Are you wondering who are the best natural bodybuilders who built amazing physiques without any steroids, PEDs, or other drugs to boost growth? If yes, this guide will tell you about the best natural bodybuilders of all time. We have done thorough research on this and compiled a list of the names who have never taken any shortcuts to build their muscles and developed their cuts naturally.
For those who are unaware, there’s a separate category for natural bodybuilders where only the people who pass multiple drug tests a year can compete. Some federations only allow participants who have been clean for the past ten years. Most of our best natural physiques come from such competitions.
12 Best Natural Bodybuilders of All Time:
Natural bodybuilders who are widely famous in the world are rare as fans love to see inhuman physiques that can only be achieved using steroids and other enhancement drugs. However, some muscle monsters completely refrained from taking any juices and made it to our list of the 12 best natural bodybuilders.
The term ‘Juices’ is a gym slang for steroids and almost every aspiring bodybuilder gets lured to using it. Steroids and site-enhancement drugs like Synthol help the builders get proper aesthetics quickly and showcase their best shape on the stage. However, not all bodybuilding competitions allow them.
For this list of the best natural bodybuilders, we have picked people from organizations that don’t allow steroids and other drugs to build muscle. We have also included the legends of the sport who competed before the modern shortcuts and some controversial choices who claim to be natural.
Let’s move further to the list and see the most aesthetic bodybuilders who built their bodies naturally:
1. Eugen Sandow:
Eugen Sandow, the ‘Father of Modern Bodybuilding’, is the first name on our list of the best natural bodybuilders. The legendary man who inspired the prestigious Mr. Olympia trophy competed in an era when steroids weren’t mainstream and people built their bodies naturally.
- Nickname: “The Father of Modern Bodybuilding”
- Birthdate: April 2, 1867
- Birthplace: Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia)
- Height: 5’9″ (175 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 195 lbs (88 kg) during his prime.
2. Ron Williams:
Ron Williams is the most accomplished natural bodybuilder in history with 7 Mr. Natural Olympia, 7 Mr. Natural Universe, and 7 Natural World titles. He has won more than 250 natural bodybuilding competitions and was inducted into the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Nickname: Ronny
- Birthdate: February 11, 1955
- Birthplace: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
- Height: 5’11” (180 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 190 lbs (86 kg) during his prime.
3. Mike O’Hearn:
Mike O’Hearn is the next name on our list of the best natural bodybuilders. This owner of monstrous physique used to squat 600 pounds and bench press 400 pounds at the age of 17. However, he was often accused of being a ‘fake natty’ as his Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI) was higher than most naturals can achieve. Still, Hearn never failed a drug test and proved to be a natural.
- Nickname: “Titan” or “The Real-life Thor”
- Birthdate: January 26, 1969
- Birthplace: Kirkland, Washington, USA
- Height: 6’3″ (191 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 250 lbs (113 kg) during his prime
4. Jeff Seid:
American actor, bodybuilder, and social media personality Jeff Seid is the next natural hunk on our list. He comes from an accomplished athletic background that helped him become the youngest-ever IFBB pro naturally. The 205-pound Jeff has been an advocate of natural bodybuilding on social platforms.
- Nickname: N/A (Jeff Seid is often referred to by his name)
- Birthdate: June 12, 1994
- Birthplace: Renton, Washington, USA
- Height: 6’0″ (183 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 210 lbs (95 kg) during his competitive phase.
5. Sadik Hadzovic:
Sadik Hadzovic is the next natural bodybuilder on our list who has been a four-time men’s physique champion. He left his war-scarred home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina to come to the United States and pursue his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder. Standing at 5’11 and weighing 190 pounds, Sadik is best known for his class V taper, tiny waist, and sculpted muscles.
- Nickname: “Sadiq”
- Birthdate: June 3, 1987
- Birthplace: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Height: 5’11” (180 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 220 lbs (100 kg) during his prime.
6. Kiyoshi Moody:
Kiyoshi Moody is one more glorious natural bodybuilder on our list. He won the prestigious Mr. Natural Olympia title for a record six times consecutively, from 2009 to 2014. He was also inducted into the PNBA Hall of Fame in 2013. Moody underwent multiple drug tests every year during his reign and never failed any.
- Nickname: The Samurai
- Birthdate: September 26, 1980
- Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
- Height: 5’9.5″ (176.5 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 215 lbs (97.5 kg) during his prime.
7. Meshack Ochieng:
Meshack Ochieng, popularly known as “The Natural Ronnie Coleman” is the next natural bodybuilder on our list. Hailing from Kenya, Ochieng started training in his backyard using stone dumbbells and barbells. He went on to compete in both INBA and NANBF, some of the biggest completely natural federations, and claimed several trophies to his name.
- Nickname: The Natural Ronnie Coleman
- Birthdate: December 31, 1988
- Birthplace: Kisumu, Kenya
- Height: 5′2″ (157 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 180 lbs (81 kg) during his prime.
8. Steve Reeves:
Steve Reeves is the next name on our list of the best natural bodybuilders. Hailing from Glasgow, Reeves rose to fame after winning the Mr. America title in 1947 and then winning the Mr. World contest in 1948. He also won the 1950 Mr. Universe competition in London.
- Nickname: “The Shape”
- Birthdate: January 21, 1926
- Birthplace: Glasgow, Montana, USA
- Height: 6’1″ (185 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 216 lbs (98 kg) during his prime.
9. Brandon Lirio:
Brandon Lirio is another highly decorated natural bodybuilder who is a 3-time Mr. Natural Olymia winner and a 2-time Mr. Universe champion. He is also a Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Pro Hall of Famer. Being an all-natural bodybuilder, Brandon has been very vocal about the dangers of using steroids and PEDs on social media.
- Nickname: N/A
- Birthdate: March 09, 1988
- Birthplace: Bronxville, New York, USA
- Height: 5’5” (165 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 170 lbs (77 kg) during his prime.
10. Bobby Pandour:
Wladyslaw Kurcharczyk, popularly known as “Bobby Pandou,” is the next classical natural bodybuilder who built a chiseled physique without the use of any artificial elements. He first rose to fame in the fitness world after featuring on the cover of the French magazine La Cultur Physique.
- Nickname: Bob or Bobby
- Birthdate: May 1, 1881
- Birthplace: Prague, Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic)
- Height: 5’6″ (167 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 160 lbs (72.5 kg) during his prime.
11. Rob Terry:
Rob Terry is another natural bodybuilder who has been an inspiration for many. He won the glorious Natural Olympia title twice in 2017 and 2018 despite having his kidney removed at the age of eight because of hydronephrosis. He also worked as a professional wrestler in WWE and Impact.
- Nickname: “The Freak”
- Birthdate: December 23, 1980
- Birthplace: Swansea, Wales, UK
- Height: 6’6″ (198 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 280 lbs (127 kg) during his competitive phase.
12. Paul Krueger:
Paul Krueger is the ultimate natural bodybuilder on our list of the best names in this movement. He is the winner of the 2021 Natural Olympia and he achieved the feat on his professional debut, just a few weeks after earning his Pro card. It’s also worth noting that Krueger has been competing as an amateur bodybuilder for over 25 years before turning professional.
- Nickname: N/A
- Birthdate: May 27, 1979
- Birthplace: Glendale, Arizona, USA
- Height: 5’10” (182 cm)
- Competition Weight: Around 240 lbs (108 kg) during his competitive phase.
Wrapping Up:
These are the 12 best natural bodybuilders who have had the best physique on this planet without any steroids or performance-enhancement drugs (PEDs). Every budding bodybuilder starts natural but gets lured to using juices to get enhanced and expedited results. However, few professionals refrain from that.
There are plenty of benefits of building your body naturally and these men have been prime examples of that. If you’re aspiring to be fit and healthy like these builders, you’re on the right track. We will help you find the dedicated workouts, diet, and nutrition advice directly coming from these best natural bodybuilders.
That’s it for this guide. Feel free to share your suggestions in the comments.
Finally, Here’s a quick recap of our list for people who don’t want to read too much:
- Eugen Sandow
- Ron Williams
- Mike O’Hearn
- Jeff Seid
- Sadik Hadzovic
- Kiyoshi Moody
- Meshack Ochieng
- Steve Reeves
- Brandon Lirio
- Bobby Pandour
- Rob Terry
- Paul Krueger
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the best natural bodybuilders of all time:
Who is called a Natural Bodybuilder?:
A bodybuilder who develops his physique without the use of any steroids, performance-enhancement drugs like Synthol, insulin, diuretics, growth hormone, and other medications is called a natural bodybuilder. This bodybuilding movement has various competitions and only the bodybuilders who have passed multiple drug tests in a year can compete in them.
Who is the best natural bodybuilder?:
There have been quite a few natural bodybuilders who had an amazing physique but the best among them all is Eugen Sandow. He is also known as the “Father of modern bodybuilding” and inspires the trophy of Mr. Olympia winner. He competed in an era when steroids and PEDs weren’t mainstream.
Who is the strongest natural lifter?:
Mike Hall, the retired American powerlifter, is considered to be the “strongest drug-free man” in history. He is the person who holds the record for the heaviest lifts without the use of any steroids or PEDs. His lifts are as follows: Squat – 931 lb (422 kg) Bench Press – 633 lb (287 kg)
Is there a natural Mr. Olympia?:
Yes, there is a Natural Mr. Olympia contest which is akin to Mr. Olympia organized by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB). It is the most significant natural bodybuilding event and has given the sport stars like Rob Terry, Paul Krueger, Kiyoshi Moody, Philip Ricardo Jr., and more.
Santhan, known to many as Linda, combines her personal training expertise with exceptional motivational coaching skills. Her articles are not just informative but also incredibly inspiring, encouraging readers to take action and pursue their fitness goals. Linda’s unique approach to writing integrates practical fitness guidance with motivational elements, making her content both useful and uplifting.