Retired bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari believes modern bodybuilders are struggling. In a recent YouTube video shared on June 15, 2025, he discussed the financial challenges plaguing the sport and why he doesn’t consider Sam Sulek a great bodybuilder.
Sam Sulek is one of the most popular bodybuilders on the planet. He’s picked up major momentum this year, thanks to his big win at the 2025 NPC Legends Classic. This triumph allowed him to compete at the Arnold Amateur, which he won to earn his Pro card.
With his steady rise in the sport, Gaspari opened up on how Sulek would fare onstage in his era. He also tackles whether bodybuilding has lost its way, a revelation former eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney made public recently.
Rich Gaspari Talks Sam Sulek’s Potential & Money In Bodybuilding
In the recent YouTube video, Gaspari explains that what’s hurting the sport most is an oversaturation of Pros in the IFBB Pro League.
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“I don’t want to say they lost their way. I think the cream of the crop is still the best. I think what’s lost its way is 1,200 pros. So a guy comes up to you and says I’m Pro. I haven’t ever heard of you. Unless you go into a pro show, and even winning pro shows, what does it really mean? When you’re really a good pro is when you’re top five in the Olympia or the Arnold.”
Despite the many changes to the sport, Gaspari credits Nick Walker, Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, and Andrew Jacked as great bodybuilders.
“That’s when I know you’re known. Otherwise, I just think it’s just so many bodybuilders that are considered pro, and maybe that’s what he meant by losing its way. I’m not speaking for him but to me, the cream of the crop is still the cream of the crop. I respect all those greats. I’m not going to disparage any of those guys. Between Nick, Andrew Jacked, Derek Lunsford, Samson, those are great bodybuilders no matter what.”
As for Sam Sulek, Gaspari explained that while he’s popular, he’s not yet a great bodybuilder:
“The only one that’s maybe close but still not up there is Sam Sulek [with Chris Bumstead], but he’s an influencer,” shared Gaspari.
“There’s a guy who was able to use social media to grow his following. Do I think he is a great bodybuilder? I don’t think he’s a great bodybuilder. If I compared Rich Gaspari 21, 22, that was in the Olympia, coming third, bringing him against Sam Sulek, who would win? I’m not bragging about myself, they just weren’t as good as we were back then.”
During his time competing, Gaspari could make money with Joe Weider’s contracts, along with exhibitions and seminars. However, he emphasized that earning such capital nowadays is more challenging, emphasizing that there are fewer opportunities out there.
“I had a six-figure contract with Joe Weider, so I got paid, and then I’d do exhibitions and seminars and would make another $100,000. I was making a quarter of a million back in the late 80s and 90s. Today, bodybuilders are struggling. How are they making money?
They are doing online training, personal training, and they get some contracts from some companies but companies, I’ll give you an example, I pay my athletes because they get a discount code, they push themselves out. I can give them some money but I’m not giving them huge contracts, hundreds of thousands, it just doesn’t happen,” he said.
Aside from Gaspari, former four-time Olympia winner Jay Cutler has opened on whether the sport has lost its way and needs a reset. He believes the Open division has become overly concerned with size, which is why Classic Physique continues to rise in popularity.
Gaspari says financial opportunities are harder to come by in today’s era. Above all else, he believes that too many pro cards have watered down the sport and affected star power.
Watch the full video from the Overcome Cast YouTube channel below:
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