Arnold Schwarzenegger Net Worth (Updated 2023)

Net Worth:	$450 Million
Date of Birth:	Jul 30, 1947 (75 years old)
Place of Birth:	Thal, Austria
Gender:	Male
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Profession:	Actor, Bodybuilder, Politician, Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Investor, Film Producer, Television Director, Writer
Nationality:	United States of America
Last Updated:	27th January 2023

What is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Net Worth?

As of 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $450 million. He is one of the wealthiest actors and former bodybuilders in the world.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most iconic names in Hollywood. His career has been a testament to hard work, dedication, and ambition. Arnold’s success has enabled him to live comfortably and amass a remarkable net worth.

At the peak of his career, he earned up to $30 million from each movie, an impressive sum by any standard.

But Arnold’s investments, particularly in real estate, have been his most lucrative source of wealth. The former bodybuilder has a real estate portfolio worth over $100 million – a truly jaw-dropping figure! Arnold Schwarzenegger is certainly a success story to be admired.

Early Life

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in Thal, Austria. He grew up in a Catholic family, with his father Gustav being the local chief of police and his mother Aurelia, a housewife.

Schwarzenegger believes he owes his success and net worth to his humble upbringing. He grew up in a house with no plumbing, no toilet, and no shower, the only source of heat was the stove. These circumstances gave the young Austrian a burning desire to become successful and the ‘fire in the belly’ that motivated him to pursue fame and fortune.

The young Schwarzenegger was very close to his mother, but his relationship with his father was that of being “plus and minus.” He was a minus in the sense he never supported his son’s own endeavors and wanted him to live a ‘normal’ life in Austria.

At 15 years old, Arnold had to pay his parent’s rent of 100 shillings, which he paid from working odd jobs around the village. He was the only one of his friends who was doing this, which fuelled an inner resentment toward his father.

Speaking about his father in an interview, Arnold said: “every time he hit me, every time he said my weight training was garbage, that I should do something useful like chop wood, every time he disapproved of me or embarrassed me, it put fuel on the fire in my belly.”

The young Austrian knew he would eventually leave Austria in order to prove his father wrong. Looking back in hindsight, he states that his father was a ‘plus’ in that he meant well for him and always believed he had the talent to do better, which was something he didn’t understand during his youth and is one of the reasons he never went to his fathers funeral in 1972.

Developing An Interest In Sports

Schwarzenegger excelled in physical education at school and was a good soccer player. However, when his coach introduced him to the local gym, Arnold started his lifelong love affair with weightlifting.

The young, impressionable Austrian ditched his dreams of becoming a soccer player and was obsessed with weightlifting. He started working out every day and would cover his bedroom wall with posters of famous bodybuilders to inspire him, much to the bemusement of his mother.

Career

Having started with aspirations of becoming a soccer player in Europe, Schwarzenegger eventually left Austria to pursue a career in bodybuilding. He was inspired by former Mr. Universe, Englishman Reg Park, who had won the Mr. Universe competition on several occasions and later starred in numerous Hollywood movies.

Bodybuilding

Arnold’s success in bodybuilding has given him legendary status, as he is widely regarded as the greatest bodybuilder ever. He won the Mr. Universe title four times and Mr. Olympia seven times.

Arnold’s success in bodybuilding was not just about his muscle size but also his ability to put together a winning posing routine that would wow judges – something he learned from his hero, Reg Park.

In 1977, Schwarzenegger starred in the cult classic bodybuilding documentary, Pumping Iron. The movie was a huge success and brought Arnold celebrity status as people worldwide recognized him as an inspirational figure. His fans were not only inspired by his achievements but also by the fact that he had come from a small town in Austria.

The young bodybuilder dominated the sport of bodybuilding that was still in its infancy and won a number of competitions, including:

Competitions:

• Junior Mr. Europe (Germany, 1965)
• Best Built Man of Europe (Germany, 1966)
• Mr. Europe (Germany, 1966)
• International Powerlifting Championship (Germany, 1966)
• Mr. Universe (London, 1967)
• Mr. World (America, 1968)
• Mr. Olympia (New York City, 1969-1975 and 1980)

Movie Career and Success

Even at the height of his bodybuilding career, Arnold was always looking for his next career move. The young fitness guru had his eyes set on acting and breaking into Hollywood like his hero, Reg Park.

Schwarzenegger was so dedicated to his new goal that he would work out in the gym during the day and attend acting classes at night four times a week. All this while working a job in construction. His work ethic and focus were phenomenal.

Arnold got his first break into Hollywood in 1969 when he was cast in the title role for Hercules in New York. Ironically, Hercules was also the role that Reg Park became known for.

However, Schwarzenegger would go a lot further in Hollywood than his bodybuilding idol when, in 1984, he starred in James Cameron’s The Terminator. This movie launched Schwarzenegger into superstardom, catapulting him to the top of Hollywood’s A-list stars.

Schwarzenegger went on to star in hits like Commando, Predator and The Running Man, all of which featured Arnold ‘kicking ass‘ as the action hero audiences loved.

Movies and Reported Earnings:

• The Terminator (1984) $75,000
• Commando (1985) – $2 million
• Predator (1987) – $3.5 million
• Red Heat (1988)
• Twins (1988)
• Total Recall (1990) – $11 million – This was the movie Arnold made instead of Predator 2 after negotiations fell through.
• Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) – $15 million ($21,429 for every word he said in the movie)
• Kindergarten Cop (1990) – $12 million
• True Lies (1994) – $15 million
• Jingle All The Way (1996) – $20 million
• Eraser (1996) – $20 million
• Batman & Robin (1997) – $25 million to play Mr Freeze
• End of Days (1999)
• The 6th Day (2000) – $25 million
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003). According to reports, Arnold Schwarzenegger earned $30 million for Terminator 3 plus a 20% royalty on gross profits. The movie earned $433 million globally, making Arnold’s total paycheck around $35 million.
• The Expendables 1,2 & 3 (2010 -2014)
• Terminator Genisys (2015)
• Aftermath (2017)
• Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

Largest Paycheck and Beat Investment Schwarzenegger Ever Made

From his reported earnings, Arnold typically earns between $20 million and $30 million per movie. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was the actor’s most lucrative venture to date, earning approximately $35 million.

However, Arnold has stated the best deal he ever made was his salary for the movie Twins, where he starred alongside Danny DeVito.

In the late 80s, Arnold was weary of being typecast as an action hero in every role. In a bid to show his humorous side, Schwarzenegger decided that he wanted to do a comedy. However, the movie studios didn’t want to indulge the former bodybuilder’s aspirations and instead just offered him action roles repeatedly as they were so successful.

Frustrated with the studios, Arnold said to himself, “Hey, you (the studios) don’t have to be the only one investing in me, I invest in myself too, don’t give me any money, nothing, just pay for production.”

The stunning revelation that a multi-million dollar superstar actor at the top of his game was willing to forego getting paid for a movie that he believed in. He told this to movie producer Ivan Reitman, who had produced the hugely successful film, Ghostbusters.

When Reitman met up with Schwarzenegger in Aspen, Colorado, he was charmed by the Austrian’s sense of humor and wit. It was then that he started to take the prospect of Arnold in a comedy more seriously.

Reitman came back to Schwarzenegger with five movie ideas, one of which was ‘The Experiment’ – later called ‘Twins.’

As the movie was a foray into the unknown for Arnold, he gave up his salary. But not only did he do it, but Reitman himself did, as did Danny DeVito. Instead, the trio’s compensation was a percentage of the movie’s profits (if any).

The movie was a huge success and earned over $260 million worldwide, making Arnold millions in the process. Schwarzenegger, Devito, and Reitman agreed it was the best investment they had ever made.

In fact, the deal was so good movie studios have been reluctant to offer anyone a profit share ever since.

Political Career

In 2003, Schwarzenegger became the 38th Governor of California and served for two terms until 2011. In 2006, Forbes listed him as one of the most powerful celebrities in the world.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth saw a significant increase during this period, with his financial disclosures showing assets ranging from $100 million to over $200 million.

Schwarzenegger is widely known for his political reforms and accomplishments during his two terms in office. His most notable policies included reigning in California’s budget deficit, creating the first-in-the-nation Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program, and implementing a statewide healthcare program for all.

Under his leadership, California became the first state to pass marriage equality laws and implement a renewable energy portfolio standard. Schwarzenegger’s initiatives on environmental protection, health care, and infrastructure continue to impact Californians today.

Real Estate Investments

Schwarzenegger believes that he has always had a talent for making money, and with a net worth of $450 million, who are we to disagree?

The former bodybuilder attributes this talent to his tenacity and hard-working ethic he was instilled with by his parents.

Even at 13 years old, he made money working odd jobs like sweeping up in a glass factory to buy his gym equipment. He never asked his parents for money or for clothes.

All the money he made when he was young, he would save. Although there was not much money in bodybuilding then, he used to earn money from bodybuilding posing exhibitions and even had a small mail-order business.

Before starting the movie business, he had $26,000 in cash in the bank. Although he never had any financial education, Arnold knew that before he bought a house/apartment, he wanted to spend his savings on something that would generate an income.

He used the cash as a deposit to buy a block of flats in California for $235,000. Within two years, the flats were sold for double the purchase price, and he had made a $100,000 profit. This success gave him the appetite to invest lots more in real estate, which he did. In fact, the Austrian had done so well with his investments that he was a millionaire before he started acting.

Schwarzenegger continued to invest in commercial property, including office buildings, throughout his life and has made millions in the process.

In 2002, Arnold and his then-wife Maria Shrive paid $4.8 million for a 6-acre property in Los Angeles complete with a 14,500-square-foot mansion.

Personal Life

Arnold married journalist Maria Shriver in 1986, and they had four children (Katherine, Patrick, Christopher, and Christina) together before separating in 2011 and eventually divorcing in 2021.

Despite his tremendous career success, Schwarzenegger has experienced personal setbacks throughout his life. He was famously revealed to have fathered a child (Joesph Baena) out of wedlock with the family’s housekeeper in 2011 but remains close with all his children.

In June 2022, it was ruled that Shriver was entitled to 50% of Arnold’s post-divorce savings that he earned between 1986 and 2011 (the duration of their marriage).

Heart Surgery and Near-Death Experience

In the mid-90s and at the height of his fame Arnold began to get heart problems, and his overall health began to decline.

He underwent a risky open-heart surgery in 1997 and was forced to recuperate for months, including taking time off from filming his movie Batman & Robin.

After the initial attempt to replace the heart valves failed, Arnold was coughing and choking on the fluid in his lungs. An emergency second operation had to be done within hours of the first operation, and now the chances of Schwarzenegger dying had doubled from 6% to 12%.

Arnold managed to recover from the surgery, but the experience reminded him that his body was mortal and he had been fortunate to survive.

Today, Arnold Schwarzenegger is 70 years old and still takes care of himself by working out four days a week and maintaining a healthy diet.

Inspirational Arnold Schwarzenegger Quotes

1. “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”

2. “You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; jealousy you have to earn.”

3. “The worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that.”

4. “Success is not about being better than someone else, but about being better than you used to be.”

5. “The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character.”

6. “You can have results or excuses, but not both.”

7. “The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.”

“Failure is not an option. Everyone has to succeed.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger

What To Learn From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Life

Arnold Schwarzenegger is an inspiring figure who has achieved incredible success in several different areas.

The former world champion bodybuilder has demonstrated that with hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of one’s goals, it is possible to achieve extraordinary results.

Schwarzenegger is a huge advocate for taking small steps toward one’s goals and planning for the long term. Over time the small successes compound into something extraordinary.

He also emphasizes the importance of having a positive mindset, as well as surrounding oneself with people who can provide guidance, support, and motivation.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a great example of what can be accomplished when an individual has a clear vision and the determination to see it through. His success story should act as inspiration for anyone who is looking to achieve their goals, no matter how big or small.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary: Arnold Schwarzenegger Net Worth

• Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth is approximately $450 million.
• He grew up in Austria, where he was close to his mother but had a mixed relationship with his father.
• He left Austria as a teenager to pursue a career in bodybuilding and follow in the footsteps of his hero, British bodybuilder Reg Park.
• He won many titles as a bodybuilder, including 7 My Olympias.
• After a legendary bodybuilding career, Arnold invested his savings into real estate, including office buildings which made him a millionaire in just a few years.
• He broke into acting with his first role as Hercules before starring in movies like Conan the Barbarian and Predator.
• His biggest movie was Terminator 2: Judgement Day, where he was paid $15 million. Arnold averaged between $20 million to $30 million per move at the height of his career.
• He married Maria Shriver in 1986 and had four children together. He also has another child with his former maid.
• He separated from Maria in 2011 before divorcing officially in 2022.
• In 2003 he became a Republican Governor of California and has said that has been the most rewarding job he has ever done.

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