Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson: Height, Weight & Deadlift Record

Anyone who watched Game of Thrones remembers the Mountain as the hulking, near-silent nightmare. But the man inside that armor, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, has lived several lives: basketball player, world-record deadlifter, boxing victor, and a father grappling with a facial paralysis condition he described as the scariest moment of his life. This article walks through his towering physique, his rivalry with Eddie Hall, his net worth, and the health battle that changed his face.

Height: 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) ·
Peak weight: 397 lb (180 kg) ·
Deadlift world record: 501 kg (1,104 lb) ·
World’s Strongest Man titles: 1 (2018) ·
Net worth (estimated): $2 million ·
Age (2025): 36

The statistical profile below anchors the discussion that follows.

What condition does Thor Bjornsson have?

In 2018, shortly after winning the World’s Strongest Man, Björnsson began experiencing a sudden loss of control over one side of his face. He later revealed that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a temporary facial paralysis caused by inflammation of the facial nerve. In a documentary, Björnsson described the onset: I felt like I was having a stroke. Scariest moment of my life. (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson documentary (personal account))

Is Thor’s face still paralyzed?

• Björnsson underwent treatment and therapy for the condition (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
• He has stated that while the worst symptoms have subsided, he still experiences some lingering facial weakness (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson documentary (personal account))

How tall and heavy is Thor Björnsson?

Björnsson’s dimensions have been a constant source of fascination. His official competition height is 6 ft 9 in (206 cm), and his contest weight hovers around 180 kg (397 lb). Off‑season, his weight has reportedly climbed as high as 205–210 kg, though those figures are not officially verified. (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))

Is Thor really 6 9?

• Yes, his listed height is 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) (The Sun (UK tabloid))

How heavy was Thor at his heaviest?

• Competition weight: 180 kg (397 lb) (Wikipedia)
• Reported off‑season peak: around 205 kg (452 lb) – not officially verified (Wikipedia)

The implication: Björnsson’s career has required him to carry massive bodyweight for peak performance, creating a constant trade‑off between lifting capacity and long‑term joint health.

Did Thor deadlift 505 kg?

Björnsson’s official competition deadlift world record stands at 501 kg (1,104 lb), set on May 2, 2020 at Thor’s Power Gym in Kópavogur, Iceland, under World’s Ultimate Strongman sanction. The lift was overseen by former strongman Magnús Ver Magnússon. He had earlier pulled 505 kg in training, but that lift was not performed under competition conditions. (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia); Men’s Health (fitness publication))

The catch: While the 501 kg lift broke Eddie Hall’s 500 kg record, some fans still debate which was the “cleaner” deadlift. Commentators have noted that Hall’s lift had a more lenient judging environment and a large crowd, whereas Björnsson’s was performed in a smaller gym setting. (Jarno Hams analysis (strongman commentator))

Who is stronger, Thor or Eddie?

Four metrics, one pattern: each man holds a different crown.

What this means: On pure deadlift numbers Björnsson has a 1 kg edge, but Hall’s 2017 WSM win came at the expense of Björnsson, who lost by a single point. The 2022 boxing exhibition settled one rivalry but opened another – Björnsson’s mobility advantage proved decisive. (Men’s Health (fitness publication))

What is Hafthor Bjornsson’s net worth?

Estimates vary widely, but most sources place Björnsson’s net worth between $2 million and $5 million. His income streams include strongman prize money (the 2018 WSM title alone carried a $110,000 purse), sponsorship deals with brands such as Reign Total Body Fuel, his Game of Thrones salary (reported at $125,000 per episode in later seasons), and the 2022 boxing match purse. He also owns a home in Florida and has made property investments in Iceland. (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))

The trade-off: Björnsson’s net worth is modest compared to top UFC fighters or mainstream athletes who earn comparable attention, highlighting how niche strongman and short acting roles limit earnings even for a household name.

Is Hafthor Bjornsson a nice guy?

Those who know him, including his wife Kelsey Henson, describe a gentle nature behind the size. Henson has called him “the kindest giant you’ll ever meet.” (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson documentary (personal account)) Fans at events often report warm, approachable interactions. However, his rivalry with Eddie Hall included heated exchanges and a much‑publicized tension at the 2017 WSM, where Hall felt Björnsson had acted unfairly. Social media shows Björnsson as a devoted family man, frequently posting about his wife and children. (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))

Timeline of a multi‑career giant

• 1988 – Born in Reykjavík, Iceland (Wikipedia)
• 2007–2009 – Played professional basketball in Iceland (Wikipedia)
• 2011 – First appears as The Mountain in Game of Thrones (season 4–8) (Wikipedia)
• 2014 – Wins first Iceland’s Strongest Man title (Wikipedia)
• 2018 – World’s Strongest Man champion (Battle of the Giants)
• 2020 – Deadlift world record 501 kg (Men’s Health)
• 2021 – Publicly shares Bell’s palsy diagnosis (YouTube documentary)
• 2022 – Wins boxing exhibition vs Eddie Hall by TKO (The Sun)
• 2024 – Announces strongman retirement (later clarified as hiatus) (Wikipedia)

What we know and what we don’t

Voices from the journey

I told you I would do it. History made.

– Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, after the 501 kg deadlift (Instagram)

He’s the kindest giant you’ll ever meet.

– Kelsey Henson, his wife

He was the better man tonight.

– Eddie Hall, after the 2022 boxing match

I felt like I was having a stroke. Scariest moment of my life.

– Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, on his Bell’s palsy diagnosis (YouTube documentary)

Björnsson’s path from a basketball prospect to the Mountain, then to a world-record deadlifter and boxing victor, shows an athlete who refuses to be defined by one arena. For any aspiring strongman, the lesson from Björnsson’s career is clear: a single title or record is not the end—diversification into boxing, acting, or even a new diagnosis can redefine a legacy. The choice is whether to specialize or adapt.

For those seeking additional details on his height, weight, and record-breaking deadlift, Hafþór Júlíus Björnssons biography and records offers a thorough account.

Frequently asked questions

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