Back in the day all athletes- from professional wrestlers to baseball players- began growing to superhuman proportions. So it only made sense that the bodybuilders themselves would get even bigger. Broad shoulders barrel chests pants splitting quads and scales tipping well over 270 pounds became a necessity for anyone hoping to achieve success at the Sandow.
The “Mass Monster” era began with the rise of Dorian Yates and Lee Haney both of whom had imposing physiques that led to Olympia dynasties in the early ’90s. It was a clear sign of change for the bodybuilding world where pleasing aesthetics gave way to jaw-dropping size—and if you wanted to win you needed plenty of mass.
Bodybuilding has always been a front-and-center topic in the sport but it’s okay to be awestruck by some of the truly freakish physiques that bodybuilders from the mass monsters era displayed—an era that still has an impact on bodybuilding today.
1. Ronnie Coleman
Born: May 13, 1964
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 296 lbs
2. Dorian Yates
Born: April 19, 1962
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 270 lbs
3. Jay Cutler
Born: August 3, 1973
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 265 lbs
4. Roelly Winklaar
Born: June 22, 1977
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 265 lbs
5. Nasser El Sonbaty
Born: October 15, 1965
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 280 lbs
6. Big Ramy
Born: September 16, 1984
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 300 lbs
7. Markus Ruhl
Born: February 22, 1972
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 285 lbs
8. Paul Dillett
Born: April 12, 1965
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 285 lbs
9. Jean-Pierre Fux
Born: November 5, 1968
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 270 lbs
10. Lou Ferrigno
Born: November 9, 1951
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 275 lbs