How to make bodybuilding money in South Africa
The Bodybuilding Money Playbook (Short Version)
In South Africa, if you're not competing at an international pro level, the prize money is a joke. You're spending R20,000-R30,000 on prep just to win R5,000 (most shows are not money shows). The math doesn't work.
Stefan Marais gave us his playbook on how me made money in bodybuilding.
The Underground Route (What I Actually Did)
The real money wasn't on stage. It was in steroids and pharmaceuticals.
Steroid margins:
| Product | Cost | Sell | Markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynabol | R3,600 | R2,700 | Loss leader |
| Winstrol | R2,160 | R3,600 | 67% |
| Deca 300mg | R5,760 | R10,620 | 84% |
| HGH | R36,000 | R68,400 | 90% |
Pharmaceuticals (Ritalin, Concerta, Viagra, sleeping tabs) had double the margins.
Monthly income: 20-35 clients, R3,000 profit each = R60,000 - R105,000/month at 23 years old.
The Legitimate Route (What You Should Do)
Online coaching model:
Charge R2700/month per client
Add product sales: R3,000+/client profit
20-35 clients = R80,000+/month pure profit
Scaling tiers:
| Level | Model | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 5-10 one-on-one clients | R30,000 - R60,000 |
| Intermediate | 15-25 one-on-one OR 50-100 group | R80,000 - R250,000 |
| Advanced | Hybrid + digital products | R300,000 - R1,000,000+ |
| Empire | Own supplement/apparel line | R2,000,000+ |
How to Scale Fast
Brand = trust. Pick 3-4 content pillars. Post daily.
Group coaching. One-on-one caps out. Groups scale infinitely.
Digital products. Programs, templates, e-books—sell them forever.
Affiliate deals. Brands pay R5k-R500k/post depending on following.
Your own products. Supplements or apparel = 50-90% margins.
The Bottom Line
| Path | Monthly | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Illegal | R80k-R105k | Jail, robbery, addiction |
| Legitimate | R80k-R2M+ | Zero (just hard work) |
I made fast money the wrong way. You don't have to.
Build your brand. Get clients. Scale your systems.
That's the real win.
