A unique bodybuilding item is currently for sale. It’s a 1998 Mr. Olympia program. Well, that’s sort of unique. Ronnie Coleman’s first win. What does it go for—$75? No. $100? No, higher. $150? As of today, it’s priced on eBay at $11,049.99 (or best offer)! The reason for the greatly inflated price is because this program is signed by 14 of the 18 Mr. Olympias.
MR. OLYMPIA SIGNERS
The Mr. Olympia winners who signed are (in chronological order):
Sergio Oliva (1967-69)
Arnold Schwarzenegger (1970-75, ’80)
Samir Bannout (1983)
Lee Haney (1984-91)
Dorian Yates (1992-97)
Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005)
Jay Cutler (2006-07, ’09-10)
Dexter Jackson (2008)
Phil Heath (2011-17)
Shawn Rhoden (2018)
Brandon Curry (2019)
Big Ramy (2020-21)
Hadi Choopan (2022)
Derek Lunsford (2023)
The only four missing are: Larry Scott (1965-66), Franco Columbu (1976, ’81), Frank Zane (1977-79), and Chris Dickerson (1982). Zane, at 82, is the oldest living Mr. Olympia. Scott passed away in 2014, Columbu in 2019, and Dickerson in 2021. Of the 14 Mr. Olympia winners who signed the program, Oliva passed away in 2012 and Rhoden in 2021.
A UNIQUE BODYBUILDING COLLECTIBLE
Frankly, we can only make out about half of the signatures, but the two most interesting and perhaps valuable are (upper right) Ronnie Coleman writing “1st Olympia Victory” on the official program of the first of his record-tying eight Olympia victories and (over the Sandow trophy’s calves) Sergio Oliva, the second Mr. Olympia and the first to die, 12 years ago.
The authenticity of the autographs was certified this year.
We have no idea what a fair price for this program is. Judging by his eBay listings, the seller seems to specialize in bodybuilding autographs (many are under $100 but there is also a 2021 Olympia Chris Bumstead holograph card, signed by Cbum for $8500 or best offer). There isn’t a huge market for bodybuilding autographs, in part because they’re relatively easy to attain. For example, Mr. Olympia competitors and past champs will sign photos and other things at bodybuilding expos, if not for for free then for a small fee. However, this is certainly a unique collectible. Currently, only 13 of the 18 Mr. Olympias are living, so 14 is likely the most Mr. Olympia winners to ever sign a single item.
