Who is Phil Heath?
Phil Heath is an American fitness influencer and professional bodybuilder who is active on Instagram and other social platforms. He was born on 18th December 1979 in Seattle, Washington. He is known for posting fitness-related content on his social media.
Early life and basketball career of Phil Heath
Phil grew up as an active child who liked to play outside and run around the neighbourhood. Even though he grew up with both parents, they were often unavailable because of their busy schedules. This caused Phil to learn how to take care of himself, including cooking and cleaning. As a child, he enjoyed playing basketball and trained for it every chance he got. Once he enrolled at Rainier Beach High School, he signed up for the school’s basketball team and participated in tournaments. Since his skills were as good as his grades, Phil had no trouble getting a scholarship to sport-oriented universities.
Education of Phil Heath
He chose to attend the University of Denver in Colorado, where he studied business administration and IT. His classmates were often visiting the school gym, where they would train or simply try to stay fit. Phil decided to join them once in a while to work on his jumping technique which he could use in basketball plays. In the school gym, Phil learned about weightlifting for the first time. Even though he trained with weights for the sole purpose of improving his basketball skills, it grew on him over time. Eventually, Phil grew tired of basketball because it didn’t bring up his whole potential.
Once he graduated college, Phil found three jobs in total, which he balanced to earn enough money. He worked part-time as a web developer, basketball university teacher and bouncer at a local nightclub. Even though he hadn’t had much free time, he spent it all at the gym, lifting weights and getting stronger. Workouts at the gym brought him peace and more confidence. It allowed him to clear his head after a long day and focus on himself. Since he spent so much time at the gym, Phil started to see clear results and decided that he wanted to get even bigger and stronger.
Fitness journey of Phil Heath
Once he set up his goal, Phil decided to change jobs and found an opening in a local gym in 2002. That’s when he decided to start taking bodybuilding seriously, searching for the best workout plans to get himself to championships. He searched the internet and read many fitness magazines until he came up with the perfect balance of exercise and nutrition. With his hard work, Phil managed to gain over 20 pounds and reduce his body fat to 6%. He managed to change his body in a matter of one year enough to participate in his first competition. The competition was called The Rocky Mountain Northern Physique Committee, and Phil walked out of there as a champion. He even earned his nickname, “The Gift”.
Phil Heath as a professional bodybuilder
In order to test himself, Phil attended the same competition again, this time ranking second place. Instead of regretting this outcome, he became even more motivated to work on himself. In 2005, Phil weighed over 200 lbs and was as buffed and muscular as ever. He attended the NPC Colorado State Show and came out as a winner. Besides getting offers from various brands for sponsorships, Phil achieved something more important for him. Winning this show ensured him the IFBB pro-card, which allowed him to participate in professional bodybuilding competitions.
After winning a few more competitions, Phil’s friend and colleagues encouraged him to compete in Mr Olympia of 2007. Even though it would be a huge step for him, Phil felt like he wasn’t ready for this kind of competition. He decided to play it safe and started working out even more, preparing for his chance next year. When he participated in next year’s Mr Olympia, he was ready and ranked third. Since he was still a debut bodybuilder, Phil became the first to obtain third place after 10 years. When he came back in 2011 as a feared opponent, Phil stood up to his nickname and obtained the gold medal.
Phil Heath on social media
Once he won Mr Olympia, Phil decided to share his success with the world and appeared on social media. He created his self-titled Instagram account in 2012, becoming famous basically overnight. Whether it is the general audience or his fitness buddies, people love to watch Phil’s preparations for shows and his achievements. Phil also posts weekly workout plans and vlogs on his YouTube channel, but it isn’t nearly as viral as his Instagram account. The reason behind this is quite obvious: Phil’s workouts are way too hard for the general audience.
How much does Phil Heath earn? Net Worth
As of 2023, Phil’s net worth is estimated to be over 8 million USD, which makes him one of the richest bodybuilders in the world. His earnings come mainly from his brands' sponsorships and deals. Winning places at professional bodybuilding competitions also come with an undeniable financial prize.
Interesting facts about Phil Heath
- As of 2023, he is 43 years old.
- His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
- His height is 5’8’’ or 175 cm.
- His weight is 115 kilograms or 255 lbs.
- He played basketball while studying at Rainier Beach High School.
- He got a full scholarship to the University of Denver in Colorado, where he studied business administration and IT.
- He became a professional IFBB bodybuilder in 2005.
- He won Mr Olympia 7 times.
- He has a nickname, “The Gift”.
- He has over 3,9 million followers on his Instagram account.
- As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be over 8 million USD.
