 | 0 | 8.8 | 0 | 21.2 |
| 34 | Vince Taylor | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 25 | 33.8% | 0.0 | 8.5 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.5 | 0 | 21.0 |
| 35 | Johny Yrius | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 15 | 88.2% | 0.0 | 9.3 | 3.0 | 0 | 8.5 | 0 | 20.8 |
| 36 | Toshio Konuma | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 24 | 58.5% | 0.0 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.4 | 0 | 20.7 |
| 37 | Bill Pearl | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 10 | 100.0% | 0.0 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 0 | 8.0 | 0 | 20.5 |
| 38 | Sammy Sisk | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 21 | 65.6% | 0.0 | 8.4 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.1 | 0 | 20.5 |
| 39 | Brian Garrison | Men's Classic Physique | 0 | 22 | 59.5% | 0.0 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.2 | 0 | 20.3 |
| 40 | Boyer Coe | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 28 | 35.4% | 0.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.8 | 0 | 19.8 |
| 41 | Kevin Levrone | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 21 | 31.3% | 0.0 | 7.7 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.1 | 0 | 19.8 |
| 42 | Jose Raymond | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 24 | 34.3% | 0.0 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.4 | 0 | 19.7 |
| 43 | Mike Mentzer | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 8 | 40.0% | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 0 | 6.3 | 0 | 19.7 |
| 44 | Paul Devine | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 27 | 34.2% | 0.0 | 6.8 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.7 | 0 | 19.5 |
| 45 | John Citrone | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 20 | 55.6% | 0.0 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.0 | 0 | 19.5 |
| 46 | Mark Brian Teasley | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 25 | 39.7% | 0.0 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.5 | 0 | 19.4 |
| 47 | Danny Hester | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 1 | 6 | 24.0% | 4.5 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 0 | 7.6 | 0 | 19.4 |
| 48 | Marty Vranicar | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 12 | 80.0% | 0.0 | 8.2 | 3.0 | 0 | 8.2 | 0 | 19.4 |
| 49 | Tony O'Conner | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 14 | 73.7% | 0.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 8.4 | 0 | 19.4 |
| 50 | Art Peacock | Men's Open Bodybuilding | 0 | 22 | 47.8% | 0.0 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.2 | 0 | 19.3 |
Women's Bodybuilding - Greatest of All Time
| Rank | Athlete | Division | Olympia | Wins | Win % | Oly | Comp | Era | Cult. | Long. | Hist. | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iris Kyle | Women's Bodybuilding | 10 | 20 | 60.6% | 35.0 | 9.9 | 15.0 | 9 | 9.0 | 2 | 79.9 |
| 2 | Lenda Murray | Women's Bodybuilding | 8 | 10 | 83.3% | 35.0 | 8.2 | 15.0 | 7 | 8.0 | 2 | 75.2 |
| 3 | Adela Garcia | Women's Fitness | 8 | 14 | 82.4% | 35.0 | 12.7 | 15.0 | 0 | 6.4 | 2 | 71.1 |
| 4 | Cydney Gillon | Women's Figure | 8 | 19 | 47.5% | 35.0 | 8.7 | 15.0 | 0 | 8.9 | 2 | 69.6 |
| 5 | Cory Everson | Women's Bodybuilding | 6 | 9 | 100.0% | 27.0 | 9.4 | 11.7 | 6 | 5.4 | 3 | 62.5 |
| 6 | Andrea Shaw | Women's Bodybuilding | 6 | 12 | 70.6% | 27.0 | 7.5 | 11.4 | 4 | 5.2 | 1 | 56.1 |
| 7 | Oksana Grishina | Women's Fitness | 5 | 14 | 60.9% | 22.5 | 11.0 | 10.5 | 0 | 7.9 | 0 | 51.9 |
| 8 | Ashley Kaltwasser | Women's Bikini | 3 | 53 | 60.2% | 13.5 | 12.8 | 7.5 | 4 | 10.0 | 0 | 47.8 |
| 9 | Kim Chizevsky | Women's Bodybuilding | 4 | 8 | 57.1% | 18.0 | 5.8 | 9.0 | 3 | 7.3 | 0 | 43.1 |
| 10 | Nicole Wilkins | Women's Figure | 4 | 14 | 50.0% | 18.0 | 7.1 | 9.0 | 0 | 8.4 | 0 | 42.5 |
| 11 | Juliana Malacarne | Women's Physique | 4 | 10 | 90.9% | 18.0 | 9.8 | 7.8 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| 12 | Sarah Villegas | Women's Physique | 4 | 6 | 54.5% | 18.0 | 5.3 | 8.7 | 0 | 5.1 | 0 | 37.1 |
| 13 | Natalia Abraham Coelho | Women's Physique | 2 | 29 | 56.9% | 9.0 | 10.9 | 6.0 | 0 | 9.4 | 0 | 35.3 |
| 14 | Susan Curry | Women's Fitness | 4 | 4 | 66.7% | 18.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 0 | 3.4 | 0 | 35.1 |
| 15 | Missy Truscott | Women's Fitness | 3 | 9 | 75.0% | 13.5 | 9.4 | 6.6 | 0 | 4.4 | 0 | 33.9 |
| 16 | Whitney Jones | Women's Fitness | 3 | 6 | 22.2% | 13.5 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 0 | 7.6 | 0 | 32.3 |
| 17 | Francielle Mattos | Women's Wellness | 3 | 5 | 83.3% | 13.5 | 8.4 | 6.0 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 30.9 |
| 18 | Angelica Teixeira | Women's Bikini | 2 | 11 | 47.8% | 9.0 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 0 | 7.6 | 0 | 30.1 |
| 19 | Davana Medina | Women's Figure | 3 | 8 | 80.0% | 13.5 | 7.6 | 5.4 | 0 | 2.3 | 0 | 28.8 |
| 20 | Shanique Grant | Women's Physique | 2 | 8 | 50.0% | 9.0 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 0 | 6.8 | 0 | 28.0 |
| 21 | Rachel McLish | Women's Bodybuilding | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 9.0 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 5 | 2.9 | 2 | 28.0 |
| 22 | Erin Stern | Women's Figure | 2 | 13 | 31.0% | 9.0 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 0 | 8.3 | 0 | 27.7 |
| 23 | Jenny Lynn | Women's Figure | 2 | 13 | 61.9% | 9.0 | 7.9 | 5.1 | 0 | 4.8 | 0 | 26.8 |
| 24 | Juliette Bergmann | Women's Bodybuilding | 2 | 7 | 33.3% | 9.0 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 0 | 7.7 | 0 | 26.4 |
| 25 | Jen Hendershott | Women's Fitness | 2 | 4 | 66.7% | 9.0 | 7.9 | 4.8 | 0 | 3.4 | 0 | 25.1 |
| 26 | Latorya Neisha Watts | Women's Figure | 2 | 9 | 33.3% | 9.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 5.9 | 0 | 24.9 |
| 27 | Lauralie Chapados | Women's Bikini | 1 | 15 | 50.0% | 4.5 | 9.3 | 4.5 | 0 | 6.5 | 0 | 24.8 |
| 28 | Yaxeni Oriquen | Women's Bodybuilding | 1 | 12 | 21.8% | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3 | 8.2 | 0 | 24.7 |
| 29 | Maureen Blanquisco | Women's Bikini | 2 | 6 | 46.2% | 9.0 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 0 | 5.1 | 0 | 24.4 |
| 30 | Elisa Pecini | Women's Bikini | 1 | 16 | 43.2% | 4.5 | 6.9 | 4.5 | 0 | 6.6 | 0 | 22.5 |
| 31 | Jessica Reyes Padilla | Women's Figure | 0 | 38 | 50.0% | 0.0 | 9.7 | 3.0 | 0 | 9.0 | 0 | 21.7 |
| 32 | Janet Layug | Women's Bikini | 1 | 9 | 36.0% | 4.5 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 0 | 7.4 | 0 | 21.6 |
| 33 | Valentina Chepiga | Women's Bodybuilding | 1 | 7 | 33.3% | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 0 | 7.7 | 0 | 21.4 |
| 34 | Jennifer Dorie | Women's Bikini | 2 | 5 | 26.3% | 9.0 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 0 | 3.5 | 0 | 21.2 |
| 35 | Carla Dunlap | Women's Bodybuilding | 1 | 8 | 33.3% | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 0 | 7.8 | 0 | 20.7 |
| 36 | Jacqueline Roos | Women's Bodybuilding | 0 | 4 | 100.0% | 0.0 | 8.6 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.4 | 0 | 19.0 |
| 37 | Candice Lewis-Carter | Women's Figure | 0 | 18 | 50.0% | 0.0 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.3 | 0 | 19.0 |
| 38 | Mia Finnegan | Women's Fitness | 1 | 1 | 33.3% | 4.5 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 0 | 7.1 | 0 | 18.9 |
| 39 | Becky Thomas | Women's Physique | 0 | 3 | 100.0% | 0.0 | 8.5 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.3 | 0 | 18.8 |
| 40 | Romona Wiltshire | Women's Bodybuilding | 0 | 3 | 100.0% | 0.0 | 8.5 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.3 | 0 | 18.8 |
| 41 | Natalia B Bystrova | Women's Figure | 0 | 7 | 87.5% | 0.0 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.7 | 0 | 18.8 |
| 42 | Rhea Gayle | Women's Figure | 1 | 9 | 31.0% | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 0 | 5.9 | 0 | 18.7 |
| 43 | Jennifer Gates | Women's Figure | 1 | 6 | 33.3% | 4.5 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 0 | 6.1 | 0 | 18.7 |
| 44 | India Paulino | Women's Bikini | 0 | 14 | 37.8% | 0.0 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 0 | 8.4 | 0 | 18.5 |
| 45 | Jeannie Davidson | Women's Bodybuilding | 0 | 2 | 100.0% | 0.0 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.2 | 0 | 18.5 |
| 46 | Jana Purdjakova (2) | Women's Bodybuilding | 0 | 13 | 61.9% | 0.0 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 0 | 8.3 | 0 | 18.2 |
| 47 | Monica Brant | Women's Figure | 1 | 3 | 15.8% | 4.5 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 0 | 7.3 | 0 | 18.0 |
| 48 | Simona Evans (2) | Women's Bodybuilding | 0 | 2 | 100.0% | 0.0 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 0 | 6.7 | 0 | 18.0 |
| 49 | Lo Kit Ming (2) | Women's Bodybuilding | 0 | 5 | 83.3% | 0.0 | 7.4 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.5 | 0 | 17.9 |
| 50 | Judit Palecian | Women's Figure | 0 | 8 | 80.0% | 0.0 | 7.6 | 3.0 | 0 | 7.3 | 0 | 17.9 |
The score is recalculated whenever a contest enters the database. It is a weighted sum, not a committee: change the underlying results and the board changes with them.
- 35%Olympia dominance - 4.5 pts per Olympia title, capped at 35 points.
- 20%Competition record - win rate, contest volume, Arnold Classic performance.
- 15%Era dominance - Olympia titles combined with career length.
- 15%Cultural impact - editorial scores for mainstream recognition and influence.
- 10%Longevity - career span and sustained excellence over time.
- 5%Historical significance - first champions, record holders, innovators.
Olympia titles, pro wins, win rate and career span all come straight from recorded contest results.
Cultural impact and historical significance are editorial, and together they are capped at 20% so popularity cannot overwhelm the record.
Every component score has its own column in the table, so you can see which part of the formula an athlete is winning on.
Scores are query-derived. Nothing on this page is hand-entered, so a corrected result moves the board.
What this board settles, and what it does not
Why are different divisions in one list?
The score ranks Olympia titles and pro wins across every division, so Open, 212, Classic Physique and Wheelchair competitors appear together. The division column is there so you can see which lane a score was earned in.
Browse by division →Why can fewer Olympia titles still rank higher?
Olympia dominance is 35% of the score and it is capped. Competition record, era, longevity and historical significance carry the other 65% between them, so a long career of wins outside the Olympia can outweigh a short run of titles.
See the weighting →Is cultural impact just a popularity vote?
It is editorial, and that is stated rather than hidden. It is scored separately and capped so it can never quietly overwhelm verified contest results, which is the failure mode most all-time lists have.
How it is capped →Where do the numbers come from?
Every figure is derived from recorded contest results, not entered by hand. If a result is corrected in the database, the board recalculates and the order can change.
About the database →Cite the Bodybuilding Database
Dataset version .
Suggested citation: Fitness Volt Bodybuilding Database, v2026-08-11
- Athletes: 375,797 source records, 109,460 linked athletes, 42 named sources.
- Contests: 10,308 source records, 6,716 linked contests, 22 named sources.
- Results: 514,080 source records, 334,866 linked results, 11 named sources.

