Everyone knows how strong Andre the Giant was, but hearing Arnold Schwarzenegger's story shows the true nature of his strength. Andre and bodybuilding legend worked together in the film Conan the Barbarian, and this is one story from the time of filming that will show you the true extent of how strong the French giant was.

During his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared a story about Andre the Giant that is both hilarious and astonishing. The duo was filming in Mexico, where Andre was wrestling at the time. So, naturally, he invited Schwarzenegger to attend one of the matches.

"And so Wilt [Chamberlain] and I would go to his wrestling matches. And then after that, Andre would take me out for dinner. And then afterwards, I pulled up my wallet, and I wanted to pay. And he says, no, no, no, I pay. So I said, no, Andre, I mean, look, this is so unbelievable."

Schwarzenegger was trying hard to convince him to let him pay, since Andre had been kind enough to invite them to his match and give them front row seats.

"He says, 'No, I pay" I said, " No, I'm insisting. He grabs me like this. And he lifts me up like a little kid. And he puts me on top of a cabinet of some credenza up there. And I'm sitting up there, and he then goes and pays the bill," the 7x Mr. Olympia concluded. 

Putting a 250 lb person on a cabinet is a major feat of strength in itself. But how strong was Andre actually? 

How Strong Was Andre the Giant?

The sheer scale of Andre the Giant’s power is legendary. Standing 7-foot-4, his massive frame was the result of acromegaly, a condition that caused his body to overproduce growth hormones. To give you an idea about how tall he was, he was already over 6 feet tall by the time he was 12. And to understand his "Eighth Wonder of the World" status, consider these verified feats of strength:

• Andre once lifted a car by himself: It is reported that André the Giant once lifted a car to help his friend retrieve something that was trapped underneath it.
• Moving heavy items seamlessly: He could move heavy furniture by himself, as if he were moving a toy car.
• Managed a mob: André once held back a crowd of people by himself after an altercation outside a bar.

Though his condition eventually led to his premature passing, these stories ensure that Andre’s status as a real-life giant remains unmatched in history.

What do you think of Andre the Giant’s strength compared to today’s strongmen?

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi