Thomas Steven Platz, famously known as “The Quadfather”, is a renowned 67-year old American bodybuilder and actor. He is best recognized for his extremely well-developed leg muscles, especially his quads which measure an impressive 28 inches around.
Platz has achieved legendary status among bodybuilders due to his intense training methods focused on building massive quads and legs. His proportions earned him nicknames like “The Golden Eagle” and “The Quadfather”.
Tom Platz – The Quadfather
So let’s get started!
Background and Early Life
- Full Name: Thomas Steven Platz
- Nickname: The Quadfather
- Date of Birth: June 26, 1955
- Age: 67 Years
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Religion: Christianity
- Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Tom Platz was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, United States in 1955. Not much is known publicly about his parents or upbringing.
From an early age, Platz was drawn towards weightlifting and bodybuilding. He was inspired by legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and the muscle magazines he read voraciously.
During high school, Platz started training intensively focusing on his legs and quadriceps. This strong foundation led to his later success as a professional bodybuilder.
Tom Platz Bodybuilding Career Highlights
- Competed as an IFBB pro bodybuilder from 1978 to 1995
- Won over 26 major bodybuilding titles during his long career span
- Notable wins:
- Mr. America (1978) – Tall class
- 1981 Mr. Universe (Professional)
- Back-to-back wins at the Night of Champions (1981 and 1982)
- Known for his insanely developed quads, calves, hamstrings, and trimmed waistline
- At his peak, his legs measured nearly 28 inches
- Leg pressed an astonishing 1,035 lbs (465 kgs) for 23 reps
- Squatted 675 lbs (306 kg) for 6 reps
Tom Platz Training Philosophy
- Tom Platz specialized in training his legs/quads twice per week with very intense workouts
- His leg workouts lasted 3-4 hours with multiple intense sets per exercise
- He followed a high volume training methodology taking sets to positive failure
- Regularly performed 20-30 sets per major muscle group in a session
- His intense approach and mental focus took muscle stimulation to another level
Tom Platz Diet and Nutrition
Platz followed a high-calorie diet optimized for muscle growth and recovery:
- Consumed over 4000+ calories per day
- Diet comprised of high-protein foods like eggs, chicken, fish, etc.
- Also ate complex carbs such as oatmeal, rice, potatoes etc.
- Ate calorie-dense foods including nuts, peanut butter, etc.
- Supplemented diet with vitamins, minerals, and protein shakes
- Did not believe in extreme dieting and lived by the 85/15 lifestyle rule
This flexible dieting approach fueled his intense workouts and aided rapid muscle growth.
Tom Platz Net Worth and Income Sources
- Tom Platz’s current net worth is estimated to be around $14 million
- The majority of his income came from professional bodybuilding competitions over a 17-year career
- Also earned well from endorsements, seminars, guest appearances, etc.
- Invested widely in real estate and owns significant assets
- Lives a lavish lifestyle funded by his massive net worth
All that hard work paid off handsomely for Platz!
Tom Platz Personal Life and Relationships
While public knowledge of his earlier relationships is limited, some key personal life details are:
- Tom Platz married Cha Nikito-Platz in recent years
- Does not have children with Cha, but she has two kids from an earlier marriage
- They currently reside together in Platz’s hometown of Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- Also owns property in warmer states like Florida and Texas
- Despite fame and fortune, Platz leads a simple lifestyle dedicated to health and fitness
- He continues to train hard daily even in his late 60s
Tom Platz Awards and Recognition
- Inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2003
- Won over 26 noteworthy bodybuilding titles throughout his career
- Received the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
- Mr. America winner in the Tall Man category (1978)
- Professional Mr Universe title (1981)
- 1981-82 Night of Champions back-to-back wins
Tom Platz Income Sources
- Bodybuilding contest prize money
- Brand sponsorships from supplement companies
- Seminar and guest appearance fees
- Books and training program sales
- Investments in real estate/stock market
Platz had multiple income channels which explains his huge $14 million net worth.
Tom Platz Cars and Real Estate
While Tom Platz officially resides in Oklahoma currently, he is known to own other lavish properties like:
- Waterfront homes in Florida and Texas
- Drives luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, etc.
- Also owns a Lamborghini Gallardo sports car
- Has a big collection of custom chopper-style motorcycles
- Loves investing in real estate across the United States
Platz enjoys the fruits of his labor by owning expensive houses, cars, and bikes!
FAQs about Tom Platz
Here are answers to some common FAQs about Tom “The Quadfather” Platz:
- How old is Tom Platz?
Tom Platz is currently 67 years old, born in 1955.
- What is Tom Platz’s height?
He is 5 feet 8 inches (174 cm) tall.
- What size were Tom Platz’s legs?
His quads measured nearly 28 inches (71 cm) around, with calves 20 inches.
- How much could Tom Platz squat?
He once squatted 306 kg (675 lbs) for 6 reps and held a 465 kg (1,035 lbs) leg press record.
- What was Tom Platz’s daily diet like?
Platz ate 4,000+ calories from high protein foods like eggs, and chicken, with complex carbs and healthy fats.
- Is Tom Platz still training?
Yes! At 67 years old, Platz still trains almost daily and is in fantastic shape.
- What bodybuilding titles did Tom Platz win?
Some key titles were Mr. America 1978 (tall), 1981 Professional Mr. Universe, and back-to-back 1981-82 Night of Champions.
- What was Platz’s workout and training style?
He specialized in training legs/quads using very high volume – up to 30 intense sets per muscle group, taking all sets to positive muscle failure.
- What businesses did Platz invest his money in?
He invested wisely in real estate, the stock market, and custom choppers and owns significant assets.
- Why was Tom Platz called “The Quadfather”?
He was nicknamed “Quadfather” and “Golden Eagle” due to his phenomenally developed quads and leg proportions.
These FAQs cover key aspects of the bodybuilding icon – Tom Platz!
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Conclusion
There is no denying that Tom Platz achieved legendary status in bodybuilding through complete dedication to his training craft. His massive, world-renowned quads spawned nicknames like The Quadfather and Golden Eagle which he richly deserves.
While Platz had awe-inspiring genetics, it was his intense training philosophy and work ethic that enabled such extreme muscular development over 17 years. He trained legs/quads with incredibly high volumes – up to 30 sets per muscle group in sessions lasting 3-4 hours! This stimulated muscle growth to freakish levels.
Platz also mastered other critical lifestyle factors like nutrition, rest/recovery, and supplementation that fueled his championship bodybuilding career. No wonder he won over 26 major titles in IFBB contests across different eras of the sport.
The Quadfather continues to train 5 decades with the same passion and focus as in his competing days. At 67 years, Platz proves that you can maintain an outstanding, muscular physique well into your golden years with dedication and smart training. His successful bodybuilding career also earned him an astounding net worth of $14 million.
So there you have it – the complete lowdown on the life and achievements of legend Tom Platz! Hopefully, this guide gave you lots of insights into what made him a champion. The Quadfather certainly knew how to train legs. Do you?
