Mr., Ms., Fitness, and Figure Olympia Prize Money

[Ricky]

Does anyone have any information as to what the prize money breakdown will be for the 4 main events of the Olympia Weekend?

It seems like they don't release the official amounts until very soon before the actual event. Just seems crazy to me. It's like their budget is so tight they don't want to guarantee anything until just weeks before the show.

An observation:
When Wayne Demilia ran the show, the prize money breakdown was released far in advance and for public viewing months before the big dance. At that time, Wayne didn't know how many tickets would get sold, how sponsers where guaranteed, etc etc. He just put out a figure for prize money and stuck to it, even if the show fell through.

So what are the new promoters doing, being cheap? Is this a case where they sit back and say,
"Ok, let's not release any amount of prize money before hand because if the show falls slightly short in ticket sales or sponsorship funds we may have commited to giving out more prize money than we should have and therfore have left OURSELVES with less money (profits) in our own pockets!"

Do anyone of you feel this way? 

[stuntmovie]

Good idea! The prize monies shoud be based on a percentage of the profits. In that way the promoters won't go broke and the winners could possibly win more than they anticipated.

Has this been tried before? It could be good for both sides .... the promoter and the contestants.

An yone here able to come up with a good working and honest formula?

[Insider X]

Mr. Olympia prize money

1st place $155,000 
2nd place $90.000 
3rd place $60,000 
4th place $48,000 
5th place $38,000 
6th place $30,000 
7th place $18,000 
8th place $17,000 
9th place $16.000 
10th place $14.000 


Ms. Olympia prize money

1st place $30,000 
2nd place $18.000 
3rd place $10,000 
4th place $7,000 
5th place $4,000 
6th place $2,000 

Fitness Olympia prize money

1st place $23,000 
2nd place $14,500 
3rd place $9,500 
4th place $6,500 
5th place $4,500 
6th place $2,000 


Figure Olympia prize money

1st place $20,000 
2nd place $10,000 
3rd place $8,000 
4th place $4,500 
5th place $3,500 
6th place $2,000 

[sarahdunlap]

kinda a nice suprise to see the Ms. O at the top of the women's pize packs...  I thought we were all the same, although I did think Ms. O won $50,000, but I guess not...  that was probably a couple years past...  and for anyone that is about to say how bogus it is that the women get "shafted" on the prize cash, I honestly do not think its something to complain about... because seriously, the men are the ones selling the magazines, the majority of supplements, and meat to our industry.  It would be nice to see a comeback of the women, and with a line up like we have this year, it should be a history making one. 

Sarah ($0.02)

[stuntmovie]

Insider! Thanks!

ANd I agree with ya, Sarah.

If I added correcty (did it in my head without useing any fingers), the total prize money totals - $665,000.

That's a lot of moola! Where does it all come from?

Any guesses/estimates of the following?

Ticket sales = $__________ (Expo and Contest Venue)
Sponsors    = $___________
Exhibitors   = $___________

What was the price of a booth space at the two day Expo?

And last question .... What would be the Pros and Cons of a $1,000,000 Winner Take All - Mr Olympia Contest.    Do you think ten of the pros would even enter?

Thanks

[Malibu Barbie]

kinda a nice suprise to see the Ms. O at the top of the women's prize packs...  I thought we were all the same, although I did think Ms. O won $50,000, but I guess not...  that was probably a couple years past...  and for anyone that is about to say how bogus it is that the women get "shafted" on the prize cash, I honestly do not think its something to complain about... because seriously, the men are the ones selling the magazines, the majority of supplements, and meat to our industry.  It would be nice to see a comeback of the women, and with a line up like we have this year, it should be a history making one. 

Sarah ($0.02)

With the reasoning you put forth it should be the Figure Women who should get the $30,000. They help sell more magazines, supplement the sales of the men's magazines, cause many more tickets to be sold for events and are used in many more adds for supplements than either Female Bodybuilding or Fitness. Hmmm, sounds like good reasoning to me. I say we reverse the order than.

[Tre]

With the reasoning you put forth it should be the Figure Women who should get the $30,000. They help sell more magazines, supplement the sales of the men's magazines, cause many more tickets to be sold for events...

Not at the pro level. 

[Malibu Barbie]

Not at the pro level. 

Sorry, beg to differ on that one. When is the last time you saw a six page spread on a female bodybuilder in any men's magazine?  It is rare. How many bodybuilders shoot for magazines other than smoe web mags? I must say Sarah is quite beautiful and is one of the few that could pull the BB for women in another direction. If ticket sales were so great for BB and Fitness why are they not featured with the men on Saturday? Pro Figure women make much more money for the industry than the other two combined. I realize that the muscle worshiping photographers might feel differently, but ask any supplement company (and this truly is where alot of money is) who they would rather promote their product with....Jenny, Amber, Monica or Iris? If the rationale is that the amount of money paid to competitors is based on who brings in the most money to the industry then whats "good for the goose is good for the gander".

[Tre]

Amateur figure competitors are worth a lot more $$ to the promoters. 

If your argument was that there should be more money for pro figure competitors because of the support on the amateur side, then I would agree with you.

But, you made a different argument for why pro figure should earn more than pro fitness or pro women's bodybuilding.

[FLYLO]

What a joke!!  The cash prize is a joke!!  Some of these female atheletes deserve more than that!  Considering that it is not inexpesive to train 24/7 and be jacked up on steroids for this competition.  They're gonna need more cash prize to fix the pointy chin and elbows; facial hair; low voice; facial skeletal growth from HGH; microdermal ebrasion treatment.....C'mon IFBB invest more for the ladies cash prize; or they'll end up in Denise Massino's videos to break even on their expenditures.

[Malibu Barbie]

Amateur figure competitors are worth a lot more $$ to the promoters. 

If your argument was that there should be more money for pro figure competitors because of the support on the amateur side, then I would agree with you.

But, you made a different argument for why pro figure should earn more than pro fitness or pro women's bodybuilding.

This is the O that we are talking about and there are no armatures on that stage. Who decides the allotment of $ for the O? Is it the IFBB committee or the the promoter. I do believe it is the IFBB. Shows are not where money is made in this industry. They are simply a showcase for the different bodies of people (sponsors) that do make money off the sport. Few shows are put on without these people. I feel sure that if you were to ask the majority of sponsors who they would use to represent their products to the largest number of their customers it would much more likely a pro figure competitor with the exception of Adela (she could sell rocks to a drowning man  ).

[Malibu Barbie]

What a joke!!  The cash prize is a joke!!  Some of these female atheletes deserve more than that!  Considering that it is not inexpesive to train 24/7 and be jacked up on steroids for this competition.  They're gonna need more cash prize to fix the pointy chin and elbows; facial hair; low voice; facial skeletal growth from HGH; microdermal ebrasion treatment.....C'mon IFBB invest more for the ladies cash prize; or they'll end up in Denise Massino's videos to break even on their expenditures.

Sad and sick, but very funny.

[Tre]

What a joke!!  The cash prize is a joke!!  Some of these female atheletes deserve more than that!  Considering that it is not inexpesive to train 24/7 and be jacked up on steroids for this competition.  They're gonna need more cash prize to fix the pointy chin and elbows; facial hair; low voice; facial skeletal growth from HGH; microdermal ebrasion treatment.....C'mon IFBB invest more for the ladies cash prize; or they'll end up in Denise Massino's videos to break even on their expenditures.

Don't diss Denise - she's put a lot of money back into the industry. 

Where do you propose the additional cash for prize money should come from?

[CQ]

for anyone that is about to say how bogus it is that the women get "shafted" on the prize cash, I honestly do not think its something to complain about... because seriously, the men are the ones selling the magazines, the majority of supplements, and meat to our industry. 

I agree, and nicely said Sarah. Right or wrong, male bodybuilders are more popular and bring in more revenue.

If ticket sales were so great for BB and Fitness why are they not featured with the men on Saturday? Pro Figure women make much more money for the industry than the other two combined.

Not trying to be inflammatory here, but imo figure overall is not more entertaining or marketable than fitness. Both incorporate beautiful women in flashy suits onstage, then fitness has the added appeal of a routine with the additional entertainment aspects of music/outfits/themes/high flying flips etc......

I have heard many people, including the 'general public' say that watching the fitness routines is one thing they really enjoy...

There really is no parallel I can think of in mainstream sports/arts to figure - whereas fitness could 'somewhat' be considered by some along the genre of things that are have more mainstream popularity; gymnastics, ballet, ice skating, cheerleading etc...

[FLYLO]

Don't diss Denise - she's put a lot of money back into the industry. 

Where do you propose the additional cash for prize money should come from?

It's not like IFBB is expecting to break even on this successful event.  If the ASC can provide the individual respect and equality for all involved competitor, and compesate for all athelete taking part; believe me, so can the IFBB.  They satrted this, they should be trail-blazing. My opinion, Weider is really a miser on any women's event, period! 
 
No disrespect to Dennise; if anything, her Muscle Ellegance success draws in for the male entertainment part of the event.  Really, how long can an audience watch the same standard posing from everyone, it becomes boring after an hour. When she's on the stage, how serious are the cheers for her hard-earned physique? Smutt will always play a part in the sleazy part of this industry.  Way too many strippers!  

There's just not enough support from the IFBB for these women to achieve longevity; to equal the multiple wins as that for the Mr. Olympia winners, like Arnold on.  These women atheletes have to really make a joint effort in making a significant change to the womens physical criteria.  It's very inconsistent to the actual winning physiques.  They should really move towards a natural competition; especially for the womens events.  It's really apparent who is juicing; for the simple fact that women don't naturally look like men, physically; and should therefor be disqualified.  This industry encourage and push women to take testosterone to have a better placing, or win.  What it does is give the wrong impression of true female fitness.