It’s no secret that most bodybuilders who want to stay competitive, make money, and remain relevant use steroids. The majority of them are fully aware of the long-term effects it has on their bodies but choose to take that chance anyway. Rich Piana was a top professional bodybuilder with a net worth in the industry.
He concentrated on his personal brand as he got older, and became a social media celebrity with a huge fan base across his presence. He was a successful bodybuilder who was well-known for his loud and over-the-top personality as well as being vocal about his steroid usage, which may have contributed to his early demise at the age of 46.
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Rich Piana Background Details
Richard Piana was born on September 26th, 1970 in Glendale, California. His mother was a bodybuilder and he grew up with her. He began to train after seeing his mother exercise at the gym. He became engrossed by bodybuilding and started training. Bill Cambra, an old-school bodybuilder, was another early major influence in his life.
At the age of 11, he began lifting weights and entered his first bodybuilding competition when he was 15. By the time he was 18, he had already won numerous bodybuilding titles, including the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) Mr California Teen 1989.
Once he decided to go pro in bodybuilding, he started using steroids so that he wouldn’t be booed off the stage every time. He began using a typical steroid cycle that includes testosterone and Deca-Durabolin when he was eighteen years old.
He made his professional debut in 1998, competing as Mr California in IFBB. He then began to compete in major bodybuilding and heavyweight events. 2003 National Physique Committee (NPC) competition- Los Angeles Super-Heavyweight division: 2009 Sacramento Super-Heavyweight division: 2009 Border States Classic Super-Heavyweight division and overall championship: In 2017, he was a prominent figure in the documentary Generation Iron 2.
Rich Piana was well-known within and outside his industry for his tenacity and outspoken attitude. He had a Youtube channel with thousands of subscribers where he advised viewers on diet, fitness routines, and life reasons, particularly those interested in bodybuilding. Rich Piana was one of the few people in his line of work that was vocal and honest about his steroid use. In several videos on his channel, he discussed the advantages as well as the drawbacks of using steroids while also stressing that he was aware of their negative effects on the body but had nevertheless decided to take them.
From his brand name (Rich Piana: 5% Nutrition), he has stated that 5% represents the proportion of people who are willing to do anything necessary to achieve their goals, fulfil their aspirations, and live the life they desire.
Unfortunately, Piana fainted in his residence on the 7th of August 2017 while his girlfriend (Jansen) was giving him a haircut. His heart beat was restored after numerous attempts to resuscitate him, but his brain had already been damaged owing to lack of oxygen. To reduce the swelling in his brain, he was put into an induced coma. He never awoke from that coma and died on the 25th of August 2017 at age 46 (46).
At the time of his death, an autopsy revealed that his liver and heart weighed twice as much as a normal adult, owing to his steroid use. The examination was inconclusive because they were unable to determine the true cause and manner of death. His remains were buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California.
Rich Piana’s Net Worth: How Much Did He Have At The Time Of His Death?
Piana spent twenty-five years competing in bodybuilding contests on and off. The competitions he won were a significant source of his overall net worth.
After retiring from competition, he went into business. He launched his own dietary supplement line called ‘Rich Piana: 5% Nutrition.’ He began a YouTube channel where he had special guest appearances and offered motivational and personal life stories. Before his death, he already had a large following, which also aided in his income.
Rich Piana’s net worth was estimated at $2 million when he died.
