- Tom Platz, known as “Quadzilla,” is a former pro bodybuilder from Oklahoma, born 26 June 1955.
- Post-competition, he serves as a bodybuilding consultant and maintains his fitness regime.
- Inspired to bodybuild from a young age, Tom gained fame for his exceptional leg development.
- Despite initial back concerns, he became renowned for his leg workouts and bodybuilding achievements.
- With his wife, Cha Nikito-Platz, he focuses on fitness consulting, enjoys traveling, and advocates for animal welfare.
Where is Tom Platz (bodybuilder) today? Wiki Bio
Hailing from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA, Tom Platz was born on 26 June 1955, proudly holding American citizenship. Renowned by his monikers “Quadzilla,” “Quad Father,” and “Golden Eagle,” he gained fame as a former professional bodybuilder.
Though his days of competition are behind him, Tom remains deeply entrenched in the world of bodybuilding. Transitioning into a consultant role, he offers guidance and expertise to enthusiasts eager to excel in the sport. Moreover, he maintains his dedication to fitness through regular exercise, ensuring his connection to the discipline remains steadfast.
Childhood and education
Tom became motivated to start working out at a very young age – he was only nine years old when he saw Dave Draper sitting on the beach with Betty Weider – the picture stuck inside his head, and he decided to begin working out.
He ran across the title of Mr. Universe in a magazine he read when he was 11 years old and promised himself that he was going to become Mr. Universe someday.
He did his weightlifting exercises in his basement, and his father supplied him with everything he needed, as he was still too young to go to the gym – Tom hasn’t shared any details regarding his parents but often recalls how helpful and supportive they were of his dreams.
Tom did not work on his legs because he had problems with his back – he told his friends that working on your legs will only get you back problems, however, he had no idea he was later going to become the owner of some of the best-built legs in the history of bodybuilding.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Thomas Steven Platz |
| Known For | Former professional bodybuilder renowned for his leg development |
| Profession/Occupation | Retired Professional Bodybuilder, Fitness Consultant, Motivational Speaker |
| Education | Degree in Fitness Science from Wayne State University, Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of California |
| Net Worth | Estimated to be more than $5 million |
| Spouse | Cha Nikito-Platz |
| Date of Birth | 26 June 1955 |
| Place of Birth | Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Hair Color | Blond |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5ft 8ins (1.72m) |
| Weight | Around 230lbs (104kgs) |
| Hobbies | Traveling, working out, contributing to animal welfare, passionate about fast cars |
| Social Profile Links | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook |
Tom is rumored to have dated numerous girls during his high school years, but this hasn’t been confirmed by him. After he matriculated from high school, he completely focused on his career as a bodybuilder and did not immediately go to college.
He enrolled later at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and obtained his degree in fitness science, and then went on to obtain his master’s degree in business administration from the University of California.
Career
Tom was only 15 when he left home and moved to Kansas City – he switched to another high school but was mostly focused on his future career as a bodybuilder.
He decided to get a job so that he wouldn’t be a financial burden on his parents and drove to a nearby health spa center to ask if he could work as a trainer at their gym.
Even though he was too young for the position, the manager of the place saw his potential and figured Tom was very likely to attract a lot of people to the gym. He hired Tom (illegally) and it turned out to be a good idea because the gym was soon filled up with people who wanted to lift weights and look like Tom.
He was still working at the gym at 17, and a couple of people training there showed him how to do proper squats as they realized Tom wasn’t good at these exercises.
He didn’t initially like the exercises but did them regardless because he thought he should still work on his legs – he saw his leg exercises as trivial and kept them short and they lasted for no longer than 15 minutes.
He moved to Detroit to work out at the Armento’s gym, and there were people there who were Olympic weightlifters, and who taught him everything he needed to know about working on his legs.
He combined multiple workout techniques he learned, and his legs became something most bodybuilders were trying to achieve.
His first serious competitions
Tom began competing seriously in 1973 when he entered Mr. Adonis competition – he kept on competing as an amateur for the next five years, and won the World Amateur Championship in 1978, after which he focused on attending professional competitions, aiming to become Mr. Olympia.
Unfortunately for him, he competed at seven IFBB Mr. Olympia competitions from 1979 to 1986 with the exception of 1983, but his best score was rating 3rd at the IFBB Mr. Olympia 1981.
He published a single book entitled “Pro-style Bodybuilding” on 20 May 1985, and has appeared in several movies including “Who Killed Johnny Love?” in 1998, “8 Heads in a Duffel Bag” in 1997, “Book of Love” in 1990, and “Twins” in 1988.
The most popular male bodybuilders in the world
Ranker, a well-known website, has curated a comprehensive list spotlighting the world’s most acclaimed male bodybuilders, many of whom have ventured into diverse industries like film and music. Let’s delve into the top five, determined by the votes of the people:
- In fifth position stands Mickey Hargitay, a multifaceted talent recognized not only for his prowess in bodybuilding but also for his acting skills. Crowned Mr. Universe in 1955, he graced screens in notable productions like “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter,” “The Loves of Hercules,” and “Promises! Promises.”
- Securing fourth place is Anthony White, widely known by his ring alias Tony Atlas. Beyond his achievements in bodybuilding and powerlifting, he carved a niche in professional wrestling, boasting the prestigious Mr. USA bodybuilding title and currently collaborating with WWE.
- Claiming the third spot is Bob Paris, a polymath celebrated as a writer, actor, public speaker, civil rights activist, and, of course, a bodybuilder. His ascent to fame followed victories in the 1983 NPC American National and the IFBB World Bodybuilding Championship, clinching the coveted Mr. Universe title.
- Lou Ferrigno clinches the runner-up position, an accomplished figure renowned for his roles as an actor, fitness trainer, and bodybuilder. His stellar career boasts two consecutive triumphs in the IFBB Mr. America and IFBB Mr. Universe competitions, alongside a memorable appearance in the documentary film “Pumping Iron.”
- Topping the chart is none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, an iconic figure celebrated not only for his amazing contributions to cinema, particularly as the formidable lead in the “Terminator” franchise, but also for his diverse portfolio spanning modeling, production, direction, activism, entrepreneurship, literature, politics, and philanthropy.
I have a secret weapon when @KingJames and @djkhaled take over the gym playlist. Join us at @weareladder to fuel your training, no matter what music gets you pumped: https://t.co/O45VLvF3yT pic.twitter.com/57AZFvfL4I
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) April 24, 2019
Even though Tom is a well-built bodybuilder, he is nowhere to be found in the list of the most popular male bodybuilders in the world compiled by the Ranker website.
Training and dieting
Tom invented his own technique of exercising, which he didn’t share with the public until he stopped competing. His idea was to trick his mind that he was a lot shorter than he really was, as this helped him lift more weight – he even wore longer socks to help test the theory.
Some of the leg exercises he most commonly did include squats, hack squats, leg extensions, lying leg curls, standing calf raises, seated calf raises, and hack machine calf raises.
When it comes to his diet, Tom had a high intake of protein and carbs and ate more than six times per day. His diet mostly consisted of whole-grain toast, milk, eggs, vegetables, salad, chicken, fish, and fruits.
Tom’s personal life and relationships
Tom is very secretive when it comes to his love life, as he hasn’t shared much regarding his past and present affairs with the public.
It is known that Tom is a married man – he met his future wife Cha Nikito-Platz at the gym in Detroit, began dating after only a couple of days, and they have been together ever since – the date of their wedding isn’t known. They don’t seem to have any children, as they have both wanted to remain focused on their careers.
Tom hasn’t talked about any other women he might have dated before Cha, but his fans believe that he had dated numerous girls. He and his wife are currently running a fitness consultation business based in Southern California.
Tom has encountered some health challenges recently, prompting concern among his followers. Speculation swirled around his well-being until he decided to address it directly. It turns out he’s been grappling with Bell’s palsy, a condition often triggered by viral infections, resulting in weakened facial muscles and drooping on one side of the face.
Acknowledging the uphill battle ahead, Tom Platz is resolute in his approach to recovery. He’s making significant adjustments to his diet and embracing every measure available to expedite his healing process.
In a bid for transparency, he took to his social media platforms to share a candid video, shedding light on his current struggle.
Despite the setback, the bodybuilding icon remains unwavering in his determination to bounce back swiftly.
View this post on Instagram
Hobbies and interests
Tom was mostly interested in exercising back in the days when he was competing in bodybuilding, but he has numerous interests today completely unrelated to working out.
Tom and his wife are both very passionate about travelling, and have decided to spend their retirement days travelling around the world – they have already visited Africa, and are now planning to visit it again, move to Europe from there including Scandinavia, and then make their way towards Asia. They are both very fond of animals and have participated in numerous actions to make animal habitats better and to improve the lives of endangered species.
In the years after he stopped competing in bodybuilding, Tom fell in love with fast cars and has recently purchased a brand new Porsche as a gift to himself.
Appearance and net worth
Tom is currently 68 years old. He has short blond hair and blue eyes, is 5ft 8ins (1.72m) tall, and weighs around 230lbs (104kgs).
According to reliable sources, his current net worth is estimated to be more than $5 million, but it’s not known if it’s rising as we don’t know what Tom is currently working on.
Social media presence
Tom is very active on several popular social media networks, as this is very important for the image he has created for himself on the internet.
He launched his Twitter account in July 2011 and has gathered nearly 2,000 followers and tweeted more than 110 times. However, his Instagram account is followed by more than 600,000 people, and he has uploaded over 100 pictures onto it – he is running a Facebook page as well, which currently counts more than 81,000 fans.
