The heaviest bench press ever performed in competition is an equipped lift of 635 kg (1,401 lb) by Jimmy Kolb in 2023, which stands as the all‑time world record bench press. The heaviest raw (unequipped) bench press world record is 355 kg (782.6 lb) by Julius Maddox.

Quick Scoop

1. Simple answer

  • All‑time heaviest bench press (world record) :
    • Jimmy Kolb – 635 kg (1,401 lb), equipped , 2023.
  • Heaviest raw bench press (world record) :
    • Julius Maddox – 355 kg (782.6 lb), raw , 2020–2021 era and still recognized as the top raw mark.

When people ask “what is the world record bench press?” they usually mean one of these two: the equipped record (with a bench shirt) or the raw record (no shirt, but belt/wrist wraps allowed).

2. Raw vs equipped (why it matters)

  • Raw bench press
    • No bench shirt, just normal powerlifting gear like belt and wrist wraps.
* Current men’s all‑time raw record: Julius Maddox, 355 kg (782.6 lb).
  • Equipped bench press
    • Special bench shirts store elastic energy and add a huge amount to the lift.
* Current all‑time equipped record: Jimmy Kolb, 635 kg (1,401 lb), also the heaviest single lift in powerlifting history.

Think of raw as “what a (very elite) human can press with minimal help,” and equipped as “how far you can push the absolute limits with specialized gear.”

3. Current headline records (men & women)

[7][1][3] [1][3][7] [3][1] [1][3]
Category Lifter Weight Type Year
Men – all‑time raw Julius Maddox 355 kg (782.6 lb) Raw 2020s
Men – all‑time equipped Jimmy Kolb 635 kg (1,401 lb) Equipped (shirt) 2023
Women – all‑time raw April Mathis 207.5 kg (457.4 lb) Raw 2016
Women – all‑time equipped Ashleigh Hoeta / Avory Brown* ≈317.5 kg (700 lb) / 699–700 lb range Equipped 2023
*Different federations list Ashleigh Hoeta and Avory Brown with ~700 lb equipped records; numbers sit around the same range depending on standards.

4. Forum‑style angle & “latest news”

“Is 800 lb raw or 1,500 lb equipped coming soon?”

  • Raw scene : Julius Maddox has chased an 800 lb raw bench, with several high‑profile attempts and near‑misses, which keeps the topic trending on lifting forums and social media.
  • Equipped scene : After Kolb smashed through 1,400 lb, a lot of discussion now revolves around how much further equipment and technique can push the limit.

From a trending‑context view in the mid‑2020s, lifters online often debate which is more impressive: Maddox’s raw 355 kg or Kolb’s mind‑bending 635 kg equipped, since they test very different things (raw strength vs extreme gear mastery).

5. Mini FAQ

  1. What is the world record bench press right now, in one number?
    • If you mean absolute heaviest ever : 635 kg (1,401 lb) by Jimmy Kolb (equipped).
  1. What about without special shirts?
    • That’s Julius Maddox’s 355 kg (782.6 lb) raw world record.
  1. Is it safe to chase huge numbers?
    • For regular lifters, the smart route is progressive overload, good technique, and staying far from these world‑record attempts without years of structured training and coaching.

TL;DR:

  • World record bench press (equipped): 635 kg / 1,401 lb – Jimmy Kolb.
  • World record bench press (raw): 355 kg / 782.6 lb – Julius Maddox.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.