It was quite the lucrative Olympia for competitors this year.
Across the board, in a historic Olympia weekend on Dec. 16-17, 2022, it was a very profitable competition for bodybuilding’s top superstars. For example, in capturing his first-ever Mr. Olympia title on the Las Vegas, NV, stage, Iranian athlete Hadi Choopan took home the grand prize of $400,000. Meanwhile, former 212 champion Derek Lunsford made $150,000 for finishing in second place in the Men’s Open division — triple his earnings from the 212 victory in 2021.
Overall, in an eventful Olympia featuring 11 divisions, only five athletes retained their title from the year prior. At the same time, six new champions (completely new or winners from previous years) stood on top of their respective podiums. Here is an overview of the awarded money awarded through each 2022 Olympia division.
Here is a breakdown of awarded money through every 2022 Olympia category. Note: The Wheelchair division’s respective financial rewards were not disclosed during the actual competition.
2022 Mr. Olympia Awarded Money
- Hadi Choopan— $400,000
- Derek Lunsford — $150,000
- Nick Walker — $100,000
- Brandon Curry — $40,000
- Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay — $30,000
2022 Classic Physique Awarded Money
- Chris Bumstead — $50,000
- Ramon Rocha Queiroz — $20,000
- Urs Kalecinski — $10,000
- Breon Ansley — $6,000
- Mike Sommerfeld — $4,000
2022 Wellness Olympia Awarded Money
- Francielle Mattos — $50,000
- Isabelle Nunes — $20,000
- Angela Borges — $12,000
- Kassandra Gillis — $7,000
- Rayane Fogal de Souza Santana — $6,000
2022 Bikini Olympia Awarded Money
- Maureen Blanquisco — $50,000
- Jennifer Dorie — $20,000
- Ashley Kaltwasser — $12,000
- Daraja Hill — $7,000
- Lauralie Chapados — $6,000
2022 Men’s Physique Olympia Awarded Money
- Erin Banks — $50,000
- Brandon Hendrickson — $20,000
- Diogo Montenegro — $10,000
- Charjo Grant — $7,000
- Edvan Palmeira — $4,000
2022 Ms. Olympia Awarded Money
- Andrea Shaw — $50,000
- Angela Yeo — $20,000
- Helle Trevino — $12,000
- Margie Martin — $7,000
- Branka Njegovec — $6,000
2022 Fitness Olympia Awarded Money
- Missy Truscott — $50,000
- Jaclyn Baker — $20,000
- Ariel Khadr — $12,000
- Sarah Kovach — $7,000
- Michelle Fredua-Mensah — $6,000
2022 Figure Olympia Awarded Money
- Cydney Gillon — $50,000
- Jessica Reyes Padilla — $20,000
- Lola Montez — $12,000
- Jossie Nathali Alarcon Becerra — $7,000
- Natalia Soltero — $6,000
2022 212 Olympia Awarded Money
- Shaun Clarida — $50,000
- Angel Calderon Frias —$20,000
- Kamal Elgargni — $10,000
- Ahmad Ashkanani —$6,000
- Oleh Kryvyi —$4,000
2022 Women’s Physique Awarded Money
- Natalia Abraham Coelho — $50,000
- Sarah Villegas — $20,000
- Brooke Walker — $12,000
- Barbara Menage — $7,000
- Ivie Rhein — $6,000
Without the Wheelchair division factored in, the total awarded money for the 2022 Olympia was $1,561,000. Choopan, in particular, likely appreciates his Mr. Olympia victory from a financial perspective. He won $100,000 when finishing third in 2021. His first career Mr. Olympia title in 2022 saw him quadruple those earnings while simultaneously earning a place amongst bodybuilding’s greats.
Featured image: @mrolympiallc on Instagram