Markus Rühl (born 22 February 1972 in Darmstadt, Germany) is an IFBB professional bodybuilder. Rühl began training at the age of 18 following a doctor's recommendation after sustaining a knee injury while playing soccer.

At 120 lb., Rühl began training hard six days a week until deciding to compete on a professional level five years later. During this period he worked as a used car salesman. He possesses some of the biggest shoulders in bodybuilding history, and claims to be one of the strongest bodybuilders alive along with Johnnie O. Jackson, Stan Efferding and Dennis Wolf.