Dennis James was joined by common brothers in iron, Milos “The Thoughts” Sarcev and Chris Cormier on Episode 233 of The Menace Podcast, they usually mentioned the breaking information that the winner within the open division on the 2026 Arnold Basic will take house $750,000.
The primary official Arnold Basic made its debut in 1989 and was received by Wealthy Gaspari, who took house $55,000 for his efforts. That very same yr, the already hotly established Olympia contest awarded $170,000 to winner Lee Haney. However that hole has been getting as slim as a few of the waists on stage. The highest prize for Mr Olympia in 2024 was $600,000, that means that except the purse is elevated, The 750K Arnold test is now the richest prize.
It’s a “pissing contest,” remarked Sarcev along with his particular model of honesty. “Look, we have been preventing for 100 and $130,000,” laughed host Dennis James. After all, the business is now buzzing with anticipation over how the Olympia contest will reply. “And now… if it goes as much as 1,000,000 {dollars}, meaning second place can be half 1,000,000 in all probability,” mentioned James, commenting that should you enhance the highest of the size, then it’s important to enhance it a little bit for everybody else. “However what I see taking place right here is The Arnold is making an attempt to compete with the Olympia relating to prize cash as essentially the most prestigious present,” added James. “We all know the Olympia is essentially the most prestigious present, as a result of the Olympia was all these years, sixty years.”
James speculated that the late Joe Weider might, at one time, have had a cope with Arnold Schwarzenegger to be sure that the bodybuilder-turned-actor didn’t compete with the Olympia prize cash. However that deal appeared to have been thrown out of the window when Arnold hit the $500,000 threshold. Final yr nonetheless, the battle of the financial institution was nonetheless received by the Olympia, as the highest prize was elevated to $600,000.
What does the $750,000 prize cash for the 2026 Arnold imply for bodybuilding?
“So, now Arnold goes in and says it’s 750k,” defined James. “What does that imply? Is prestigious [meaning] the one which pays essentially the most? Or is essentially the most prestigious present, will it all the time be the Olympia as a result of ‘it’s the Olympia.’”
Sarcev answered that individuals are likely to go wherever the cash is, so perceptions can change over time. “It’s thrilling instances to be a bodybuilder,” he famous. “Dennis, while you and I beginning, if there was prize cash it was identical to a little bit bonus,” mirrored Sarcev. “Chris (Cormier), he was extra constant, you have been all the time within the cash.” Nonetheless, Cormier appeared aghast on the cash some rivals are making as of late, agreeing with “The Thoughts” that Mr Olympia might quickly hit $1,000,0000. The panel famous that whereas the full prize purse for The Arnold has elevated, simply how this might be distributed amongst different placings is just not but public data.
After all, one other testy difficulty is the distinction between what the boys and the ladies are paid, and it’s a posh topic that was dropped at the floor in a current submit by feminine Olympia icon, Linda Murray criticizing Arnold for making an announcement that didn’t embody the women.
To look at the whole episode, the place the blokes additionally mentioned how aggressive bodybuilders cope with carbs earlier than hitting the stage, and Sarcev’s beef with Giles Thomas over whether or not or not Ugolnikov “Goodvito” Vitalii ought to have competed on the 2025 Pittsburgh Professional, see under:
