LEE Haney is regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.

But who is he, what is his net worth and how many times as he won Mr Olympia? Here's everything you need to know.

Who is bodybuilder Lee Haney?

Lee Haney, also known in the bodybuilding community as Hercules, was born on November, 11, 1959, in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

He is a former International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) professional bodybuilder.

Haney holds one of the highest wins for Mr Olympia alums, as well as being a former Nationals Heavyweight & Overall champion.

The athlete made the decision to retire from the world of professional bodybuilding at the age of 31, before turning to personal training and working with athletes like boxer Evander Holyfield.

He is also the founder of the National Physique Committee competition The Lee Haney Games.

However, his sporting achievements are not Haney's biggest reward.

In April 2023, the champion athlete took to Instagram to tell his fans and followers that being a father has brought him more joy than anything else – including his Mr Olympia wins.

The veteran bodybuilder made it clear his priorities lie firmly with his family as he posted an adorable painting of him holding his daughter as a small baby.

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Hanley, who is married to wife Shirley, wrote: "Out of all that I’ve accomplished, being a father is my greatest reward.

"Far above any worldly riches, the strength of a man is his children. As ordained by God. My daughter, Olympia."

The ex-athlete also explained that he was only able to "maintain his sanity" due to the unwavering support from his beloved wife Shirley.

He explained: "My wife was there with me.

"I was a husband, I was a father. I had two kids while I was still competing.

"I guess some people could say that was a distraction, but for me, it helped me maintain my sanity.

"It got my mind off of how many sets and how many reps, time and time again."

Throughout his glittering career, Haney favoured a three-day on, one-day off training routine – which allowed him to juggle his responsibilities as a dad.

In 2014, the champion was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Since retiring from the sport, Haney now takes to social media to offer tips and advice to his keen-to-learn followers.

He also promotes clean eating and healthy lifestyle – and still kills it at the gym.

Haney still loves to exercise, but said he's not going as hard as he did back in the day.

"I don’t run as fast or recovery as quickly as I did before reaching 60 plus," the bodybuilder said.

He added: "If you don’t manage age it will manage you!"

In 2023, Haney revealed the story behind one of the most iconic photos taken at the peak of his career.

He's also shared three tips that help him stay stay on track at the gym as he gets older.

"Regular exercise, healthy eating, and controlling stress is the key,'' the famous fitness icon revealed.

When did Lee Haney start bodybuilding?

Lee Haney first found his passion for fitness training during his time in school.

However, it wasn't until 1979, that he won his first big tournament ''Mr America'' at the age of 19.

The decorated athlete then went on to enjoy a decade-long career before retiring in his early 30s.

What is Lee Haney's net worth?

According to reports, Haney has an estimated net worth of $5.5 million.

He will have earned the impressive amount throughout his fitness career and various business ventures.

How many times has Lee Haney won Mr Olympia?

Throughout his career, Lee Haney secured the Mr Olympia gong a staggering eight times – asserting himself as one of the most decorated athletes in the game.

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The bodybuilder's streak started in the 1984 competition and his record remained unblemished after coming up trumps in his eighth contest in 1991.

He shares the record for the most wins in the famous contest alongside Ronnie Coleman – and even broke Arnold Schwarzenegger's record of seven wins in a row.

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