How Strong Do You Really Have to Be to Be 1 in 1,000,000?
I recently challenged people on Instagram by saying that to lift a barbell, you need to be 1 in 1,000,000. Since then, I’ve seen tons of people rise to the challenge, but it got me wondering: how strong do you really need to be to reach that level? Let’s break it down.
To be in the top 0.001% of people worldwide, you need to be incredibly strong. But first, let’s eliminate certain groups: children under 14, the elderly, people in extreme poverty, and those with significant physical disabilities. After that, we're left with around 4.4 to 5 billion people, and if you're a healthy adult under 65, you're already in the 55th percentile for strength.
Next, if you regularly exercise, you’re in the top 25% worldwide. But if you're lifting weights, you're even better off. In the U.S., only about 3.6% of people go to the gym regularly, so just showing up puts you in the top 1 in 40. But to be 1 in 1,000,000, you need to be in the top 0.004% of gym-goers.
Here’s what you’d need to lift to hit that mark:
-
For men: Bench press 435 lbs, squat 550 lbs, deadlift 625 lbs.
-
For women: Bench press 235 lbs, squat 320 lbs, deadlift 375 lbs.
For bodyweight exercises, you’d need to do:
-
90 push-ups, 33 pull-ups, and leg press 970 lbs.
Crazy, right? But I want to stress – these numbers are not out of reach. While it might seem extreme to some, these levels of strength are achievable if you train consistently, progressively overload, and track your numbers.
I know being 1 in 1,000,000 seems like a crazy goal, but the truth is, it's attainable for a lot of people. Most of us just need to stay consistent, challenge ourselves, and always aim higher.