Andrew Jacked wins Arnold Classic
Andrew Jacked clinched the 2026 Arnold Classic in Columbus, beating top names including Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan — a career milestone after his Olympia bronze and 2025 Romania Pro win. He’s already posted a ripped physique update ahead of the Arnold Classic UK, keeping momentum for his next contest [] [].
The winner’s purse was $750,000 (muscleandfitness.com), a sum industry outlets called the biggest single payday in professional bodybuilding (muscleinsider.com). The Men’s Open finals were held March 7, 2026 at the Battelle Grand inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center (kulturistika.com). Nick Walker finished second and collected the Franco Columbu Most Muscular award, while Hadi Choopan placed third; Andrew Jacked also earned the Ed Corney Best Poser prize (an additional $10,000) during the final posedown (fitnessvolt.com). A post-win moment went viral when Jacked dropped into a full split onstage during his celebration, a clip that circulated widely on social platforms and was highlighted by mainstream outlets (msn.com). Former champions and commentators weighed in on the tight finish—Jay Cutler publicly addressed whether the decision was controversial in post-show commentary (fitnessvolt.com). Jacked confirmed plans to next compete at the Arnold Classic UK, where the top prize is $250,000 and he’s said he hopes to continue the “Million Dollar” run by contesting that event (muscleinsider.com).
