Richard Eugene Piana, also known as Rich Piana, was an American professional bodybuilder, personal trainer, and entrepreneur. He was known for his large physique and distinctive tattoos. He passed away on August 25, 2017.
Rich Piana began weightlifting at the age of 11.
He started competing in bodybuilding competitions in the late 1980s.
He won several amateur bodybuilding titles before turning professional in the 1990s.
He competed in several International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB) competitions throughout his career.
Rich Piana was also a personal trainer and nutritionist and owned his own supplement company called 5% Nutrition.
He was known for his large physique and distinctive tattoos, which covered much of his body.
He had a strong social media presence, with over 1 million followers on Instagram at the time of his death.
He was open about his use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.
He was also known for his controversial statements on various topics, including race and drug use.
He passed away on August 25, 2017, at age 46, from cardiac arrest.
