Arnold Schwarzenegger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arnold Schwarzenegger
Schwarzenegger in 2019
38th Governor of California
In office November 17, 2003 – January 3, 2011
Lieutenant	Cruz Bustamante John Garamendi Mona Pasquil (acting) Abel Maldonado
Preceded by	Gray Davis
Succeeded by	Jerry Brown
Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
In office January 22, 1990 – May 27, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Dick Kazmaier
Succeeded by	Florence Griffith Joyner (co-chair) Tom McMillen (co-chair)
Personal details
Born	Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (1947-07-30) July 30, 1947 (age 78) Thal, Styria, Austria
Citizenship	Austria United States
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Maria Shriver ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 2021)​
Children	5, including Katherine, Patrick and Joseph Baena
Parent	Gustav Schwarzenegger (father)
Relatives	Chris Pratt (son-in-law)
Education	University of Wisconsin–Superior (BBA)
Occupation	Actor bodybuilder businessman politician author
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	Austrian Armed Forces
Years of service	1965
Rank	Wehrmann
Unit	Belgier Barracks
Bodybuilding career Bodybuilder Schwarzenegger as entrant to the 1974 Mr. Olympia competition at Madison Square Garden Personal info Nickname The Austrian Oak Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight 235 lb (107 kg) (contest) 260 lb (118 kg) (off-season) Professional career Pro-debut NABBA Mr. Universe, 1968 Best win IFBB Mr. Olympia, 1970–1975, 1980; seven times Predecessor Sergio Oliva ('69) Frank Zane ('79) Successor Franco Columbu ('76, '81) Active Retired 1980 Medal record Men's bodybuilding Representing  Austria Mr Universe (amateur) 1st 1967 Mr Universe (pro) 1st 1968 1st 1969 1st 1970 Mr. Olympia 2nd 1969 1st 1970 1st 1971 1st 1972 1st 1973 1st 1974 1st 1975 1st 1980 Powerlifting Representing  Austria International Powerlifting Championships 1st 1966 +80 kg German Powerlifting Championships 2nd 1967 +80 kg 1st 1968 +80 kg Graz-Paradise Keller Powerlifting Championships 2nd 1967 +80 kg Men's weightlifting Representing  Austria Styrian Junior Weightlifting Championships 1st 1964 German Austrian Weightlifting Championships 1st 1965

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is a famous Austrian and American actor, businessman, and former politician. He was also a professional bodybuilder. He is well-known for his roles in big action movies. He served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011.

Schwarzenegger started lifting weights when he was 15 years old. He won the Mr. Universe title at age 20. Later, he won the Mr. Olympia title seven times. Many people call him the "Austrian Oak" from his bodybuilding days. He is seen as one of the greatest bodybuilders ever.

After his bodybuilding career, Schwarzenegger became a huge Hollywood action star. His first big movie was Conan the Barbarian in 1982. He also starred as the main character in the science fiction film The Terminator (1984). He appeared in several sequels, including Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

His other successful action films include Commando (1985) and Predator (1987). He also starred in comedies like Twins (1988) and Kindergarten Cop (1990). Movies he has been in have earned over $5.4 billion worldwide.

As a member of the Republican Party, Schwarzenegger led the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In 2003, he was elected governor of California. He served until 2011, when he reached his term limit. After that, he returned to acting.

Early Life and Education

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, Styria, Austria, on July 30, 1947. He was the second son of Gustav Schwarzenegger and Aurelia Jadrny. His father was a local police chief. Arnold grew up in a Catholic family.

Arnold's parents were very strict. He felt his father favored his older brother, Meinhard. Arnold had a good relationship with his mother. He stayed in touch with her until she passed away.

Schwarzenegger said his childhood was difficult. He felt his father was very tough on him. This made him want to leave home and become successful. He wanted to be rich and important.

At school, Arnold was an average student. However, he was known for being cheerful and full of energy. He had some trouble with reading and was later found to have dyslexia. His family did not have much money.

Arnold started weight training in 1960 at age 13. His football coach took his team to a local gym. At 14, he decided to focus on bodybuilding instead of football. He said he felt ready to start Olympic lifting.

His official biography says he started an intense training program at 14. He also studied psychology at 15 to learn about the mind's power over the body. At 17, he officially began his competitive bodybuilding career.

Schwarzenegger often visited a gym in Graz. He also watched movies with bodybuilding heroes like Reg Park and Steve Reeves. In 1961, he met Kurt Marnul, a former Mr. Austria. Marnul invited him to train at his gym.

Arnold was very dedicated. He would even break into the gym on weekends when it was closed. He said he would feel sick if he missed a workout. He wanted to be the best in the world.

Arnold's brother, Meinhard, died in a car crash on May 20, 1971. Arnold did not attend his funeral. Meinhard had a three-year-old son named Patrick. Arnold later helped pay for Patrick's education and helped him move to the U.S.

His father, Gustav, died in 1972. Arnold did not attend his father's funeral either. He later explained that he was training for a bodybuilding contest.

In 1965, Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army. This was a required one-year service for all 18-year-old Austrian males. During his army service, he won the Junior Mr. Europe contest. He went AWOL (absent without leave) from basic training to compete. He then spent a week in military prison.

He placed second in another bodybuilding contest in Graz. He was voted "best-built man of Europe." This made him famous in bodybuilding circles. He saw the Mr. Universe title as his way to get to America.

In 1966, Arnold made his first plane trip to London for the NABBA Mr. Universe competition. He placed second. One of the judges, Charles "Wag" Bennett, was impressed. Bennett offered to coach him. Arnold stayed with Bennett's family in London. This helped him improve his English.

In 1967, Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Universe title for the first time. He was the youngest ever at age 20. He would win this title three more times. He then moved to the U.S. in October 1968 at age 21. He spoke little English at the time.

In the U.S., he trained at Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles. In 1970, at age 23, he won his first Mr. Olympia title. He would win this title seven times.

In 1977, Schwarzenegger's book, Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, became very popular. He took classes at Santa Monica College and the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1980, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Wisconsin–Superior. He became a U.S. citizen in 1983.

Bodybuilding Career

Schwarzenegger is seen as one of the most important people in bodybuilding history. His legacy is celebrated in the Arnold Classic competition. He has stayed a key figure in bodybuilding even after retiring. This is partly because he owns gyms and fitness magazines.

For many years, he wrote a monthly column for Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines. He was also an executive editor for these magazines. The magazines agreed to donate money to his fitness programs. He later stepped down from this role to avoid any conflicts of interest.

One of his first wins was the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. He won Mr. Europe the next year at age 19. He won five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia titles. His record of seven Mr. Olympia wins stood until Lee Haney won his eighth in 1991.

Schwarzenegger still works out regularly. In 2011, he said he was still lifting weights for half an hour every day.

Powerlifting and Weightlifting

In his early bodybuilding years, Arnold also competed in Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting contests. He won two weightlifting contests in 1964 and 1965. He also won two powerlifting contests in 1966 and 1968.

In 1967, he won the Munich stone-lifting contest. In this event, a stone weighing 560 pounds (254 kg) is lifted between the legs.

Mr. Olympia Wins

Schwarzenegger's main goal was to become the best bodybuilder in the world. This meant winning the Mr. Olympia title. In 1969, he tried for the first time but lost to Sergio Oliva. However, in 1970, he won the competition. This made him the youngest Mr. Olympia ever at 23, a record he still holds.

He continued winning from 1971 to 1974. In 1975, he won the title for the sixth time in a row. After this win, he announced he was retiring from professional bodybuilding.

Before the 1975 Mr. Olympia, filmmakers convinced him to compete. They wanted to film his training for the documentary Pumping Iron. Arnold had only three months to get ready. He had lost weight for a movie role. He still won the 1975 Mr. Olympia.

Schwarzenegger came out of retirement to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia. He was training for his role in Conan. He got into such good shape that he decided to try for Mr. Olympia one last time. He won the event with only seven weeks of preparation. After this seventh win, he officially retired from competing.

List of Bodybuilding Competitions

Arnold Schwarzenegger in bodybuilding competitions

Year	Competition	Location	Result and notes
1965	Junior Mr. Europe	Germany	1st
1966	Best Built Man of Europe	Germany	1st
1966	Mr. Europe	Germany	1st
1966	International Powerlifting Championship	Germany	1st
1966	NABBA Mr. Universe amateur	London	2nd to Chet Yorton
1967	NABBA Mr. Universe amateur	London	1st
1968	NABBA Mr. Universe professional	London	1st
1968	German Powerlifting Championship	Germany	1st
1968	IFBB Mr. International	Mexico	1st
1968	IFBB Mr. Universe	Florida	2nd to Frank Zane
1969	IFBB Mr. Universe amateur	New York	1st
1969	NABBA Mr. Universe professional	London	1st
1969	Mr. Olympia	New York	2nd to Sergio Oliva
1970	NABBA Mr. Universe professional	London	1st (defeated his idol Reg Park)
1970	AAU Mr. World	Columbus, Ohio	1st (defeated Sergio Oliva for the first time)
1970	Mr. Olympia	New York	1st
1971	Mr. Olympia	Paris	1st
1972	Mr. Olympia	Essen, Germany	1st
1973	Mr. Olympia	New York	1st
1974	Mr. Olympia	New York	1st
1975	Mr. Olympia	Pretoria, South Africa	1st (subject of the documentary Pumping Iron)
1980	Mr. Olympia	Sydney	1st (subject of the documentary The Comeback)

Acting Career

Early Roles (1970–1981)

Schwarzenegger wanted to act after bodybuilding. He got his first main role in Hercules in New York (1970). His accent was so strong that his lines were re-recorded. He also appeared in Stay Hungry (1976), winning a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor.

Arnold faced challenges early on. Agents told him his body was "too weird" and his accent was "funny." They also said his name was too long. He was told he had no chance to succeed as an actor.

He gained more attention from the bodybuilding film Pumping Iron (1977). He also made guest appearances on TV shows like The Streets of San Francisco. In 1979, he appeared with Kirk Douglas in the comedy The Villain.

Action Star (1982–2003)

Schwarzenegger's big break came with Conan the Barbarian in 1982. This movie was a box-office success. He then starred in The Terminator (1984), which became a signature role for him.

During the 1980s, action movies were very popular. Schwarzenegger became an international star. He made many successful action films. These included Commando (1985), Predator (1987), and Total Recall (1990).

He also found success in comedies. Twins (1988) with Danny DeVito was a hit. He earned a large amount of money from this film. Kindergarten Cop (1990) was another popular comedy.

His commercial success peaked with Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). This was the highest-grossing film of that year. In 1993, he was named the "International Star of the Decade." His film True Lies (1994) was also very popular.

After some less successful films like Last Action Hero (1993) and Batman & Robin (1997), his film career slowed down. He returned with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines in 2003. This movie earned over $150 million in the U.S.

Hiatus (2004–2010)

After becoming Governor of California, Schwarzenegger made fewer film appearances. He had small roles in The Rundown (2003) and Around the World in 80 Days (2004). He also voiced a character in Liberty's Kids.

He appeared briefly in Terminator Salvation (2009) using old footage. In 2010, he made a cameo appearance in Sylvester Stallone's film The Expendables.

Return to Acting (2011–2019)

In January 2011, after leaving office, Schwarzenegger announced he was reading new movie scripts. He was considering sequels to The Terminator and remakes of Predator. He also worked on a comic book character called the Governator.

He starred in The Expendables 2 (2012). His first main role in 10 years was in The Last Stand (2013). He also co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in Escape Plan (2013).

He returned to the Terminator series with Terminator Genisys in 2015. He also hosted The New Celebrity Apprentice TV show. In 2017, he starred in the action-comedy Killing Gunther.

Schwarzenegger returned to the Terminator franchise again in Terminator: Dark Fate, released in November 2019. This film was produced by James Cameron, who directed the first two Terminator movies.

Streaming Projects (2020–Present)

In 2021, Schwarzenegger starred in the animated superhero series Superhero Kindergarten. He voiced Captain Fantastic. He also appeared in the Netflix documentary series Arnold (2023), which covered his life.

For the first time, Schwarzenegger played a main role in a TV series, FUBAR, an action comedy on Netflix. He played Luke Brunner, a CIA agent. The show was popular and was renewed for a second season.

Political Career

Early Political Involvement

Schwarzenegger has been a registered Republican for many years. His political views were well known, differing from many Hollywood stars. He explained he became a Republican because he liked their ideas about free enterprise and lower taxes.

In 1985, Schwarzenegger appeared in an anti-drug music video. He became more publicly known as a Republican during the 1988 presidential election. He supported George H. W. Bush.

Schwarzenegger's first political job was chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He served from 1990 to 1993. President Bush called him "Conan the Republican." He also served on the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Governor of California

Schwarzenegger announced he would run for Governor of California on August 6, 2003. This was during a special election to recall the current governor. He was very famous, but had never held public office before. The media called him the "Governator."

On October 7, 2003, Governor Gray Davis was removed from office. Schwarzenegger was elected as the new governor. He won with 48.6% of the vote. He defeated Cruz Bustamante and other candidates. He was the second foreign-born governor of California.

Schwarzenegger is a moderate Republican. He believes in careful spending (fiscally conservative) and social freedom (socially liberal). He supports gay rights and performed a same-sex marriage as governor.

He started his term by repealing an unpopular vehicle registration fee. He also stopped driver's licenses from being given to undocumented immigrants. He faced challenges from state unions who opposed his plans.

Schwarzenegger ran for re-election in 2006 against Phil Angelides. He won with 56.0% of the vote. Many people saw him moving towards the center of politics.

Schwarzenegger cannot run for U.S. president. This is because the U.S. Constitution requires the president to be a natural-born citizen. He is a citizen of both Austria and the United States.

He did not accept his governor's salary of $175,000 per year. This was because of his personal wealth from his acting career.

His approval ratings were high when he started as governor. However, they were low when he left office.

Environmental Efforts

On September 27, 2006, Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. This law set the first limits on greenhouse gas emissions in the nation. It aimed to reduce California's emissions by 25 percent by 2020.

He also signed a bill to stop large utilities from making long-term contracts with suppliers who did not meet California's emission standards. He issued an order to reduce greenhouse gases even further by 2050.

Schwarzenegger also worked to reduce his own carbon footprint. He converted some of his vehicles to run on hydrogen or biofuels. He also installed solar panels on his home.

In 2011, Schwarzenegger started the R20 Regions of Climate Action. This group works to create a sustainable, low-carbon economy. In 2017, he launched the Austrian World Summit. This is an international climate conference held annually in Vienna, Austria.

Business Career

Schwarzenegger has had a very successful business career. After moving to the United States, he set many goals for himself. He became a millionaire by age 25, before he became famous in Hollywood.

Early Ventures

In 1968, Schwarzenegger and fellow bodybuilder Franco Columbu started a bricklaying business. This business did well. They used the money from this business to start a mail-order business. This business sold bodybuilding equipment and training tapes.

Investments

Schwarzenegger invested his profits into real estate. He bought an apartment building for $10,000. He made millions by investing in various real estate companies around the world.

He also invested in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain with other actors like Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis. However, he later left the company in 2000. He said he wanted to focus on new business ventures and his acting career.

Schwarzenegger also owns the Arnold's Sports Festival. This is a large sports and fitness festival held every year in Columbus, Ohio. He also owns a film production company called Oak Productions, Inc.

In 2018, Schwarzenegger partnered with basketball player LeBron James. They started a company called Ladder, which made nutritional supplements for athletes. They sold the company in 2020.

Wealth

In 2024, Forbes magazine estimated that Schwarzenegger was a billionaire.

In 1997, he bought a private jet for $38 million.

In 2003, his net worth was estimated to be between $100 million and $200 million. After separating from his wife in 2011, his net worth was estimated to be around $400 million, possibly as high as $800 million.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Schwarzenegger met television journalist Maria Shriver in 1977. She is the niece of President John F. Kennedy. They married on April 26, 1986. They have four children: Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher. All their children were born in Los Angeles.

The family lived in a large home in Los Angeles. They also had vacation homes.

Separation and Divorce

On May 9, 2011, Shriver and Schwarzenegger ended their marriage after 25 years. Shriver moved out of their home.

Schwarzenegger kept the family home. Shriver bought a new home nearby so their children could easily visit both parents. They shared custody of their two youngest children. Their divorce was finalized in 2021, ten years after they separated.

In May 2011, it was revealed that Schwarzenegger had a son, Joseph, with a household employee more than 14 years earlier. Schwarzenegger stated that he told his wife about this after he left the governor's office. He has taken financial responsibility for Joseph since his birth.

When asked in 2014 what he was least proud of, Schwarzenegger said, "I'm least proud of the mistakes I made that caused my family pain and split us up."

Health and Accidents

Health Concerns

Schwarzenegger was born with a heart condition. In 1997, he had surgery to replace a heart valve. Doctors predicted he would need another surgery later.

On March 29, 2018, he had emergency open-heart surgery for another valve replacement. He said his recovery was challenging. In 2020, he had a third heart surgery for a new aortic valve.

Accidents and Injuries

On December 9, 2001, he broke six ribs in a motorcycle crash.

In 2004, while on vacation in Hawaii, Schwarzenegger saved a drowning man. He swam out and brought him back to shore.

On January 8, 2006, he was in another motorcycle accident with his son Patrick. Another car backed into them. Schwarzenegger had a lip injury that needed stitches.

On December 23, 2006, he broke his right leg while skiing. He had surgery to fix the bone.

On May 18, 2019, while in South Africa, Schwarzenegger was attacked from behind by an unknown person. He was giving autographs to fans. He was not injured and chose not to press charges.

On January 21, 2022, Schwarzenegger was involved in a multi-vehicle collision in Los Angeles. He was driving an SUV that collided with another car. The other driver was taken to the hospital, but Schwarzenegger was uninjured.

Vehicles

Schwarzenegger grew up seeing military vehicles like tanks. He later bought his Austrian Army M47 Patton tank and brought it to the United States. He uses it to support his charity.

He also became the first civilian in the U.S. to buy a Humvee. He convinced the manufacturer to make a street-legal version. He bought the first two Hummer H1s they sold. He later converted some of his Hummers to run on hydrogen or biofuels.

In 2014, he bought a rare Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. In 2017, he got a Mercedes G-Class that was modified to be all-electric.

Filmography

Schwarzenegger has appeared in over 40 films. He has also directed and produced movies. He started his acting career with small roles in 1969. In the 1980s, he became famous for his roles as Conan and The Terminator.

He has received several awards for his film work. He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Acting Debut for Stay Hungry. He was also nominated for awards for Terminator 2: Judgment Day and True Lies. His films have earned billions of dollars worldwide.

Awards and Honors

Bodybuilding

• Seven-time Mr. Olympia winner
• Four-time Mr. Universe winner
• 1969 World Amateur Bodybuilding Champion

Entertainment

• 1977 Golden Globe Award winner
• 2012 Inkpot Award
• 2014 Primetime Emmy Award winner for producing the documentary series Years of Living Dangerously

Halls of Fame

• International Sports Hall of Fame (class of 2012)
• WWE Hall of Fame (class of 2015)
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

State/Local Honors

• Public art mural portrait "Arnold Schwarzenegger" (2012) in Venice, Los Angeles
• Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy at the University of Southern California is named after him.
• Arnold's Run ski trail at Sun Valley Resort is named in his honor.

International Honors

• Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in Gold (1993)
• Cavalier (2011) and Commander (2017) of the French Legion of Honor
• Honorary Ring of the Federal State of Styria (Austria, June 2017)
• "A Day for Arnold" on July 30, 2007, in Thal, Austria, for his 60th birthday.

Images for kids

• 

  Schwarzenegger as entrant to the 1974 Mr. Olympia competition

See also

In Spanish: Arnold Schwarzenegger para niños

• List of United States governors born outside the United States