The complete Mr Olympia winners list tells the story of professional bodybuilding through its greatest champions. Since Larry Scott won the first contest in 1965, the title has passed through several distinct eras—from the aesthetics of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane to the long reigns of Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath.
Derek Lunsford is the reigning champion after winning the 2025 Men’s Open contest. His victory gave him a second Open Olympia title following his first win in 2023.
This guide lists every overall Men’s Open champion by year, explains the major records and answers the most common questions about Mr Olympia history. Only a small group of Mr Olympia champions have held the title since the contest began.
Quick facts about Mr. Olympia champions
| Record | Athlete | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Most overall titles | Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman | 8 each |
| Most consecutive titles | Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman | 8 each |
| Second-most titles | Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Heath | 7 each |
| First champion | Larry Scott | 1965 |
| Most recent champion | Derek Lunsford | 2025 |
| First two-division Olympia champion | Derek Lunsford | 212 and Men’s Open |
Complete Mr Olympia winners list by year
The table below records the overall winner of the Men’s Open contest. From 1974 through 1979, Olympia also used heavyweight and lightweight classes, but an overall champion was still selected.
| Year | Mr. Olympia champion |
| 1965 | Larry Scott |
| 1966 | Larry Scott |
| 1967 | Sergio Oliva |
| 1968 | Sergio Oliva |
| 1969 | Sergio Oliva |
| 1970 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| 1971 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| 1972 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| 1973 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| 1974 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| 1975 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| 1976 | Franco Columbu |
| 1977 | Frank Zane |
| 1978 | Frank Zane |
| 1979 | Frank Zane |
| 1980 | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| 1981 | Franco Columbu |
| 1982 | Chris Dickerson |
| 1983 | Samir Bannout |
| 1984 | Lee Haney |
| 1985 | Lee Haney |
| 1986 | Lee Haney |
| 1987 | Lee Haney |
| 1988 | Lee Haney |
| 1989 | Lee Haney |
| 1990 | Lee Haney |
| 1991 | Lee Haney |
| 1992 | Dorian Yates |
| 1993 | Dorian Yates |
| 1994 | Dorian Yates |
| 1995 | Dorian Yates |
| 1996 | Dorian Yates |
| 1997 | Dorian Yates |
| 1998 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 1999 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 2000 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 2001 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 2002 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 2003 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 2004 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 2005 | Ronnie Coleman |
| 2006 | Jay Cutler |
| 2007 | Jay Cutler |
| 2008 | Dexter Jackson |
| 2009 | Jay Cutler |
| 2010 | Jay Cutler |
| 2011 | Phil Heath |
| 2012 | Phil Heath |
| 2013 | Phil Heath |
| 2014 | Phil Heath |
| 2015 | Phil Heath |
| 2016 | Phil Heath |
| 2017 | Phil Heath |
| 2018 | Shawn Rhoden |
| 2019 | Brandon Curry |
| 2020 | Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay |
| 2021 | Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay |
| 2022 | Hadi Choopan |
| 2023 | Derek Lunsford |
| 2024 | Samson Dauda |
| 2025 | Derek Lunsford |
Who has the most Mr Olympia wins?
Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman share the all-time record with eight victories apiece. Their records are especially remarkable because both men won all eight titles consecutively.
Haney controlled the contest from 1984 through 1991. His combination of size, shape and balance helped define the standard that followed the classic era. Coleman then matched that record from 1998 through 2005 while pushing muscular size and conditioning to a new level.
Champions ranked by total victories
| Champion | Overall titles | Winning years |
| Lee Haney | 8 | 1984–1991 |
| Ronnie Coleman | 8 | 1998–2005 |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | 7 | 1970–1975, 1980 |
| Phil Heath | 7 | 2011–2017 |
| Dorian Yates | 6 | 1992–1997 |
| Jay Cutler | 4 | 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 |
| Sergio Oliva | 3 | 1967–1969 |
| Frank Zane | 3 | 1977–1979 |
| Larry Scott | 2 | 1965, 1966 |
| Franco Columbu | 2 | 1976, 1981 |
| Big Ramy | 2 | 2020, 2021 |
| Derek Lunsford | 2 | 2023, 2025 |
Several athletes have won once: Chris Dickerson, Samir Bannout, Dexter Jackson, Shawn Rhoden, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan and Samson Dauda.
The major eras of Mr Olympia history
The foundation: Scott, Oliva and Schwarzenegger
Larry Scott won the first two competitions before retiring as champion. Sergio Oliva followed with three consecutive victories and became the only man to defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Olympia.
Schwarzenegger then won six consecutive titles from 1970 through 1975. He returned unexpectedly in 1980 and claimed a seventh victory, making his comeback one of the most debated events in bodybuilding history.
The shape and symmetry era
Franco Columbu won in 1976 and again in 1981. Between those victories, Frank Zane captured three consecutive titles with a physique celebrated for proportion, presentation and symmetry rather than maximum body mass.
Chris Dickerson and Samir Bannout won in 1982 and 1983 before the next long dynasty began.
Haney, Yates and Coleman
Lee Haney’s eight-year run was immediately followed by six straight Dorian Yates victories. Yates brought a denser, harder look that helped accelerate bodybuilding’s movement toward the “mass monster” era.
Ronnie Coleman later won eight consecutive titles. His combination of extreme size, conditioning and strength made his reign one of the most recognizable periods in the sport.
The modern champions
Jay Cutler interrupted Coleman’s reign in 2006 and eventually collected four titles, including a famous comeback win in 2009. Dexter Jackson won in 2008, while Phil Heath dominated from 2011 to 2017.
Since Heath’s final victory, the title has changed hands more frequently. Shawn Rhoden, Brandon Curry, Big Ramy, Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda have all occupied the top position.
Lunsford’s 2025 victory was historically significant because he reclaimed the Men’s Open championship after losing it in 2024.
Why the winners list matters
The Mr Olympia winners by year reveal how judging preferences and physique standards have evolved. Earlier champions were often celebrated for lines, posing and proportion. Later eras placed greater emphasis on muscle size and extreme conditioning, although balance and presentation have remained important.
No two champions have won with exactly the same physique. That is why debates about the “greatest Mr. Olympia” rarely produce one universally accepted answer.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Mr Olympia 2025?
Derek Lunsford won the 2025 Men’s Open championship, finishing ahead of Hadi Choopan and Andrew Jacked. It was Lunsford’s second Men’s Open title.
Who has eight Mr. Olympia wins?
Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman each have eight overall titles. Both achieved their victories in uninterrupted eight-year runs.
How many Mr. Olympia titles did Arnold win?
Arnold Schwarzenegger won seven titles: six consecutively from 1970 through 1975 and a comeback victory in 1980.
Has anyone won the 212 and Men’s Open Olympia?
Yes. Derek Lunsford won the 212 Olympia in 2021 and the Men’s Open championship in 2023, becoming the first athlete to win Olympia titles in both divisions.
Who was the first Mr. Olympia?
Larry Scott won the inaugural contest in 1965 and successfully defended the title in 1966.
Final perspective
The Mr Olympia winners list is more than a historical record. It shows how each generation produced a different definition of the world’s best professional bodybuilder. The next champion will join a group that still contains fewer than 25 men after more than six decades of competition.
This Mr Olympia winners list will be updated after the 2026 championship so readers can continue using it as a current record of every overall winner.
This article covers the overall Men’s Open championship, not the separate 212, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique or women’s Olympia divisions.
[…] the final results were announced, Derek Lunsford once again stood at the top of professional bodybuilding, earning another Sandow Trophy and proving […]