Mr. Olympia 2024: Dates, Schedule, Prize Money, Top Bodybuilders and Predictions

Erik BeastonOctober 10, 2024

Derek LunsfordChris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Defending champion Derek Lunsford leads a crop of bodybuilders into competition this weekend at the 2024 Mr. Olympia event in Las Vegas.

The 31-year-old faces a crop of talented competitors, including past champions, an all-time great and several young stars looking to cement their status as the future of the sport.

Who is qualified for the event, when does it take place and who should you keep an eye on throughout the contest?

Find out with this preview of the bodybuilding extravaganza.

Schedule

Friday, October 11: Mr. Olympia pre-judging (6 p.m.)

Saturday, October 12: Mr. Olympia Finals (7 p.m.)

Prize Money

The purse has yet to be announced, but the total prize money is expected to top $1.6 million, the most in the event’s history.

Qualified Competitors

Derek Lunsford (USA)Hadi Choopan (Iran)Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)Theo Leguerrer (France)Rafael Brandao (Brazil)Martin Fitzwater (USA)Tonio Burton (USA)Akim Williams (USA)Brandon Curry (USA)William Bonac (Netherlands)Behrooz Tabani (Iran)Nathan De Asha (United Kingdom)John Jewett (USA)Mohamed Foda (Egypt)Jonatha Delarosa (USA)Chinedu Andrew Obiekea (United Arab Emirates)Hunter Labrada (USA)Bruno Santos (Brazil)Prediction

With Nick Walker unexpectedly dropping out of this year’s competition late, the field has become even less predictable than it already was.

Lunsford is the defending champion and Choopan had a wonderful competition two years ago. Either could win another Mr. Olympia title in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Brandon Curry won the event in 2019 and has finished in second place twice (2020 and 2021) and fourth place on two occasions (2022 and 2023).

Obiekea, known more popularly as Andrew Jacked, lives up to the moniker and Dauda has been chasing bodybuilding’s premier title for some time.

Any of those five competitors, and probably two or three others, could realistically win the event.

Mr. Olympia LLC @MrOlympiaLLCHadi Choopan

I do not exercise for show, I prepare for an honor
☝🏻☝🏻🎯🎯🎯☠️🏆

10 days out @mrolympiallc pic.twitter.com/cDgQ4rmYNA

Still, Lunsford and Choopan are at the peak of their profession. Each has worked to improve key parts of their physique. And after a second-place finish last year, the Iranian is ready for a second title.

Choopan wins his second Mr. Olympia.