Arnold Classic 2023 Competitors, previous winners, favorites, and more

Modified Mar 13, 2024 12:33 GMT

The prestigious Arnold Classic Trophy statue in Columbus, Ohio, and the competitors to appear for Arnold Classic 2023 (Image via Instagram/@arnoldsports)

The second most prestigious bodybuilding competition, Arnold Classic 2023, is set to begin in Columbus City, Ohio, from March 3 to March 5.

This year's AC saw a prize pool hike, which also attracted a series of bodybuilders entering the competition. The men's open category winner would receive $300,000. It is a 50 percent increase over Brandon Curry's $200,000 prize from 2022.

Who is competing in Arnold Classic 2023?

The Men's Open category looks star-shredded after Nick walker, Big Ramy, and Andrew Jacked jumbled into the competition following a prize pool hike.

Here is the full list of competitors for the Arnold Classic 2023:

Who is the favorite to win Arnold Classic 2023?

According to various experts and veterans, a number of competitors seem to be victorious. On an episode of The Menace Podcast, Dennis James, Chris Cormier, Johnnie Jackson, and Milos Sarcev discussed who could take home the biggest prize money of the Arnold Classic 2023.

Most experts have backed Nick Walker and Big Ramy to win the competition easily. However, according to other experts, Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked can turn things around if they come out better on the final day.

Prize pool of Arnold Classic 2023

Over the last few years, the Arnold Classic has seen a major surge in the prize pool. Even this year, the prize money increased by about 50 percent to last year's competition.

The Arnold Classic 2023 will have seven different categories for different types of bodybuilders. The biggest prize money will go to the Men's Open category winner. Here is the full list of prize money to be offered after the event:

Men's Open Category - $300,000
Classic Physique - $60,000
Fitness International - $25,000
Men’s Physique - $10,000
Bikini International - $10,000
Wellness International - $7,000
Men’s Pro Wheelchair - $4,000

Previous year's winners of the Arnold Classic

The first Arnold Classic competition took place in 1989 when IFBB pro Rich Gaspari won the competition. Dexter Jackson is the most successful AC winner with five wins.

Here is a list of all the winners of the Arnold Classic who took home the biggest prize money:

1989 - Rich Gaspari
1990 - Mike Ashley
1991 - Shawn Ray
1992 - Vince Taylor
1993 - Flex Wheeler
1994 - Kevin Levrone
1995 - Mike Francois
1996 - Kevin Levrone
1997 - Flex Wheeler
1998 - Flex Wheeler
1999 - Nasser El Sonbaty
2000 - Flex Wheeler
2001 - Ronnie Coleman
2002 - Jay Cutler
2003 - Jay Cutler
2004 - Jay Cutler
2005 - Dexter Jackson
2006 - Dexter Jackson
2007 - Victor Martinez
2008 - Dexter Jackson
2009 - Kai Greene
2010 - Kai Greene
2011 - Branch Warren
.2012 - Branch Warren
2013 - Dexter Jackson
2014 - Dennis Wolf
2015 - Dexter Jackson
2016 - Kai Greene
2017 - Cedric McMillan
2018 - William Bonac
2019 - Brandon Curry
2020 - William Bonac
2021 - Nicholas Walker
2022 - Brandon Curry