When the question “Have you used steroids?” gets tossed out, many celebrities fall back on the classic line: “It’s just hard work, broccoli, and good genetics.” But the truth is often a little more… pharmaceutical.
Unlike most, a few stars have actually chosen honesty. Here are five celebrities who’ve admitted to using steroids or similar substances—whether to perform better, recover faster, or simply keep their bodies going with age.
1. Joe Rogan
Podcast host, UFC commentator, and comedian
“I take testosterone replacement therapy and have been for almost 10 years,” Rogan said on The Joe Rogan Experience.
He explained that he only takes doses equivalent to what he naturally had at age 27—not to become superhuman, but to maintain energy, strength, and libido. It’s become part of his lifestyle, and he’s spoken openly about it in multiple episodes.
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2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Actor, fitness icon, and former wrestling star
“I tried it,” he admitted in a 2009 MTV interview.
The Rock said he and some friends experimented with steroids when they were around 18 or 19. He called it a youthful mistake and claims he’s since built his physique without them—but he doesn’t deny his past dabble with gear.
3. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding legend, action star, and former governor
Arnold has never hidden the fact that he used steroids during his competitive bodybuilding days:
“We did it under doctor supervision,” he told ABC. “It was experimental. I have no regrets.”
At the time, steroid use was practically the norm in the bodybuilding scene—and Arnold has never tried to sweep it under the rug. He’s always been upfront about the era he came from.
4. Mickey Rourke
Actor and former boxer
Rourke has never flat-out said “yes,” but he heavily implied steroid use when preparing for his role in The Wrestler:
“When I’m playing a wrestler, I act like a wrestler,” he told New York Daily News—a not-so-subtle nod to the steroid culture in professional wrestling.
Translation: Yeah, of course he did.
5. Sylvester Stallone
Actor, director, and eternal Rambo
In 2008, Stallone was stopped in Australia with vials of HGH (human growth hormone) in his luggage. He later admitted to using it:
“It’s like an amino acid supplement,” he said on The Today Show, downplaying it as relatively harmless.
But let’s be real—it’s not the same as taking magnesium. He’s since talked about how HGH has helped him stay in shape and maintain peak form, especially for physically demanding action roles.
Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.
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