Ben Weider
A tireless entrepreneur who, with his brother, transformed bodybuilding from a niche pursuit into a global fitness industry powerhouse.
1923–2008 (age 85)·Canadian sports businessman·Birthday: February 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ben Weider was a salesman of the human form. Alongside his younger brother Joe, he took the marginal world of weightlifting and, through sheer hustle and vision, built it into an international movement. In 1946, they founded the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) from a Montreal office, with Ben serving as the organization's relentless diplomat and president for over half a century. His mission was to gain legitimacy, tirelessly lobbying to get bodybuilding recognized as a sport in countries around the world. While Joe masterminded the magazines and supplements, Ben was the global strategist, navigating Cold War politics to stage competitions that brought athletes from both sides of the Iron Curtain together. His passion extended beyond the gym; he was a dedicated scholar of Napoleonic history, authoring several books and amassing a significant collection of memorabilia. Weider's legacy is the infrastructure of modern fitness—the federations, the international contests, the idea that sculpting one's body was a legitimate athletic and commercial pursuit.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Ben was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 80
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2008Died at 85
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) in 1946, serving as its president for decades to grow it into a global organization.
- Successfully campaigned for the inclusion of bodybuilding in the World Games and gained recognition from numerous international sports bodies.
- Built a vast business empire with his brother Joe, encompassing magazines like Muscle & Fitness, nutritional supplements, and equipment.
Did You Know?
He was a respected historian on Napoleon Bonaparte, authoring multiple books and serving as president of the International Napoleonic Society.
He received the Order of Canada and was appointed a Knight of the National Order of Quebec for his contributions to sport and philanthropy.
During World War II, he served in the Canadian Army's Intelligence Corps.
“Bodybuilding is the art and science of developing the muscle system of the human body through progressive resistance exercise.”
