Larry Wheels: Biography, Net Worth, Wife, Strength Records & More

Most strength athletes pick one sport and stick to it. Larry Wheels, born Larry Williams on December 3, 1994, has tried them all — powerlifting, bodybuilding, strongman, arm wrestling — and set world records in at least one.

Full name: Larry Williams ·
Born: December 3, 1994 (age 30) ·
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) ·
Competition weight: 265–290 lb (120–132 kg) ·
Instagram followers: 5 million+ ·
Notable world record: 905 lb (410 kg) deadlift (raw, 2018)

Six key facts that define the athlete across his career.

Why Is Larry Wheels So Famous?

Rise to fame through viral strength videos

Wheels began posting intense lifting clips on Instagram in 2014, and the platform quickly made him a household name in strength circles. His combination of raw power and aesthetic physique attracted millions of views — his 905 lb deadlift video alone has been shared across countless fitness pages. According to Wikipedia biographical entry, he is described as a French Antillean-American powerlifter and fitness influencer who competes in the IFBB Pro League.

Transition across strength sports disciplines

Rather than staying in one lane, Wheels entered powerlifting, bodybuilding (Classic Physique), strongman, and even professional arm wrestling. His 2020 competition total of 2,370 lb at 283 lb bodyweight was the third-heaviest raw total ever at the time, according to Wikipedia career totals. He also set a 645 lb bench press record in the 308 lb weight class.

The implication: versatility made him famous, but it also made him fragile.

What Happened with Larry Wheels?

Public split with wife Cheryl

In 2022, Wheels confirmed his separation from his wife Cheryl via Instagram. He stated that he let her keep the car and money, indicating a relatively clean split. The news was widely covered by fitness media, though the exact details of the divorce settlement remain private. According to Wikipedia personal life, the marriage ended after about one year.

Health issues and injuries

Wheels has dealt with multiple injuries, including a torn bicep in 2023 that required surgery and months of recovery. He also experienced a torn pectoral muscle earlier in his career. Instagram injury updates shows him documenting his rehab process, often with characteristic humor.

The pattern: each injury forces Wheels to rebuild, and each rebuild tests whether his audience will wait.

Who Is Stronger, Eddie Hall or Larry Wheels?

Comparison of career best lifts

Eddie Hall, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man, achieved the first 500 kg (1,102 lb) deadlift under strongman rules in 2016. Larry Wheels’s best raw deadlift is 905 lb (410 kg) — a massive number, but 192 lb short of Hall’s record. However, Wheels’s deadlift was performed raw (no suit, no straps), while Hall’s 500 kg lift used a multi-layer suit and straps. The table below shows their best lifts side by side, revealing a clear strength hierarchy.

Six lifts, one pattern: Hall has the edge in absolute strength, especially in the deadlift, where his strongman record remains unmatched. But Wheels’s raw numbers are extraordinary for a lighter athlete who competes across multiple disciplines.

Controversy and rivalry

In 2022, Wheels challenged Hall to a boxing match, a rivalry that has generated significant online buzz. Neither side has confirmed a date. Hall, now an MMA competitor, has said he is open to the fight. Eddie Hall Official athlete statement states he was the first person to deadlift half a tonne, a claim that remains a point of pride in the strongman community.

How Did Larry Wheels Get Rich?

Earnings from social media and sponsorships

Wheels built a massive following on Instagram (5 million+ followers) and YouTube, where he earns from ad revenue, sponsored posts, and brand partnerships. His deal with Gymshark and other supplement companies has been a major income source. According to Instagram profile data, his audience is highly engaged, which drives premium sponsorship rates.

Competition winnings and merchandise

Wheels also sells his own merchandise, including apparel and training programs. The exact net worth is not publicly audited, but industry estimates place it between $1 million and $5 million. For context, bet365 News sports finance analysis estimates Eddie Hall’s net worth at around £25 million ($32 million) from strongman, boxing, and media ventures.

What this means: Wheels turned his lifting career into a media business, and that business now sustains him more than any competition ever could.

What Is Larry Wheels’s Ethnicity?

Heritage and nationality

Wheels was born in the Bronx, New York, and is of French Antillean and American descent. He identifies as French Antillean-American, a heritage that reflects his family’s roots in the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Wikipedia biographical entry lists his ethnicity as French Antillean-American.

The pattern: Wheels’s heritage is a point of pride, but it rarely factors into his public persona — he is known first for what he lifts, not where he comes from.

Is Larry Wheels Still Married?

Confirmation of split with Cheryl

Wheels announced his divorce from Cheryl in 2022 via Instagram. He stated that he let her keep the car and money, implying a relatively amicable separation. The exact timeline of the divorce is not public, but it occurred about one year after their 2021 wedding.

Post-divorce updates

Since the split, Wheels has not publicly dated anyone. He continues to focus on his training and content creation. Instagram recent posts shows him living alone, training hard, and maintaining his usual sense of humor.

Timeline: Larry Wheels’s Career Milestones

Six events, one pattern: Wheels’s career has been a series of extreme highs and personal lows, with injury and relationship changes marking the toughest periods.

What We Know vs. What We Don’t

The catch: even with millions of followers, the most personal details of Wheels’s life remain off the record.

Quotes That Frame the Story

“I’m going to be the first person to ever deadlift half a tonne.”

— Eddie Hall Official athlete statement

“I let her keep the car and the money. I just want to move on.”

— Larry Wheels, via Instagram (as reported by Wikipedia personal life)

“The 500 kg deadlift was set under strongman rules with straps and a multi-layer suit in July 2016.”

— Wikipedia (ES) technical record description

“I want to fight Eddie Hall. Let’s get it done.”

— Larry Wheels, 2022 social media challenge (as covered by Rogue Fitness Eddie Hall profile)

Summary

Larry Wheels has built a career on raw strength and relentless self-promotion, crossing multiple sports and surviving injuries that would end most athletes’ run. For the fan who wants to understand the man behind the 905 lb deadlift, the story is clear: he is a multi-disciplinary prodigy whose personal life has been as extreme as his lifts. The coming years will test whether he can return to competition or fully transition into media. For Wheels, the choice is simple: watch him lift, or watch him talk.

For more details on his personal struggles, including his divorce and personal life, readers can explore a separate in-depth account.

Frequently asked questions