The tallest “non-competitive” professional bodybuilder weighs in
In 2021 Guinness World Records asked Oliver Richters, also known as the Dutch Giant, to take the title of the tallest non-competitive bodybuilder in the world. He stands at 7’2” tall and weighs 355lbs. At the time of Guinness World Records approaching him to take the title, Oliver was 343 pounds bodyweight. When he first started his fitness journey, Oliver only weighed 176 lbs, and for someone standing at over 7 feet tall, that is not very much. While he was named the tallest “non-competitive” bodybuilder in the world, he is still considered a professional bodybuilder, how does that work?
What actually defines a competitive vs. a non-competitive bodybuilder? Let’s dive in.
The Dutch Giant
First of all, let’s take a look at the statistics of the Dutch Giant. He has never stepped foot on a bodybuilding stage, more than likely will not be someone competing at the Mr. Olympia, and states that his height actually puts him at a disadvantage for putting on muscle mass. Not often do you see bodybuilders that are very tall, aside from a few like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Lou Ferrigno, there are not many competitive bodybuilders that are into the 6 foot range.
A lot of this has to do with how difficult it is to pack on the pounds as a competitive bodybuilder when they are that tall. For example, Oliver stated that he has to eat 7,000 calories a day, spanned out over 7 meals a day. Each meal consists of 1,000 calories, with a protein intake of about 60 grams per meal. That is almost double the amount of calories as Chris Bumstead eats during his bulking diet, and still just about 2,000 calories more than the bulking diet of the young mass monster, Sam Sulek.
That being said, competitive bodybuilding would be an extremely difficult task for Oliver, the Dutch Giant. However, he is still considered a professional bodybuilder, so how does that work?
What Defines a Professional Bodybuilder?
A bodybuilder used to be considered someone who was packing on muscle and dropping body fat to step on stage and compete against other individuals who have gone through the same processes. In reality, a bodybuilder is defined as anyone who builds the body through exercise, diet, and their lifestyle as a whole. Those who competed in local shows were considered amateurs, and those in the IFBB league were considered pros. However, the title of IFBB pro no longer is the only thing that describes a “professional bodybuilder”.
While bodybuilding is a lifestyle, not everyone is a professional, and not every professional is a competitor. What makes a professional bodybuilder? If their income depends on their physique.
Gone are the days where the only money in the bodybuilding industry came from winning the Mr. Olympia or being featured on the cover of muscle magazines. If you look back to the days of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu, when bodybuilders were a rarity, their income came from their manual labor jobs, and whoever won the Mr. Olympia received prize money. Nowadays, income flows to bodybuilders from many different streams.
That being said, if someone’s income relies almost entirely on their physique, how much muscle mass they have, how low of body fat they are, and so on, then they are technically a “professional bodybuilder”. Being on stage no longer is the only thing that makes someone a professional bodybuilder.
How Do Bodybuilders Make Money?
Now, bodybuilders can make money through competition prizes, even local and amateur shows are now starting to offer prize money. The Mr. Olympia last year paid out $400,000 for the top prize to Hadi Choopan. The problem with this is, not everyone can win, and with the prices of food and supplements, money is needed.
The Dutch Giant explained how he makes money being a non-competitive professional bodybuilder. Oliver Richter currently has his own supplement company, labeled Dutch Giant, and he also acts in film. He stated that it took him two years to find an agent, but he has been able to act in some well known films such as Black Widow and The King’s Man. That being said, the producers want him for his height and amount of muscle mass he has packed on, so his income depends on his physique, making him a professional bodybuilder.
Other ways that modern bodybuilders bring in cash flow are not only through the supplement companies and acting, but also through clothing lines, affiliates, and content creation. Platforms like YouTube and Tik Tok will pay out to those who produce engaging content for others to see.
Some Examples of Non-Competitive, Professional Bodybuilders
All of that being said, who are some examples, besides the Dutch Giant, of bodybuilders who do not compete but are technically considered professional, as their income will depend on their physiques? Let’s take a look.
Sam Sulek is one of the most prominent faces in the fitness industry right now, known for his unusual diet that does not focus on food sources at all and consists mostly of what many would consider “cheat meals”. At his peak bulk, Sam stood at a little over 240 lbs, most of it being lean muscle mass. Sam is well received in the fitness industry for his casual attitude towards bodybuilding, yet still has a massive and pretty lean physique. Millions of people tune in to watch his training vlogs, see him pose, and follow his bulk and cut.
That being said, Sam is someone who is sponsored and makes money off of his content and sponsorship. He has not yet competed in bodybuilding, but is still making an income off of his physique and content centered around that, which technically makes him a professional bodybuilder.
Wrap Up
All in all, the Dutch Giant is one prominent example of a non-competitive professional bodybuilder. Standing at over 7 feet tall, stepping onto a competitive bodybuilding stage would not be the easiest task for him, but he still makes money off of his incredible physique, making him a professional bodybuilder. Guinness World Records named him the world’s tallest non-competitive bodybuilder for a good reason.
That being said, bodybuilding income no longer comes solely from competition. Things like sponsorships, content creation, and other ways can generate great amounts of income for bodybuilders who do not compete.
What do you think defines a professional bodybuilder?
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