Arnold Schwarzenegger#Allegations of sexual misconduct

File:Thal - Geburtshaus Arnold Schwarzenegger1.jpg

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born in Thal on July 30, 1947,{{Cite news |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger: Biography |url=http://schwarzenegger.com/bio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231002431/http://schwarzenegger.com/bio |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |work=Schwarzenegger.com}} the second son of Gustav Schwarzenegger and his wife Aurelia (née Jadrny; 1922–1998). Gustav was the local chief of police, and after the Anschluss in 1938 joined the Nazi Party and in 1939 the Sturmabteilung (SA). In World War II, Gustav served as a military policeman in the invasions of Poland, France and the Soviet Union, including the siege of Leningrad, rising to the title of Hauptfeldwebel.{{Cite web |last1=Tracy Wilkinson |last2=Matt Lait |date=August 14, 2003 |title=Austrian Archives Reveal Nazi Military Role of Actor's Father |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115034659/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite news |date=August 4, 2004 |title=Arnie: 'I was abused as child' |url=http://news.scotsman.com/arnoldschwarzenegger/Arnie-I-was-abused-as.2551492.jp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818225021/http://news.scotsman.com/arnoldschwarzenegger/Arnie-I-was-abused-as.2551492.jp |archive-date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh}} He was wounded in the Battle of Stalingrad,{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2018 |title=Surprised by Russia: 5 things that charmed Arnold Schwarzenegger in Moscow |url=https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/327632-surprised-by-russia-schwarzenegger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718030522/https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/327632-surprised-by-russia-schwarzenegger |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |work=Russia Beyond}} and was discharged in 1943 following a bout of malaria. According to Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum, Gustav Schwarzenegger served "in theaters of the war where atrocities were committed. But there is no way to know from the documents whether he played a role." Gustav's background received wide press attention during the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election in which Schwarzenegger was elected.{{Cite news |date=August 24, 2003 |title=Records: Arnold's father was member of Nazi storm troops |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-08-24-arnold-father_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522170405/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-08-24-arnold-father_x.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2017 |work=USA Today}}

Gustav married Aurelia on October 20, 1945; he was 38 and she was 23. According to Schwarzenegger, his parents were very strict: "Back then in Austria it was a very different world ... if we did something bad or we disobeyed our parents, the rod was not spared." He grew up in a Catholic family.{{Cite book |last=Andrews |first=Nigel |url=https://archive.org/details/truemythslifetim0000andr |title=True Myths of Arnold Schwarzenegger |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-58234-465-2}} Gustav preferred his elder son, Meinhard, over Arnold.{{Cite news |last=Brooks |first=Xan |date=August 8, 2003 |title=The Governator |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/aug/08/usa.politicsandthearts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827055648/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/aug/08/usa.politicsandthearts |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2007 |work=The Guardian |location=London}} His favoritism was "strong and blatant", which stemmed from unfounded suspicion that Arnold was not his biological child.{{Cite book |last=Leigh |first=Wendy |title=Arnold: An Unauthorized Biography |publisher=Pelham |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-7207-1997-0}} Schwarzenegger says that his earliest childhood memory is of climbing into his parents' bed during a bad thunder-and-lightning storm and cuddling between his mother and father."[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66mhdALYtM/ Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes The Colbert Questionert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227092035/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66mhdALYtM/ |date=February 27, 2024 }}"; segment on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; aired February 26, 2024 He has said, however, that his father had "no patience for listening or understanding your problems". He had a good relationship with his mother, with whom he kept in touch until her death.{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger: Mr. Olympia – 1970–1975, 1980 |url=http://www.bodybuildbid.com/articles/mrolympia/arnold-schwarzenegger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421231324/http://www.bodybuildbid.com/articles/mrolympia/arnold-schwarzenegger.html |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BodyBuild.com}}

In an interview with Fortune in 2004, Schwarzenegger told how he suffered what "would now be called child abuse" at the hands of his father: "My hair was pulled. I was hit with belts. So was the kid next door. It was just the way it was. Many of the children I've seen were broken by their parents, which was the German-Austrian mentality. They didn't want to create an individual. It was all about conforming. I was one who did not conform, and whose will could not be broken. Therefore, I became a rebel. Every time I got hit, and every time someone said, 'You can't do this,' I said, 'This is not going to be for much longer because I'm going to move out of here. I want to be rich. I want to be somebody.{{'"}}

At school, Schwarzenegger was reportedly academically average but stood out for his "cheerful, good-humored, and exuberant" character. He struggled with reading and was later diagnosed as being dyslexic.{{Cite web |title=I could tell you I am fantastic at... - Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.facebook.com/arnold/posts/i-could-tell-you-i-am-fantastic-at-everything-but-id-be-lyingi-just-finished-rec/841497540670647/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812132526/https://www.facebook.com/arnold/posts/i-could-tell-you-i-am-fantastic-at-everything-but-id-be-lyingi-just-finished-rec/841497540670647/ |archive-date=August 12, 2023 |access-date=August 12, 2023 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares How He Manages His Dyslexia |url=https://www.menshealth.com/health/a44752011/arnold-schwarzenegger-dyslexia-advice/ |access-date=June 26, 2024 |website=Men's Health |language=en-US}} Money was a problem in their household; Schwarzenegger recalled that one of the highlights of his youth was when the family bought a refrigerator. His father Gustav was an athlete, and wished for his sons to become champions in Bavarian curling.{{Cite web |date=August 14, 2003 |title=Austrian Archives Reveal Nazi Military Role of Actor's Father |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115034659/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Influenced by his father, Schwarzenegger played several sports as a boy.

Schwarzenegger began weight training in 1960 when his football coach took his team to a local gym. At age 14, he chose bodybuilding over football as a career.{{Cite book |last=Katz |first=Ephraim |title=Film Encyclopedia |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-06-074214-0}}{{Cite news |date=August 31, 2004 |title=Profile: Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3131155.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101220131/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3131155.stm |archive-date=November 1, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}} He later said, "I actually started weight training when I was 15, but I'd been participating in sports, like soccer, for years, so I felt that although I was slim, I was well-developed, at least enough so that I could start going to the gym and start Olympic lifting." However, his official website biography claims that "at 14, he started an intensive training program with Dan Farmer, studied psychology at 15 (to learn more about the power of mind over body) and at 17, officially started his competitive career."{{Cite news |title=Mr. Everything |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/athlete/mreverything/index.asp?sec=athlete&subsec=mreverything |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416234020/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/athlete/mreverything/index.asp?sec=athlete&subsec=mreverything |archive-date=April 16, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}} During a speech in 2001, he said, "My own plan formed when I was 14 years old. My father had wanted me to be a police officer like he was. My mother wanted me to go to trade school."{{Cite news |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |date=October 3, 2001 |title=Arnold's "Perspectives" |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/hiswords/words_en_sac_perspectives.asp?sec=life&subsec=hiswords |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523204808/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/hiswords/words_en_sac_perspectives.asp%3Fsec%3Dlife%26subsec%3Dhiswords |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}}

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger 1971.jpg

Schwarzenegger took to visiting a gym in Graz, where he also frequented the local movie theaters to see films with bodybuilding idols such as Reg Park, Steve Reeves and Johnny Weissmuller. When Reeves died in 2000, Schwarzenegger fondly remembered him: "As a teenager, I grew up with Steve Reeves. His remarkable accomplishments allowed me a sense of what was possible when others around me didn't always understand my dreams. Steve Reeves has been part of everything I've ever been fortunate enough to achieve." In 1961, Schwarzenegger met former Mr. Austria Kurt Marnul, who invited him to train at the gym in Graz. He was so dedicated as a youngster that he broke into the local gym on weekends to train even when it was closed. "It would make me sick to miss a workout... I knew I couldn't look at myself in the mirror the next morning if I didn't do it." When asked about his first cinema experience as a boy, he replied: "I was very young, but I remember my father taking me to the Austrian theaters and seeing some newsreels. The first real movie I saw, that I distinctly remember, was a John Wayne movie."{{Cite news |year=2000 |title=Ask Arnold |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/askarnold/news_askarnold_eng_legacy_444.asp?sec=news&subsec=askarnold |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523203926/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/askarnold/news_askarnold_eng_legacy_444.asp?sec=news&subsec=askarnold |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}} In Graz, he was mentored by Alfred Gerstl, who had Jewish ancestry and later became president of the Federal Council, and befriended his son Karl.{{Cite web |last=Tracy Wilkinson |date=September 10, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger Is Still Their Hometown Hero |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-10-me-austria10-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017195100/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-10-me-austria10-story.html |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web |last=Seth Rogovoy |date=July 30, 2020 |title=On his 73rd birthday, Arnold Schwarzenegger's secret Jewish history |url=https://forward.com/culture/451703/on-his-73rd-birthday-arnold-schwarzeneggers-secret-jewish-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020151109/https://forward.com/culture/451703/on-his-73rd-birthday-arnold-schwarzeneggers-secret-jewish-history/ |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |website=Forward}}

Schwarzenegger's brother, Meinhard, died in a car crash on May 20, 1971. He was driving drunk and died instantly. Schwarzenegger did not attend his funeral. Meinhard was engaged to Erika Knapp, and they had a three-year-old son named Patrick. Schwarzenegger paid for Patrick's education and helped him to move to the U.S. Schwarzenegger's father, Gustav, died of a stroke on December 13, 1972. In Pumping Iron, Schwarzenegger claimed that he did not attend his father's funeral because he was training for a bodybuilding contest. Later, he and the film's producer said this story was taken from another bodybuilder to show the extremes some would go to for their sport and to make Schwarzenegger's image colder to create controversy for the film.Interview in Pumping Iron – 25th Anniversary Edition DVD extras However, Barbara Baker, his first serious girlfriend, recalled that he informed her of his father's death without emotion and that he never spoke of his brother.{{Cite news |last=Poole |first=Oliver |date=October 6, 2003 |title=The girl who can't escape Arnie |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3603696/The-girl-who-cant-escape-Arnie.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410221914/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2003%2F10%2F02%2Fbfarni02.xml&page=1 |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}} Over time, he has given at least three versions of why he was absent from his father's funeral.

Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army in 1965 to fulfill the one year of service required at the time of all 18-year-old Austrian males. During his army service, he won the Junior Mr. Europe contest. He went AWOL during basic training so he could take part in the competition and then spent a week in military prison: "Participating in the competition meant so much to me that I didn't carefully think through the consequences." He entered another bodybuilding contest in Graz, at Steirerhof Hotel, where he placed second. He was voted "best-built man of Europe", which made him famous in bodybuilding circles. "The Mr. Universe title was my ticket to America—the land of opportunity, where I could become a star and get rich." Schwarzenegger made his first plane trip in 1966, attending the NABBA Mr. Universe competition in London. He placed second in the Mr. Universe competition, not having the muscle definition of American winner Chester Yorton.

Charles "Wag" Bennett, one of the judges at the 1966 competition, was impressed with Schwarzenegger and offered to coach him. As Schwarzenegger had little money, Bennett invited him to stay in his crowded family home above one of his two gyms in Forest Gate, London. Yorton's leg definition had been judged superior, and Schwarzenegger, under a training program devised by Bennett, concentrated on improving his. Staying in the East End of London helped Schwarzenegger improve his rudimentary English.{{Cite news |last=McIntosh |first=Lindsay |date=October 2, 2008 |title=Wag Bennett bodybuilder who helped Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4862637.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525033754/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4862637.ece |archive-date=May 25, 2010 |access-date=October 3, 2008 |work=The Times |location=London}}Staff, [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/777625?view=synopsis Arnold Schwarzenegger: Made in Britain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817080410/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/777625?view=synopsis |date=August 17, 2010 }}, British Film Institute. Retrieved October 3, 2008. "Wag and Dianne Bennett, an East End couple who gave Arnie a home for three years," Living with the Bennetts also changed him as a person: "Being with them made me so much more sophisticated. When you're the age I was then, you're always looking for approval, for love, for attention and also for guidance. At the time, I wasn't really aware of that. But now, looking back, I see that the Bennett family fulfilled all those needs. Especially my need to be the best in the world. To be recognized and to feel unique and special. They saw that I needed that care and attention and love."{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2017 |title=An Austrian hick in London: Arnie's early years |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/terminator-genisys/arnold-schwarzenegger-early-life-bodybuilding/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413024734/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/terminator-genisys/arnold-schwarzenegger-early-life-bodybuilding/ |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |work=The Telegraph}}

Also in 1966, at Bennett's home, Schwarzenegger had the opportunity to meet childhood idol Reg Park, who became his friend and mentor.{{Cite web |title=A tribute by Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://www.regpark.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514083332/http://www.regpark.net/ |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=April 3, 2011 |publisher=Regpark.net}} The training paid off and, in 1967, Schwarzenegger won the title for the first time, becoming the youngest ever Mr. Universe at age 20. He would go on to win the title another three times. He then returned to Munich, where he attended business school and worked at Rolf Putziger's gym, where he worked and trained from 1966 to 1968 before returning to London in 1968 to win his next Mr. Universe title. He frequently told Roger C. Field, his English coach and friend in Munich at the time, "I'm going to become the greatest actor!"{{Cite news |date=October 8, 2007 |title=Summer of '68: Mit Schwarzenegger durch Schwabing |url=http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/authoralbumbackground/371/mit_schwarzenegger_durch_schwabing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062217/http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/authoralbumbackground/371/mit_schwarzenegger_durch_schwabing.html |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |access-date=May 4, 2013 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de}}

Schwarzenegger, who dreamed of moving to the US since age ten, and saw bodybuilding as his avenue of opportunity,{{Cite news |last=Bradley |first=Bill |date=November 20, 2002 |title=Mr. California |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2002-11-28/news/mr-california/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816085006/http://www.laweekly.com/2002-11-28/news/mr-california/ |archive-date=August 16, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=LA Weekly}} realized his dream by moving to the US in October 1968 at age 21, speaking little English. There he trained at Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles, California, under Joe Weider's supervision. From 1970 to 1974, one of Schwarzenegger's weight training partners was Ric Drasin, a professional wrestler who designed the original Gold's Gym logo in 1973.Jennings, Randy (October 21, 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20031225065902/http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/archives/2003/october/617.htm "Ric Drasin: Arnold's lifting partner!"] The Arnold Fans Website. Retrieved December 16, 2009. Schwarzenegger also became good friends with professional wrestler Superstar Billy Graham. In 1970, at age 23, Schwarzenegger captured his first Mr. Olympia title in New York, and would go on to win the title seven times.

The immigration law firm Siskind & Susser has stated that Schwarzenegger may have been an illegal immigrant at some point in the late 1960s or early 1970s because of violations in the terms of his visa.{{Cite news |last=Bland |first=Siskind |date=September 4, 2007 |title=Schwarzenegger May Have Violated Terms Of Non-Immigrant Visa |url=http://www.visalaw.com/03sep4/15sep403.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220094159/http://www.visalaw.com/03sep4/15sep403.html |archive-date=February 20, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=VISALAW.COM}} LA Weekly said in 2002 that Schwarzenegger was "the most famous US immigrant", who "overcame a thick Austrian accent and transcended the unlikely background of bodybuilding to become the biggest movie star in the world in the 1990s".

In 1977, Schwarzenegger's autobiography and weight-training guide, Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, was a huge success. In 1977, he posed for the gay magazine After Dark.{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger A name to be reckoned with |url=http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/arnold-schwarzenegger/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219083706/http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/arnold-schwarzenegger/ |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |website=Rotten.com}}{{Cite book |last=Paslay |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6rU59neX34C&q=schwarzenegger%2B%2522after%2Bdark%2522&pg=PA146 |title=The Village Proposal: Education as a Shared Responsibility |date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=R&L Education |isbn=978-1-61048-061-1 |page=146 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221220848/https://books.google.com/books?id=g6rU59neX34C&q=schwarzenegger+%22after+dark%22&pg=PA146 |archive-date=December 21, 2020 |url-status=live}} After taking an assortment of courses at Santa Monica College in California (including English classes), as well as further upper division classes at the University of California, Los Angeles as part of UCLA's extension program, he accumulated enough credits to be "within striking distance" of graduation. In 1979, he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin–Superior as a distance education student, completing most of his coursework by correspondence and flying out to Superior to meet professors and take final exams. In May 1980, he formally graduated and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing.{{Cite web |last=Finkelmeyer |first=Todd |date=November 11, 2009 |title=Campus Connection: Superior list of famous alumni? |url=https://captimes.com/news/local/education/campus_connection/campus-connection-superior-list-of-famous-alumni/article_13051f01-a8e0-5ab6-9af5-9b9ae15988be.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125014713/https://captimes.com/news/local/education/campus_connection/campus-connection-superior-list-of-famous-alumni/article_13051f01-a8e0-5ab6-9af5-9b9ae15988be.html |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=The Cap Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Leeds |first1=Jeff |last2=Bates |first2=James |date=August 22, 2003 |title=A degree of fame for each |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-22-et-bates22-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125015457/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-22-et-bates22-story.html |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He received his United States citizenship in 1983.{{Cite news |date=November 11, 2009 |title=Campus Connection: Superior list of famous alumni? |url=http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/campus_connection/article_d8646d66-ce45-11de-ba14-001cc4c03286.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907024535/http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/campus_connection/article_d8646d66-ce45-11de-ba14-001cc4c03286.html |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |access-date=April 11, 2012 |work=Wisconsin State Journal}} He received an honorary degree from Stockton University in 2023.{{Citation |title=BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING |url=https://stockton.edu/board-of-trustees/documents/BOT-OS-02-22-23.pdf |access-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306175206/https://stockton.edu/board-of-trustees/documents/BOT-OS-02-22-23.pdf |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |url-status=live |publisher=Stockton University}}

Schwarzenegger is considered among the most important figures in the history of bodybuilding, and his legacy is commemorated in the Arnold Classic annual bodybuilding competition. He has remained a prominent face in bodybuilding long after his retirement, in part because of his ownership of gyms and fitness magazines. He has presided over numerous contests and awards shows.

For many years, he wrote a monthly column for the bodybuilding magazines Muscle & Fitness and Flex. Shortly after being elected governor, he was appointed the executive editor of both magazines, in a largely symbolic capacity. The magazines agreed to donate $250,000 a year to the Governor's various physical fitness initiatives. When the deal, including the contract that gave Schwarzenegger at least $1 million a year, was made public in 2005, many criticized it as being a conflict of interest since the governor's office made decisions concerning regulation of dietary supplements in California.Megerian, Chris. (March 1, 2013). [https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-schwarzenegger-20130302,0,1141770.story "Schwarzenegger to be executive editor of magazines"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302141955/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-schwarzenegger-20130302,0,1141770.story |date=March 2, 2013 }} Los Angeles Times. Consequently, Schwarzenegger relinquished the executive editor role in 2005. American Media Inc., which owns Muscle & Fitness and Flex, announced in March 2013 that Schwarzenegger had accepted their renewed offer to be executive editor of the magazines.

One of the first competitions he won was the Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965. He won Mr. Europe the following year, at age 19. He would go on to compete in many bodybuilding contests, and win most of them. His bodybuilding victories included five Mr. Universe wins (4 – NABBA [England], 1 – IFBB [USA]), and seven Mr. Olympia wins, a record which would stand until Lee Haney won his eighth consecutive Mr. Olympia title in 1991.

Schwarzenegger continues to work out. When asked about his personal training during the 2011 Arnold Classic he said that he was still working out a half an hour with weights every day.{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2011 |title=Ask Arnold Training Seminar – Arnold Schwarzenegger Talks Bodybuilding Advice – Part 1 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPEVHihgmHc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220212802/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPEVHihgmHc |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |via=YouTube}}

During Schwarzenegger's early years in bodybuilding, he also competed in several Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting contests. Schwarzenegger's first professional competition was in 1963{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2015 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Pro Bodybuilding Profile |url=https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/bodybuilders-arnold.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705212606/https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/bodybuilders-arnold.html |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2019 |website=Bodybuilding.com |language=en}} and he won two weightlifting contests in 1964 and 1965, as well as two powerlifting contests in 1966 and 1968.

In 1967, Schwarzenegger won the Munich stone-lifting contest, in which a stone weighing 508 German pounds (254 kg / 560 lb) is lifted between the legs while standing on two footrests.

• Clean and press – {{convert|264|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
• Snatch – {{convert|243|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
• Clean and jerk – {{convert|298|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
• Squat – {{convert|545|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
• Bench press – {{convert|520|lb|kg|abbr=on}}{{Cite web |last=Hyson |first=Sean |date=September 14, 2012 |title=Interview With Arnold |url=http://www.seanhyson.com/blog/interview-with-arnold |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907071153/http://www.seanhyson.com/blog/interview-with-arnold |archive-date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=July 1, 2015 |website=Sean Hyson: Fitness Distilled}}{{Cite AV media |title=David Letterman: Arnold Schwarzenegger interview |date=July 1994 |type=Television production |people=Letterman, David}}
• Deadlift – {{convert|683|lb|kg|abbr=on}}

File:Arnold_Schwarzenegger_1974.jpg

Schwarzenegger's goal was to become the greatest bodybuilder in the world, which meant becoming Mr. Olympia. His first attempt was in 1969, when he lost to three-time champion Sergio Oliva. However, Schwarzenegger came back in 1970 and won the competition, making him the youngest ever Mr. Olympia at the age of 23, a record he still holds to this day.

He continued his winning streak in the 1971–1974 competitions. He also toured different countries selling vitamins, as in Helsinki, Finland in 1972, when he lived at the YMCA Hotel Hospiz (nowadays Hotel Arthur{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.hotelarthur.fi/en/hotel/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031222751/https://www.hotelarthur.fi/en/hotel/history/ |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |access-date=October 29, 2020 |website=Hotel Arthur}}) on Vuorikatu and presented vitamin pills at the Stockmann shopping center.{{Cite book |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |title=Total Recall |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84983-971-6 |location=New York |page=141}}[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/kuvat-schwarzenegger-pullisteli-lihaksiaan-70-luvulla-helsingissa/4318554#gs.jxapzf KUVAT: Schwarzenegger pullisteli lihaksiaan 70-luvulla Helsingissä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304191947/https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/kuvat-schwarzenegger-pullisteli-lihaksiaan-70-luvulla-helsingissa/4318554#gs.jxapzf |date=March 4, 2021 }} (in Finnish) In 1975, Schwarzenegger was once again in top form, and won the title for the sixth consecutive time, beating Franco Columbu. After the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, Schwarzenegger announced his retirement from professional bodybuilding.

Months before the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, filmmakers George Butler and Robert Fiore persuaded Schwarzenegger to compete and film his training in the bodybuilding documentary called Pumping Iron. Schwarzenegger had only three months to prepare for the competition, after losing significant weight to appear in the film Stay Hungry with Jeff Bridges. Although significantly taller and heavier, Lou Ferrigno proved not to be a threat, and a lighter-than-usual Schwarzenegger convincingly won the 1975 Mr. Olympia.

Schwarzenegger came out of retirement, however, to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia. Schwarzenegger was training for his role in Conan, and he got into such good shape because of the running, horseback riding and sword training, that he decided he wanted to win the Mr. Olympia contest one last time. He kept this plan a secret in the event that a training accident would prevent his entry and cause him to lose face. Schwarzenegger had been hired to provide color commentary for network television when he announced at the eleventh hour that, while he was there, "Why not compete?" Schwarzenegger ended up winning the event with only seven weeks of preparation. Having been declared Mr. Olympia for a seventh time, Schwarzenegger then officially retired from competition. This victory (subject of the documentary The Comeback) was highly controversial, though, as fellow competitors and many observers felt that his lack of muscle mass (especially in his thighs) and subpar conditioning should have precluded him from winning against a very competitive lineup that year.{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=John |date=December 27, 2011 |title=The 1980 Mr. Olympia Controversy |url=https://www.ironmanmagazine.com/the-1980-mr-olympia-controversy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131092902/https://www.ironmanmagazine.com/the-1980-mr-olympia-controversy/ |archive-date=January 31, 2019 |access-date=January 30, 2019 |website=Iron Man Magazine |language=en-US}} Mike Mentzer, in particular, felt cheated and withdrew from competitive bodybuilding after that contest.{{Cite web |title=Mr. Olympia Contest Results |url=http://www.getbig.com/results/e-mroly.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605130530/http://www.getbig.com/results/e-mroly.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=January 30, 2019 |website=getbig.com}}

• Height: {{cvt|6|ft|2|in}}
• Contest weight: {{cvt|235|lb|kg}}—the lightest in 1980 Mr. Olympia: around {{cvt|225|lb|kg}}, the heaviest in 1974 Mr. Olympia: around {{cvt|250|lb|kg}}{{Cite web |title=Image |url=http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=249251.0;attach=291526;image |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110751/http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=249251.0;attach=291526;image |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=Getbig.com}}
• Off-season weight: {{cvt|260|lb|kg|0}}
• Chest: {{cvt|57|in|cm}}
• Waist: {{cvt|33|in|cm}}
• Arms: {{cvt|22|in|cm}}
• Thighs: {{cvt|29.5|in|cm}}
• Calves: {{cvt|20|in|cm}}{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2013 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Pro Bodybuilding Profile |url=http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bodybuilders-arnold.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011060933/http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bodybuilders-arnold.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |website=Bodybuilding.com}}

Schwarzenegger has acknowledged using performance-enhancing anabolic steroids while they were legal, writing in 1977 that "steroids were helpful to me in maintaining muscle size while on a strict diet in preparation for a contest. I did not use them for muscle growth, but rather for muscle maintenance when cutting up."{{Cite web |last=Farrey |first=Tom |title=Conan the Politician |url=https://www.espn.com/columns/farrey_tom/1655597.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329223151/http://espn.go.com/columns/farrey_tom/1655597.html |archive-date=March 29, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=ESPN}} He has called the drugs "tissue building".{{Cite web |last=Theunissen |first=Steve |title=Arnold & Steroids: Truth Revealed |url=http://hjem.get2net.dk/JamesBond/www/artikler/steroidemisbrug/arnoldandsteroids.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031008172601/http://hjem.get2net.dk/JamesBond/www/artikler/steroidemisbrug/arnoldandsteroids.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2003 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=get2net}}

In 1999, Schwarzenegger sued Willi Heepe, a German doctor who publicly predicted his early death on the basis of a link between his steroid use and later heart problems. Since the doctor never examined him personally, Schwarzenegger collected a US$10,000 libel judgment against him in a German court.{{Cite news |date=December 1, 1999 |title=Schwarzenegger Wins German Lawsuit |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P1-24150868.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418105938/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P1-24150868.html |archive-date=April 18, 2010 |access-date=December 6, 2009 |via=Encyclopedia.com |agency=United Press International}} In 1999, Schwarzenegger also sued and settled with Globe, a U.S. tabloid which had made similar predictions about the bodybuilder's future health.{{Cite news |date=December 22, 1999 |title=Arnie settles $50m libel case |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/574902.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412023333/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/574902.stm |archive-date=April 12, 2011 |access-date=December 6, 2009 |work=BBC News}}

{{Main|Arnold Schwarzenegger filmography}}

Schwarzenegger wanted to move from bodybuilding into acting, finally achieving it when he was chosen to play the title role in Hercules in New York (1970). Credited under the stage name "Arnold Strong", his accent in the film was so thick that his lines were dubbed after production. His second film appearance was as a mob hitman in The Long Goodbye (1973), which was followed by a much more significant part in the film Stay Hungry (1976), for which he won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor. Schwarzenegger has discussed his early struggles in developing his acting career: "It was very difficult for me in the beginning – I was told by agents and casting people that my body was 'too weird', that I had a funny accent, and that my name was too long. You name it, and they told me I had to change it. Basically, everywhere I turned, I was told that I had no chance."

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger being filmed for Pumping Iron.jpg

Schwarzenegger drew attention and boosted his profile in the bodybuilding film Pumping Iron (1977), elements of which were dramatized. In 1991, he purchased the rights to the film, its outtakes, and associated still photography.{{Cite web |title=The Smoking Gun: Archive |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/arnoldpump1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427071904/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/arnoldpump1.html |archive-date=April 27, 2010 |access-date=May 11, 2007 |publisher=TheSmokingGun}} In 1977, he made guest appearances in single episodes of the ABC sitcom The San Pedro Beach Bums and the ABC police procedural The Streets of San Francisco. Schwarzenegger auditioned for the title role of The Incredible Hulk, but did not win the role because of his height. Later, Lou Ferrigno got the part of Dr. David Banner's alter ego. Schwarzenegger appeared with Kirk Douglas and Ann-Margret in the 1979 comedy The Villain. In 1980, he starred in a biographical film of the 1950s actress Jayne Mansfield as Mansfield's husband, Mickey Hargitay.

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger and Karyn Marshall.JPG, presenting awards at the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2011 in Columbus, Ohio]]

Schwarzenegger's breakthrough film was the sword and sorcery epic Conan the Barbarian in 1982, which was a box-office hit. This was followed by a sequel, Conan the Destroyer, in 1984, although it was not as successful as its predecessor.{{Cite news |last=Collis |first=Clark |title=Empire Essay: The Terminator |url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132648 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235924/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132648 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=Empire}} In 1983, Schwarzenegger starred in the promotional video Carnival in Rio.{{Cite magazine |last=Daly |first=Steve |date=June 12, 1992 |title=Carnival in Rio |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/06/12/carnival-rio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121062453/https://ew.com/article/1992/06/12/carnival-rio/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} In 1984, he made his first appearance as the eponymous character in James Cameron's science fiction action film The Terminator. It has been called his acting career's signature role.{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger's back as Terminator |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/schwarzenegger-s-back-as-terminator-2275459.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121061722/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/schwarzenegger-s-back-as-terminator-2275459.html |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2022 |website=The Independent}} Following this, Schwarzenegger made another sword and sorcery film, Red Sonja, in 1985. During the 1980s, audiences had an appetite for action films, with both Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone becoming international stars. During the Schwarzenegger-Stallone rivalry they attacked each other in the press, and tried to surpass the other with more on-screen killings and larger weapons.{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Ben |date=October 9, 2017 |title=Schwarzenegger Orchestrated a Legendary Hollywood Troll |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-beyond-fest/ |access-date=July 27, 2020 |website=/Film |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727050548/https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-beyond-fest/ |url-status=live }} Schwarzenegger's roles reflected his sense of humor, separating him from more serious action hero films. He made a number of successful action films in the 1980s, such as Commando (1985), Raw Deal (1986), The Running Man (1987), Predator (1987), and Red Heat (1988).

File:Chth arnold schwarzenegger.jpg with his catchphrase "I'll be back"]]

Twins (1988), a comedy with Danny DeVito, also proved successful. Total Recall (1990) netted Schwarzenegger $10 million (equivalent to ${{inflation|US|10|1990|r=1|fmt=c}} million today) and 15% of the film's gross. A science fiction script, the film was based on the Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale". Kindergarten Cop (1990) reunited him with director Ivan Reitman, who directed him in Twins. Schwarzenegger had a brief foray into directing, first with a 1990 episode of the TV series Tales from the Crypt, "The Switch",{{Cite news |last=Buck |first=Jerry |date=April 22, 1990 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger directs |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19900422&id=xdIpAAAAIBAJ&pg=5765,1660751 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903182833/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19900422&id=xdIpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ms4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5765,1660751 |archive-date=September 3, 2015 |access-date=October 19, 2014 |work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal |agency=Associated Press}} and then with the 1992 telemovie Christmas in Connecticut.{{Cite news |last=Endrst |first=James |date=April 12, 1992 |title='Connecticut' could use more of Arnold's muscle |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19920412&id=m1ZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6719,2774672 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903182833/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19920412&id=m1ZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oesDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6719,2774672 |archive-date=September 3, 2015 |access-date=October 19, 2014 |work=The Register-Guard}} He has not directed since.

Schwarzenegger's commercial peak was his return as the title character in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), which was the highest-grossing film of the year. Film critic Roger Ebert commented that "Schwarzenegger's genius as a movie star is to find roles that build on, rather than undermine, his physical and vocal characteristics."{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=July 3, 1991 |title='Terminator 2: Judgment Day' review by Roger Ebert |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910703/REVIEWS/107030301/1023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606140553/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19910703%2FREVIEWS%2F107030301%2F1023 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2010 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}} In 1993, the National Association of Theatre Owners named him the "International Star of the Decade". His next film project, the 1993 self-aware action comedy spoof Last Action Hero, was released opposite Jurassic Park, and did not do well at the box office. His next film, the comedy drama True Lies (1994), was a popular spy film and saw Schwarzenegger reunited with James Cameron.

That same year, the comedy Junior was released, the last of Schwarzenegger's three collaborations with Ivan Reitman and again co-starring Danny DeVito. This film brought him his second Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. It was followed by the action thriller Eraser (1996), the Christmas comedy Jingle All The Way (1996), and the comic book-based Batman & Robin (1997), in which he played the supervillain Mr. Freeze. This was his final film before taking time to recuperate from a back injury. Following the critical failure of Batman & Robin, his film career and box office prominence went into decline. He returned with the supernatural thriller End of Days (1999), later followed by the action films The 6th Day (2000) and Collateral Damage (2002), both of which failed to do well at the box office. In 2003, he made his third appearance as the title character in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which went on to earn over $150 million domestically (equivalent to ${{inflation|US|150|2003|r=0|fmt=c}} million today).{{Cite web |title=Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=terminator3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208093821/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=terminator3.htm |archive-date=December 8, 2013 |access-date=December 8, 2013 |website=Box Office Mojo}}

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.jpeg

In tribute to Schwarzenegger in 2002, Forum Stadtpark, a local cultural association, proposed plans to build a {{convert|25|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall|-1|sp=us}} Terminator statue in a park in central Graz. Schwarzenegger reportedly said he was flattered, but thought the money would be better spent on social projects and the Special Olympics.{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2002 |title=Arnold wants 'Terminator' statue killed |url=http://www.killoggs.com/news/?news=609 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223210646/http://www.killoggs.com/news/?news=609 |archive-date=February 23, 2009 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Killoggs}}

His film appearances after becoming Governor of California included a three-second cameo appearance in The Rundown and the 2004 remake of Around the World in 80 Days. In 2005, he appeared as himself in the film The Kid & I. He voiced Baron von Steuben in the Liberty's Kids episode "Valley Forge". He had been rumored to be appearing in Terminator Salvation as the original T-800; he denied his involvement,{{Cite web |title=Arnold downplays a Terminator Salvation cameo |url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/arnold-confirms-but-downp.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313234133/http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/arnold-confirms-but-downp.php |archive-date=March 13, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2009 |publisher=SCI FI Wire}} but he ultimately did appear briefly via his image being inserted into the movie from stock footage of the first Terminator film.{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger (Virtually) Back in Terminator Salvation |url=http://movies.tvguide.com/Movie-News/Arnold-Schwarzenegger-Terminator-1005894.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520083012/http://movies.tvguide.com/Movie-News/Arnold-Schwarzenegger-Terminator-1005894.aspx |archive-date=May 20, 2009 |access-date=May 8, 2009 |website=TV Guide}}{{Cite web |title=McG Talks Terminator Salvation |url=http://www.reelzchannel.com/person/176340/mcg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501190521/http://www.reelzchannel.com/person/176340/mcg |archive-date=May 1, 2009 |access-date=May 11, 2009 |publisher=reelzchannel.com}} Schwarzenegger appeared in Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables (2010), where he made a cameo appearance.

In January 2011, just weeks after leaving office in California, Schwarzenegger announced that he was reading several new scripts for future films, one of them being the World War II action drama With Wings as Eagles, written by Randall Wallace, based on a true story.{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger: "Ich lese gerade drei Drehbücher" – "Krone"-Interview – Welt |url=http://www.krone.at/Welt/Schwarzenegger_Ich_lese_gerade_drei_Drehbuecher-Krone-Interview-Story-240860 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119035212/http://www.krone.at/Welt/Schwarzenegger_Ich_lese_gerade_drei_Drehbuecher-Krone-Interview-Story-240860 |archive-date=January 19, 2011 |access-date=April 3, 2011 |publisher=krone.at}}{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2011 |title=Arnold's Big Comeback Film May Soar with "Wings"! Schwarzenegger is Considering 3 Movie Scripts! |url=http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/1741.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406131322/http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/1741.html |archive-date=April 6, 2011 |access-date=April 3, 2011 |publisher=TheArnoldFans.com}}

On March 6, 2011, at the Arnold Seminar of the Arnold Classic, Schwarzenegger revealed that he was being considered for several films, including sequels to The Terminator and remakes of Predator and The Running Man, and that he was "packaging" a comic book character.{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2011 |title=TAFs Exclusive: 15 Scripts and 1 Superhero! TAFs Q&A with Arnold at the 2011 Arnold Classic! |url=http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/1767.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421231211/http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/1767.html |archive-date=April 21, 2011 |access-date=April 3, 2011 |publisher=TheArnoldFans.com}} The character was later revealed to be the Governator, star of the comic book and animated series of the same name. Schwarzenegger inspired the character and co-developed it with Stan Lee, who would have produced the series. Schwarzenegger would have voiced the Governator.{{Cite magazine |last=Svetkey |first=Benjamin |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as 'The Governator' |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/03/30/arnold-schwarzenegger-the-governator-exclusive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019165010/http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/03/30/arnold-schwarzenegger-the-governator-exclusive/ |archive-date=October 19, 2011 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite news |last=Zakarin |first=Jordan |date=March 31, 2011 |title='The Governator': Arnold Schwarzenegger Developing New Cartoon, Comic Book |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-governator-arnold-schwarzenegger_n_842921 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903070342/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/31/the-governator-arnold-schwarzenegger_n_842921.html |archive-date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=HuffPost}}{{Cite news |date=March 31, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger to make superhero show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12918406 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218082309/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12918406 |archive-date=February 18, 2019 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite news |last=Maerz |first=Melissa |date=March 31, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger teams with Stan Lee on 'The Governator' |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/03/arnold-schwarzenegger-teams-up-with-stan-lee-on-cartoon-series-the-governator.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404010256/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/03/arnold-schwarzenegger-teams-up-with-stan-lee-on-cartoon-series-the-governator.html |archive-date=April 4, 2011 |access-date=April 10, 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

On May 20, 2011, Schwarzenegger's entertainment counsel announced that all film projects currently in development were being halted: "Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or timelines."{{Cite web |last=Hammel |first=Sara |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Halts All Acting Projects – Including Terminator |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20496056,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902054617/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20496056,00.html |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |website=People}} On July 11, 2011, it was announced that Schwarzenegger was considering a comeback film, despite legal problems related to his divorce.{{Cite magazine |last=Finke |first=Nikki |date=July 11, 2011 |title=Arnold Books 'Last Stand': Studio To Test Schwarzenegger's Post-Scandal Popularity – |url=https://deadline.com/2011/07/arnold-schwarzenegger-books-last-stand-western-will-test-his-post-scandal-popularity-130529/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019084025/http://www.deadline.com/2011/07/arnold-schwarzenegger-books-last-stand-western-will-test-his-post-scandal-popularity/ |archive-date=October 19, 2011 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |magazine=Deadline}} He starred in The Expendables 2 (2012) as Trench Mauser,{{Cite magazine |last=Fleming |first=Mike |date=September 6, 2011 |title='Expendables 2' Sets Action Dream Trio: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis Join Sly Stallone |url=https://deadline.com/2011/09/expendables-2-sets-action-dream-trio-arnold-schwarzenegger-bruce-willis-join-sly-stallone-167448/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020044920/http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/expendables-2-sets-action-dream-trio-arnold-schwarzenegger-bruce-willis-join-sly-stallone/ |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |magazine=Deadline}} and starred in The Last Stand (2013), his first leading role in 10 years, and Escape Plan (2013), his first co-starring role alongside Sylvester Stallone. He starred in Sabotage, released in March 2014, and returned as Trench Mauser in The Expendables 3, released in August 2014. He starred in the fifth Terminator film Terminator Genisys in 2015.{{Cite book |last=Leamer |first=Laurence |url=https://archive.org/details/fantasticlifeofa00leam |title=Fantastic: The life of Arnold Schwarzenegger |publisher=St Martin's Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-312-33338-6}}[https://screenrant.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-terminator-5/ Arnold Schwarzenegger Confirmed for 'Terminator 5'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807205307/http://screenrant.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-terminator-5/ |date=August 7, 2013 }}. Screenrant.com (January 22, 2013). Retrieved September 27, 2013. He then planned to reprise his role as Conan the Barbarian in The Legend of Conan,{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger to File Revised Divorce Papers, Not Denying Spousal Support |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/arnold-schwarzenegger-file-revised-divorce-papers-denying-spousal/story?id=14142207 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723223016/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/arnold-schwarzenegger-file-revised-divorce-papers-denying-spousal/story?id=14142207 |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |website=ABC News}}Fleming, Mike (October 25, 2012). "[https://deadline.com/2012/10/arnold-and-conan-the-barbarian-reunited-universal-reboots-action-franchise-with-schwarzenegger-359719/ Arnold And 'Conan The Barbarian' Reunited: Universal Reboots Action Franchise With Schwarzenegger] ." Deadline.com. Retrieved October 30, 2012. later renamed Conan the Conqueror.{{Cite magazine |date=January 28, 2016 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals new title, plot details about Conan sequel (by Jonathan Dornbush) |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/28/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-sequel-title-plot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818062640/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/28/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-sequel-title-plot |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |access-date=August 21, 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} However, in April 2017, producer Chris Morgan stated that Universal had dropped the project, although there was a possibility of a TV show. The story of the film was supposed to be set 30 years after the first, with some inspiration from Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven.{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2017 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'The Legend of Conan' May Not Happen After All |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzeneggers-the-legend-of-conan-may-not-happen-after-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407061650/http://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzeneggers-the-legend-of-conan-may-not-happen-after-all/ |archive-date=April 7, 2017 |access-date=April 7, 2017 |publisher=slashfilm.com}}

In September 2015, the media announced that Schwarzenegger was to replace Donald Trump as host of The New Celebrity Apprentice.{{Cite web |last=Brian Stelter and Frank Pallotta |date=September 14, 2015 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger is the next host of NBC's 'Celebrity Apprentice' |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/09/14/media/arnold-schwarzenegger-apprentice-nbc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916224406/https://money.cnn.com/2015/09/14/media/arnold-schwarzenegger-apprentice-nbc |archive-date=September 16, 2015 |access-date=September 14, 2015 |website=CNNMoney}} This show, the 15th season of The Apprentice, aired during the 2016–2017 TV season. In the show, he used the phrases "you're terminated" and "get to the choppa", which are quotes from some of his famous roles (The Terminator and Predator, respectively), when firing the contestants.{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2017 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed his cheesy firing catchphrase for Celebrity Apprentice |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-celebrity-apprentice-catchphrase-get-to-the-chopper-predator-a7506741.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213203113/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-celebrity-apprentice-catchphrase-get-to-the-chopper-predator-a7506741.html |archive-date=December 13, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2019 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Hale |first=Mike |date=January 3, 2017 |title=With Schwarzenegger as Host, 'Celebrity Apprentice' Lacks Old Bite |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/arts/television/schwarzenegger-celebrity-apprentice-donald-trump.html |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/arts/television/schwarzenegger-celebrity-apprentice-donald-trump.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |access-date=December 13, 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}} In March 2017, following repeated criticisms from Trump, Schwarzenegger announced that he would not return for another season on the show. He also reacted to Trump's remarks in January 2017 via Instagram: "Hey, Donald, I have a great idea. Why don't we switch jobs? You take over TV because you're such an expert in ratings, and I take over your job, and then people can finally sleep comfortably again."{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger leaves 'Apprentice,' Trump says he was fired |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/03/03/arnold-quits-apprentice-before-he-can-fired/98700892/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412023719/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/03/03/arnold-quits-apprentice-before-he-can-fired/98700892/ |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |website=USA Today}}

In August 2016, his filming of action-comedy Killing Gunther was temporarily interrupted by bank robbers near the filming location in Surrey, British Columbia.{{Cite news |date=August 19, 2016 |title=Robber tries pulling bank heist during Schwarzenegger movie shoot |url=http://bc.ctvnews.ca/robber-tries-pulling-bank-heist-during-schwarzenegger-movie-shoot-1.3035508 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822164057/http://bc.ctvnews.ca/robber-tries-pulling-bank-heist-during-schwarzenegger-movie-shoot-1.3035508 |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2016 |work=CTV News Vancouver}} The film was released in September 2017. He was announced to star and produce in a film about the ruins of Sanxingdui called The Guest of Sanxingdui as an ambassador.{{Cite web |last=Libbey |first=Dirk |date=October 28, 2016 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger to play ambassador in The Guest of Sanxingdui |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1578850/arnold-schwarzenegger-making-a-3d-blockbuster-in-china-and-it-sounds-massive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029044745/http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1578850/arnold-schwarzenegger-making-a-3d-blockbuster-in-china-and-it-sounds-massive |archive-date=October 29, 2016 |access-date=October 28, 2016 |website=Cinemablend}}

On February 6, 2018, Amazon Studios announced they were working with Schwarzenegger to develop a new series, Outrider, in which he will star and executive produce. The western-drama set in the Oklahoma Indian Territory in the late 19th century will follow a deputy (portrayed by Schwarzenegger) who is tasked with apprehending a legendary outlaw in the wilderness, but is forced to partner with a ruthless Federal Marshal to make sure justice is properly served. The series would have been Schwarzenegger's first major scripted TV role{{Cite magazine |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=February 6, 2018 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger To Topline 'Outrider' Western TV Series In Works At Amazon |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/arnold-schwarzenegger-outrider-western-event-series-amazon-development-1202278941/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206211034/http://deadline.com/2018/02/arnold-schwarzenegger-outrider-western-event-series-amazon-development-1202278941/ |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2018 |magazine=Deadline}} but was never completed.

Schwarzenegger returned to the Terminator franchise with Terminator: Dark Fate, which was released on November 1, 2019. It was produced by the series' co-creator James Cameron, who directed him previously in the first two films in the series and in True Lies.{{Cite web |last=Bartleet |first=Larry |date=September 28, 2017 |title=James Cameron: 'Terminator 6 will be a sequel to Terminator 2' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/james-cameron-terminator-6-will-sequel-terminator-2-2145507 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301220535/https://www.nme.com/news/film/james-cameron-terminator-6-will-sequel-terminator-2-2145507 |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=NME}}{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2017 |title=Terminator 6: Schwarzenegger Will Be the Human Basis for the T-800 |url=https://screenrant.com/terminator-6-schwarzenegger-human-t-800-robot/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204023052/https://screenrant.com/terminator-6-schwarzenegger-human-t-800-robot/ |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=ScreenRant}} It was shot in Almería, Hungary and the US.{{Cite news |last=Cárceles |first=Miguel |date=March 7, 2018 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger rodará Terminator 6 en Almería |url=http://www.ideal.es/almeria/almeria/arnold-schwarzenegger-rodara-20180307211551-nt.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612062314/http://www.ideal.es/almeria/almeria/arnold-schwarzenegger-rodara-20180307211551-nt.html |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=May 30, 2018 |work=Ideal |publisher=Vocento |language=es}}

{{Main|Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}

File:Arnold-Cheney.jpg meets with Schwarzenegger for the first time at the White House.]]

File:President Ronald Reagan with Arnold Schwarzenegger Retouched (cropped).jpg in 1984]]

Schwarzenegger has been a registered Republican for many years. When he was an actor, his political views were always well known as they contrasted with those of many other prominent Hollywood stars, who are generally considered to be a left-wing and Democratic-leaning community. At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Schwarzenegger gave a speech and explained that he was a Republican because he believed the Democrats of the 1960s sounded too much like Austrian socialists.{{Cite news |date=August 31, 2004 |title=Schwarzenegger: No country more welcoming than the USA |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/31/gop.schwarzenegger.transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408110102/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/31/gop.schwarzenegger.transcript/ |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=CNN}}

{{blockquote|I finally arrived here in 1968. What a special day it was. I remember I arrived here with empty pockets but full of dreams, full of determination, full of desire. The presidential campaign was in full swing. I remember watching the Nixon–Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend of mine who spoke German and English translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which I had just left.

But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting the government off your back, lowering the taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air. I said to my friend, I said, "What party is he?" My friend said, "He's a Republican." I said, "Then I am a Republican." And I have been a Republican ever since.}}

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger on Capitol Hill (cropped).jpg

In 1985, Schwarzenegger appeared in "Stop the Madness", an anti-drug music video sponsored by the Reagan administration. He first came to wide public notice as a Republican during the 1988 presidential election, accompanying then–Vice President George H. W. Bush at a campaign rally.{{Cite book |last=Noonan |first=Peggy |author-link=Peggy Noonan |title=What I Saw at the Revolution: A Political Life in the Reagan Era |date=October 14, 2003 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-8129-6989-4 |location=New York |page=384}}

Schwarzenegger famously introduced the first episode of the 1990 Milton Friedman hosted PBS series Free to Choose stating:

{{blockquote|I truly believe that the series has changed my life, and when you have such a powerful experience as that, I think you shouldn't keep it to yourself, so I wanted to share it with you. Being 'free to choose' for me means being free to make your own decisions, free to live your own life, pursue your own goals, chase your own rainbow without the government breathing down on your neck or standing on your shoes. For me that meant coming here to America, because I came from a socialistic country where the government controls the economy. It's a place where you can hear 18-year-old kids already talking about their pension. But me, I wanted more. I wanted to be the best. Individualism like that is incompatible with socialism. So I felt I had to come to America.{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Peter |date=January 26, 2011 |title=Peter Foster: Whatever happened to muscular capitalism? |url=https://financialpost.com/opinion/peter-foster-whatever-happened-to-muscular-capitalism |access-date=November 15, 2022 |work=Financial Post}}{{Cite web |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |title=A clip from episode Volume 1 of the 1990 Free to Choose television series |url=https://digitalcollections.hoover.org/objects/56646 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115183645/https://digitalcollections.hoover.org/objects/56646 |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=digitalcollections.hoover.org |publisher=Hoover Institution: Library & Archives}}}} Schwarzenegger goes on to tell of how he and his then wife Maria Shriver were in Palm Springs preparing to play a game of mixed doubles when Milton Friedman's famous show came on the television. Schwarzenegger recalls that while watching Friedman's Free to Choose, Schwarzenegger, "...recognized Friedman from the study of my own degree in economics, but I didn't know I was watching Free to Choose... it knocked me out. Dr. Friedman expressed, validated and explained everything I ever thought or experienced or observed about the way the economy works, and I guess I was really ready to hear it." Numerous critics state that Schwarzenegger strayed from much of Friedman's economic ways of thinking in later years, especially upon being elected Governor of California from 2003 through 2011.{{Cite web |last=Passantino |first=George |date=February 9, 2007 |title=Schwarzenegger Goes From Milton Friedman to Big Government |url=https://reason.org/commentary/schwarzenegger-goes-from-milto/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115183648/https://reason.org/commentary/schwarzenegger-goes-from-milto/ |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=Reason}}{{Cite news |last=Meyerson |first=Harold |date=May 25, 2005 |title=Arnold Meets His Match |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2005/05/25/arnold-meets-his-match/6d87ac3e-eeed-441e-8cb0-393a85c368ae/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Schwarzenegger's first political appointment was as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, on which he served from 1990 to 1993. He was nominated by the then-President Bush, who dubbed him "Conan the Republican". He later served as chairman for the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Governor Pete Wilson.

Between 1993 and 1994, Schwarzenegger was a Red Cross ambassador (a ceremonial role fulfilled by celebrities), recording several television and radio public service announcements to donate blood.

In an interview with Talk magazine in late 1999, Schwarzenegger was asked if he thought of running for office. He replied, "I think about it many times. The possibility is there because I feel it inside." The Hollywood Reporter claimed shortly after that Schwarzenegger sought to end speculation that he might run for governor of California. Following his initial comments, Schwarzenegger said, "I'm in show business – I am in the middle of my career. Why would I go away from that and jump into something else?"{{Cite news |date=October 4, 1999 |title=Arnold cast as Governor? |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/news.asp?id=90 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523203946/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/news.asp%3Fid%3D90 |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}}

{{main|Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}

{{redirect|Governator|the song|American Idiot{{!}}American Idiot}}

File:A. Schwarzenegger.jpg

Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in the 2003 California recall election for Governor of California on the August 6, 2003, episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Schwarzenegger had the most name recognition in a crowded field of candidates, but he had never held public office and his political views were unknown to most Californians. His candidacy immediately became national and international news, with media outlets dubbing him the "Governator" (referring to The Terminator movies, see above) and "The Running Man" (the name of another one of his films), and calling the recall election "Total Recall" (another movie starring Schwarzenegger). Schwarzenegger declined to participate in several debates with other recall replacement candidates, and appeared in only one debate on September 24, 2003.{{Cite news |last=Grey |first=Barry |date=November 6, 2003 |title=First debate in California recall election: Snapshot of a political system in crisis |url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/sep2003/cali-s06.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508191758/http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/sep2003/cali-s06.shtml |archive-date=May 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=wsws.org}}

File:Schwarzenegger Bush.jpg meets with Schwarzenegger after his successful election to the California Governorship.]]

On October 7, 2003, the recall election resulted in Governor Gray Davis being removed from office with 55.4% of the Yes vote in favor of a recall. Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California under the second question on the ballot with 48.6% of the vote to choose a successor to Davis. Schwarzenegger defeated Democrat Cruz Bustamante, fellow Republican Tom McClintock, and others. His nearest rival, Bustamante, received 31% of the vote. In total, Schwarzenegger won the election by about 1.3 million votes. Under the regulations of the California Constitution, no runoff election was required. Schwarzenegger was the second foreign-born governor of California after Irish-born Governor John G. Downey in 1862.

Schwarzenegger is a moderate Republican.{{Cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |last2=Fuller |first2=Thomas |date=March 22, 2018 |title=California Today: Schwarzenegger's Republican Manifesto |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/us/california-today-arnold-schwarzenegger-republican-party.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728071358/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/us/california-today-arnold-schwarzenegger-republican-party.html |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |work=The New York Times |language=en}} He says he is fiscally conservative and socially liberal.{{Cite news |last=Kilgore |first=Ed |title=Schwarzenegger, Kasich Are Going to Try to Pull the California GOP to the Middle |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/03/schwarzenegger-kasich-promote-moderate-gop-in-california.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728071127/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/schwarzenegger-kasich-promote-moderate-gop-in-california.html |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=Intelligencer}} On the issue of abortion, he describes himself as pro-choice, but supports parental notification for minors and a ban on partial-birth abortion.{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger on abortion, gays, environment |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/27/schwarzenegger.views/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916190026/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/27/schwarzenegger.views/index.html |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |publisher=CNN}} He has supported gay rights, such as domestic partnerships, and he performed a same-sex marriage as governor.{{Cite news |last=Sieczkowski |first=Cavan |date=September 30, 2012 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Married Two Gay Couples As Republican Governor Of California |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arnold-schwarzenegger-married-gay-couples-same-sex-marriage-republican-governor-california_n_1927215 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417064827/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/30/arnold-schwarzenegger-married-gay-couples-same-sex-marriage-republican-governor-california_n_1927215.html |archive-date=April 17, 2016 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=HuffPost}} However, Schwarzenegger vetoed bills that would have legalized same-sex marriage in California in 2005 and 2007.{{Cite news |last=Buchanan |first=Wyatt |date=September 13, 2005 |title=Gay rights advocates still trying to change Schwarzenegger's mind |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Gay-rights-advocates-still-trying-2608851.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229202404/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Gay-rights-advocates-still-trying-2608851.php |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}{{Cite web |title=AB 43 Assembly Bill - Veto |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/ab_43_vt_20071012.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111151709/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/ab_43_vt_20071012.html |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |website=leginfo.ca.gov}} He additionally vetoed two bills that would have implemented a single-payer health care system in California in 2006{{Cite journal |last=Korcok |first=Milan |date=October 10, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger vetoes single-payer bill |journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=175 |issue=8 |page=860 |doi=10.1503/cmaj.061200 |issn=0820-3946 |pmc=1586096 |pmid=17030932}}{{Cite web |title=Bill Status |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=200520060SB840 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614235141/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=200520060SB840 |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov}} and 2008,{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Aurelio |date=September 30, 2008 |title=Gov. Schwarzenegger again vetoes single payer bill |url=http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/october/gov_schwarzenegger_.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513132112/http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/october/gov_schwarzenegger_.php |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |website=Physicians for a National Health Program}} respectively.

Schwarzenegger was entrenched in what he considered to be his mandate in cleaning up political gridlock. Building on a catchphrase from the sketch "Hans and Franz" from Saturday Night Live (which partly parodied his bodybuilding career), Schwarzenegger called the Democratic State politicians "girlie men".{{Cite news |last=Nicholas |first=Peter |date=July 18, 2004 |title=Schwarzenegger deems opponents 'girlie-men' |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/18/MNGH57NKAF1.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504060359/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2004%2F07%2F18%2FMNGH57NKAF1.DTL |archive-date=May 4, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}

File:ArnoldSchwarzeneggerSDJun10.jpg

Schwarzenegger's early victories included repealing an unpopular increase in the vehicle registration fee as well as preventing driver's licenses from being given out to illegal immigrants, but later he began to feel the backlash when powerful state unions began to oppose his various initiatives. Key among his reckoning with political realities was a special election he called in November 2005, in which four ballot measures he sponsored were defeated. Schwarzenegger accepted personal responsibility for the defeats and vowed to continue to seek consensus for the people of California. He later commented that "no one could win if the opposition raised 160 million dollars to defeat you". The U.S. Supreme Court later found the public employee unions' use of compulsory fundraising during the campaign had been illegal in Knox v. Service Employees International Union, Local 1000.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2012 |title=Opinion analysis: Knox knocks unions on mid-year assessment for non-members |url=http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/06/opinion-analysis-knox-knocks-unions-on-mid-year-assessment-for-non-members/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415065401/http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/06/opinion-analysis-knox-knocks-unions-on-mid-year-assessment-for-non-members/ |archive-date=April 15, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2015 |website=SCOTUSblog}}

File:Dmitry Medvedev in the United States 23 June 2010-5.jpeg and Cisco CEO John Chambers]]

{{citation needed span|Schwarzenegger, against the advice of fellow Republican strategists, appointed a Democrat, Susan Kennedy, as his Chief of Staff. He gradually moved towards a more politically moderate position, determined to build a winning legacy with only a short time to go until the next gubernatorial election.|date=April 2025}}

Schwarzenegger ran for re-election against Democrat Phil Angelides, the California State Treasurer, in the 2006 elections, held on November 7, 2006. Despite a poor year nationally for the Republican party, Schwarzenegger won re-election with 56.0% of the vote compared with 38.9% for Angelides, a margin of well over 1 million votes.{{Cite web |title=General Election – Governor |url=http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/gov/00.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219111658/http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/gov/00.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=California Secretary of State}} Around this time, many commentators saw Schwarzenegger as moving away from the right and towards the center of the political spectrum. After hearing a speech by Schwarzenegger at the 2006 Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast, in which Schwarzenegger said, in part "How wrong I was when I said everyone has an equal opportunity to make it in America ... the state of California does not provide [equal] education for all of our children", San Francisco mayor and future governor of California Gavin Newsom said: "He's becoming a Democrat ... He's running back, not even to the center. I would say center-left."{{Cite news |last=Marinucci |first=Carla |date=January 17, 2006 |title='New' Schwarzenegger gets surprisingly warm welcome / His talk at King Day breakfast has a Democratic sound |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/New-Schwarzenegger-gets-surprisingly-warm-2543455.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630050329/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/New-Schwarzenegger-gets-surprisingly-warm-2543455.php |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

Some speculated that Schwarzenegger might run for the United States Senate in 2010, as his governorship would be term-limited by that time. Such rumors turned out to be false.{{Cite news |last=Pomfret |first=John |date=December 23, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger Remakes Himself as Environmentalist |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122201476.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010215332/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122201476.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2008 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news |last=Marinucci, Carla |date=March 22, 2009 |title=Predictions for Schwarzenegger's Next Big Role |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/03/22/MNJH16KC5G.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326025246/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F03%2F22%2FMNJH16KC5G.DTL |archive-date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=March 23, 2009 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

File:Visit wildfires 2007.jpg behind him, President George W. Bush comments on wildfires and firefighting efforts in California, October 2007.]]

Wendy Leigh, who wrote an unofficial biography on Schwarzenegger, claims he plotted his political rise from an early age using the movie business and bodybuilding as the means to escape a depressing home. Leigh portrays Schwarzenegger as obsessed with power and quotes him as saying, "I wanted to be part of the small percentage of people who were leaders, not the large mass of followers. I think it is because I saw leaders use 100% of their potential – I was always fascinated by people in control of other people." Schwarzenegger has said that it was never his intention to enter politics, but he says, "I married into a political family. You get together with them and you hear about policy, about reaching out to help people. I was exposed to the idea of being a public servant and Eunice and Sargent Shriver became my heroes." {{citation needed span|Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the sister of John F. Kennedy, and mother-in-law to Schwarzenegger; Sargent Shriver is husband to Eunice and father-in-law to Schwarzenegger.|date=April 2025}}

Schwarzenegger cannot run for U.S. president as he is not a natural-born citizen of the United States. Schwarzenegger is a dual Austrian and United States citizen.{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2005 |title=BBC News: Schwarzenegger 'damages Austria' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4198633.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408114325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4198633.stm |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=BBC News |quote=He said Mr Schwarzenegger, who has dual nationality...}} He has held Austrian citizenship since birth and U.S. citizenship since becoming naturalized in 1983. Being Austrian and thus European, he was able to win the 2007 European Voice campaigner of the year award for taking action against climate change with the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme with other US states and possibly with the EU.{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2007 |title=Schwarzenegger wins European Voice campaigner of the year award |url=http://www.europeanvoice.com/page/the-evawards-europeans-of-the-year/784.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919214944/http://www.europeanvoice.com/page/the-evawards-europeans-of-the-year/784.aspx |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=European Voice}}

File:US Navy 100729-N-0208R-156 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks with Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Anthony Ameen, center, and Marine Sgt. Maj. Patrick A. Wilkinson.jpg in San Diego, July 2010]]

Because of his personal wealth from his acting career, Schwarzenegger did not accept his governor's salary of $175,000 per year.{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Soraya |date=April 15, 2006 |title=News: Schwarzenegger releases tax returns |url=http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/atoz/article_1102616.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413151328/http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/atoz/article_1102616.php |archive-date=April 13, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=OCRegister.com}}

Schwarzenegger's endorsement in the Republican primaries of the 2008 presidential election was highly sought; despite being good friends with candidates Rudy Giuliani and Senator John McCain, Schwarzenegger remained neutral throughout 2007 and early 2008. Giuliani dropped out of the presidential race on January 30, 2008, largely because of a poor showing in Florida, and endorsed McCain. Later that night, Schwarzenegger was in the audience at a Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The following day, he endorsed McCain, joking, "It's Rudy's fault!" (in reference to his friendships with both candidates and that he could not make up his mind). Schwarzenegger's endorsement was thought to be a boost for Senator McCain's campaign; both spoke about their concerns for the environment and economy.{{Cite web |title=Arnold opens 'flood' of McCain endorsements |url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/arnold_opens_flood_of_mccain_e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307072727/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/arnold_opens_flood_of_mccain_e.html |archive-date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2008 |website=The Baltimore Sun}}

In its April 2010 report, Progressive ethics watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Schwarzenegger one of 11 "worst governors" in the United States because of various ethics issues throughout Schwarzenegger's term as governor.{{Cite news |last=Vogel |first=Ed |date=April 21, 2010 |title=Gibbons named on list of worst governors |url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/gibbons-named-on-list-of-worst-governors-91723774.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424192548/http://www.lvrj.com/news/gibbons-named-on-list-of-worst-governors-91723774.html |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}{{Cite web |title=Crew's Worst Governors |url=http://www.citizensforethics.org/worstgovernors#Gibbons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424212401/http://www.citizensforethics.org/worstgovernors#Gibbons |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |publisher=Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington}}

Governor Schwarzenegger played a significant role in opposing Proposition 66, a proposed amendment of the Californian Three Strikes Law, in November 2004. This amendment would have required the third felony to be either violent or serious to mandate a 25-years-to-life sentence. In the last week before the ballot, Schwarzenegger launched an intense campaign{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2008 |title=TV-commercial of Arnold Schwarzenegger against Proposition 66 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F6PBldQxZc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328232600/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F6PBldQxZc |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |via=YouTube}} against Proposition 66.{{Cite news |last1=Garvey |first1=Megan |last2=Salladay |first2=Robert |date=November 1, 2004 |title=Prop. 66 in Tough Fight |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-nov-01-me-campaign1-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123000753/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/nov/01/local/me-campaign1 |archive-date=January 23, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |work=Los Angeles Times}} He stated that "it would release 26,000 dangerous criminals and rapists".{{Cite web |last=Jaffe |first=Ina |date=October 28, 2009 |title=Two Torn Families Show Flip Side Of 3 Strikes Law |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114219922 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303152234/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114219922 |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |access-date=March 4, 2017 |publisher=NPR}}

Although he began his tenure as governor with record high approval ratings (as high as 65% in May 2004),[http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Schwarzenegger-a-big-hit-with-voters-polls-2755624.php Schwarzenegger a big hit with voters, polls report / Soaring popularity cuts across party, geographical lines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102144704/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Schwarzenegger-a-big-hit-with-voters-polls-2755624.php |date=January 2, 2018 }}; San Francisco Chronicle; May 27, 2004 he left office with a near-record low 23%,{{Cite web |last=Jaffe |first=Ina |date=January 3, 2011 |title=No Hollywood Ending To Schwarzenegger's Term |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/03/132445643/no-hollywood-ending-to-schwarzeneggers-term |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616161118/https://www.npr.org/2011/01/03/132445643/no-hollywood-ending-to-schwarzeneggers-term |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=June 16, 2023 |website=NPR}} only one percent higher than that of Gray Davis, his predecessor, when he was recalled in October 2003.{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2010 |title=Approval for Schwarzenegger, Legislature at record lows |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/politi-cal/story/2010-03-22/approval-for-schwarzenegger-legislature-at-record-lows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617010604/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/politi-cal/story/2010-03-22/approval-for-schwarzenegger-legislature-at-record-lows |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=June 16, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

{{main|Death of Luis Santos}}

In May 2010, Esteban Núñez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the death of Luis Santos. Núñez is the son of Fabian Núñez, then California Assembly Speaker of the House and a close friend and staunch political ally of then governor Schwarzenegger.{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2006 |title=Judge: Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's sentence cutting of Esteban Nunez was legal |url=http://www.thereporter.com/article/zz/20120908/NEWS/120907396 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011223803/http://www.thereporter.com/article/zz/20120908/NEWS/120907396 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |publisher=Thereporter.com}}{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2013 |title=Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger leaves a foul stench |url=http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20110105/NEWS/110108106 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013105720/http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20110105/NEWS/110108106 |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |publisher=Dailynews.com}}{{Cite news |last=Dillon |first=Nancy |date=April 11, 2016 |title=Calif. pol's son who killed college student out of prison |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/calif-pol-son-killed-college-student-prison-article-1.2596545 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011060905/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/calif-pol-son-killed-college-student-prison-article-1.2596545 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |work=Daily News |location=New York}}{{Cite news |last=Goffard |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Goffard |date=December 23, 2014 |title=On the eve of a murder trial, a deal is struck. But will it stick? |url=http://graphics.latimes.com/nunez-santos-part-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905151052/http://graphics.latimes.com/nunez-santos-part-2/ |archive-date=September 5, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

As a personal favor to "a friend", just hours before he left office, and as one of his last official acts, Schwarzenegger commuted Núñez's sentence by more than half, to seven years.{{Cite news |last=Lovett |first=Ian |date=January 3, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger Commutes Sentence of Politician's Son |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/us/04pardon.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730204846/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/us/04pardon.html |archive-date=July 30, 2017 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Lah |first=Kyung |date=July 8, 2015 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's last act as governor follows him |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/us/arnold-schwarzenegger-clemency/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011142512/http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/us/arnold-schwarzenegger-clemency/ |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |publisher=CNN}} He believed that Núñez's sentence was "excessive" in comparison with the same prison term imposed on Ryan Jett, the man who fatally stabbed Santos.{{Cite news |last=Dobuzinskis |first=Alex |date=January 4, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger criticized after commuting Nunez sentence |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-schwarzenegger-commutation-idUSTRE7030DC20110104 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608215014/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-schwarzenegger-commutation-idUSTRE7030DC20110104 |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |access-date=June 8, 2022 |work=Reuters |language=en}} Against protocol, Schwarzenegger did not inform Santos' family or the San Diego County prosecutors about the commutation. They learned about it in a call from a reporter.

The Santos family, along with the San Diego district attorney, sued to stop the commutation, claiming that it violated Marsy's Law. In September 2012, Sacramento County superior court judge Lloyd Connelly stated, "Based on the evidentiary records before this court involving this case, there was an abuse of discretion... This was a distasteful commutation. It was repugnant to the bulk of the citizenry of this state." However, Connelly ruled that Schwarzenegger remained within his executive powers as governor. Subsequently, as a direct result of the way the commutation was handled, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bipartisan bill that allows offenders' victims and their families to be notified at least 10 days before any commutations.{{Cite web |last=McGreevy |first=Patrick |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Gov. Jerry Brown signs notification bill on reducing sentences |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-oct-04-la-me-brown-legislation-20111004-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011223323/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/04/local/la-me-brown-legislation-20111004 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Núñez was released from prison after serving less than six years.{{Cite news |date=April 10, 2016 |title=Esteban Nuñez is released from prison after his sentence was drastically reduced by Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-esteban-nunez-released-from-prison-20160410-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012035352/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-esteban-nunez-released-from-prison-20160410-story.html |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}}

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger sexual harassment protestors750.jpg protesting against Schwarzenegger]]

During his initial campaign for governor in 2003, allegations of sexual and personal misconduct were raised against Schwarzenegger.{{Cite news |date=March 10, 2004 |title=Sex scandal draws Arnie apology |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3159122.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218154557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3159122.stm |archive-date=December 18, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}} Within the last five days before the election, news reports appeared in the Los Angeles Times recounting decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct from six individual women.{{Cite news |date=October 3, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger sorry for behaving 'badly' toward women |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/02/recall.schwarzenegger/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408110108/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/02/recall.schwarzenegger/index.html |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=CNN}} Schwarzenegger responded to the allegations in 2004 admitting that he has "behaved badly sometimes" and apologized, but also stated that "a lot of [what] you see in the stories is not true".{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger admits behaving badly after groping claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/03/usa.filmnews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112230648/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/03/usa.filmnews |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |website=The Guardian}} One of the women who came forward was British television personality Anna Richardson, who settled a libel lawsuit in August 2006 against Schwarzenegger; his top aide, Sean Walsh; and his publicist, Sheryl Main.{{Cite news |date=August 26, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger libel 'settled' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/5288194.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909074501/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/5288194.stm |archive-date=September 9, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}} A joint statement read: "The parties are content to put this matter behind them and are pleased that this legal dispute has now been settled."{{Cite news |date=March 23, 2005 |title=UK judge allows Arnie libel case |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4375679.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821025435/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4375679.stm |archive-date=August 21, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}} In 2023, Schwarzenegger revisited the issue while promoting his new three-part biographical documentary on Netflix called Arnold. Schwarzenegger stated that he was "totally wrong".{{Cite news |last=Shoard |first=Catherine |date=June 6, 2023 |title='Forget all the excuses': Arnold Schwarzenegger expresses regret over groping claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/06/arnold-schwarzenegger-expresses-regret-over-groping-claims |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606134207/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/06/arnold-schwarzenegger-expresses-regret-over-groping-claims |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB}}

During this time a 1977 interview in adult magazine Oui gained attention, in which Schwarzenegger discussed using substances such as marijuana.{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger's Sex Talk |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/schwarzeneggers-sex-talk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704170517/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/schwarzeneggers-sex-talk |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |access-date=July 23, 2012 |publisher=The Smoking Gun}} Schwarzenegger is shown smoking a marijuana joint after winning Mr. Olympia in 1975 in the documentary film Pumping Iron (1977). In an interview with GQ magazine in October 2007, Schwarzenegger said, "[Marijuana] is not a drug. It's a leaf. My drug was pumping iron, trust me."{{Cite news |date=October 29, 2007 |title=Governor says marijuana is not a drug, 'it's a leaf' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-29-me-arnold29-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220144632/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/29/local/me-arnold29 |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |access-date=October 7, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times}} His spokesperson later said the comment was meant to be a joke.

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger 2004-01-30.jpg

Schwarzenegger became a naturalized U.S. citizen on September 17, 1983.{{Cite news |date=September 17, 1983 |title=Actor Becomes U.S. Citizen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/17/us/actor-becomes-us-citizen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122051700/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/17/us/actor-becomes-us-citizen.html |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |work=The New York Times |agency=United Press International}} Shortly before he gained his citizenship, he asked the Austrian authorities for the right to keep his Austrian citizenship, as Austria does not usually allow dual citizenship. His request was granted, and he retained his Austrian citizenship.Leamer, p. 199-200

In 2005, Peter Pilz, a member of the Austrian Parliament from the Austrian Green Party, unsuccessfully advocated for Parliament to revoke Schwarzenegger's Austrian citizenship under Article 33 of the Austrian Citizenship Act, which states: "A citizen, who is in the public service of a foreign country, shall be deprived of his citizenship if he heavily damages the reputation or the interests of the Austrian Republic.". Pilz felt that Schwarzenegger's decision not to intervene in the executions of Donald Beardslee and Stanley Williams had done so. The death penalty in Austria had been abolished in 1968.

On September 27, 2006, Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, creating the nation's first cap on greenhouse gas emissions. The law set new regulations on the amount of emissions utilities, refineries, and manufacturing plants are allowed to release into the atmosphere. Schwarzenegger also signed a second global warming bill that prohibits large utilities and corporations in California from making long-term contracts with suppliers who do not meet the state's greenhouse gas emission standards. The two bills are part of a plan to reduce California's emissions by 25 percent to 1990s levels by 2020. In 2005, Schwarzenegger issued an executive order calling to reduce greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Samantha |date=September 27, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger Signs Global Warming Bill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700174.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105054329/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700174.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2008 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Schwarzenegger signed another executive order on October 17, 2006, allowing California to work with the Northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. They plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by issuing a limited amount of carbon credits to each power plant in participating states. Any power plants that exceed emissions for the number of carbon credits will have to purchase more credits to cover the difference. The plan took effect in 2009.{{Cite news |last=Matthews |first=Karen |date=October 17, 2006 |title=Cal Joins Northeast Global Warming Fight |url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct17/0,4670,GlobalWarmingSchwarzenegger,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525191041/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct17/0,4670,GlobalWarmingSchwarzenegger,00.html |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=May 15, 2008 |publisher=Fox News}} In addition to using his political power to fight global warming, the governor has taken steps at his home to reduce his personal carbon footprint. Schwarzenegger has adapted one of his Hummers to run on hydrogen and another to run on biofuels. He has also installed solar panels to heat his home.[https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/04/02/8403410/index.htm "The Governator's green agenda"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106005149/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/04/02/8403410/index.htm |date=November 6, 2013 }} Fortune. March 23, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2008.

In respect for his contribution to the direction of the US motor industry, Schwarzenegger was invited to open the 2009 SAE World Congress in Detroit on April 20, 2009.[http://www.sae.org/servlets/pressRoom?OBJECT_TYPE=PressReleases&PAGE=showRelease&RELEASE_ID=970 "SAE 2009 World Congress Special Opening Ceremonies to Feature Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403143304/http://www.sae.org/servlets/pressRoom?OBJECT_TYPE=PressReleases&PAGE=showRelease&RELEASE_ID=970 |date=April 3, 2016 }} SAE. March 10, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2009.

In 2011, Schwarzenegger founded the R20 Regions of Climate Action to develop a sustainable, low-carbon economy.{{Cite web |title=A New Obsession |url=http://theglobaljournal.net/article/view/410/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501054335/http://theglobaljournal.net/article/view/410/ |archive-date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=May 3, 2012 |website=The Global Journal}} In 2017, he joined French President Emmanuel Macron in calling for the adoption of a Global Pact for the Environment.{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2017 |title=Macron, Schwarzenegger back global pact on environment |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20170624-macron-launches-global-environment-pact-paris |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010719/http://www.france24.com/en/20170624-macron-launches-global-environment-pact-paris |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=September 24, 2020 |publisher=France 24 |language=en}}

In 2017, Schwarzenegger launched the Austrian World Summit,{{Cite web |date=July 2021 |title=Schwarzenegger: Climate activists should focus on pollution |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/schwarzenegger-climate-activists-should-focus-on-pollution-1.5493128 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213142303/https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/schwarzenegger-climate-activists-should-focus-on-pollution-1.5493128 |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |access-date=December 13, 2021}} an international climate conference that is held annually in Vienna, Austria. The Austrian World Summit is organized by the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative and aims is to bring together representatives from politics, civil society and business to create a broad alliance for climate protection and to identify concrete solutions to the climate crisis.

{{Election box begin no change|title=2003 California gubernatorial recall election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = California Republican Party

|candidate = Arnold Schwarzenegger

|votes = 4,206,284

|percentage = 48.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Cruz Bustamante

|votes = 2,724,874

|percentage = 31.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Tom McClintock

|votes = 1,161,287

|percentage = 13.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Peter Camejo

|votes = 242,247

|percentage = 2.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2006 California gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = California Republican Party

|candidate = Arnold Schwarzenegger (incumbent)

|votes = 4,850,157

|percentage = 55.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = California Democratic Party

|candidate = Phil Angelides

|votes = 3,376,732

|percentage = 38.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Green Party of California

|candidate = Peter Camejo

|votes = 205,995

|percentage = 2.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Libertarian Party of California

|candidate = Art Olivier

|votes = 114,329

|percentage = 1.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

Presidential aspirations by the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger would be blocked by a constitutional hurdle; Article II, Section I, Clause V, prevents individuals who are not natural-born citizens of the United States from assuming the office. The Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment in 2003 was widely accredited as the "Amend for Arnold" bill, which would have added an amendment to the U.S. Constitution allowing his run. In 2004, the "Amend for Arnold" campaign was launched, featuring a website and TV advertising promotion.[http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Amend-for-Arnold-campaign-launched-Web-site-2635267.php "'Amend for Arnold' campaign launched / Web site, TV spot promote change to Constitution"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525192620/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Amend-for-Arnold-campaign-launched-Web-site-2635267.php |date=May 25, 2017 }}, John Wildermuth. San Francisco Chronicle. November 18, 2004. Retrieved February 8, 2017{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2003 |title=The 'Arnold Amendment' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-arnold-amendment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171023050026/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-arnold-amendment/ |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |access-date=January 21, 2020 |publisher=CBS News}}

In June 2007, Schwarzenegger was featured on the cover of Time magazine with Michael Bloomberg, and subsequently, the two joked about a presidential ticket together.[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/19/bloomberg-schwarzenegger-ponder-presidential-ticket/ "Bloomberg, Schwarzenegger ponder presidential ticket"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075312/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/19/bloomberg-schwarzenegger-ponder-presidential-ticket/ |date=February 11, 2017 }}, CNN. June 19, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2017{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2008 |title=My Conversation with Michael Bloomberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/my-conversation-with-mich_b_97778 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112081335/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/my-conversation-with-mich_b_97778 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 10, 2021 |website=Huffpost}}

Schwarzenegger has also enjoyed a highly successful business career. Following his move to the United States, Schwarzenegger became a "prolific goal setter" and would write his objectives at the start of the year on index cards, like starting a mail order business or buying a new car – and succeed in doing so. As a result of his early business and investment success, Schwarzenegger became a millionaire by the age of 25, well before making a name for himself in Hollywood. His path to financial independence came as a result of his success as a proactive businessman and investor involved with a series of lucrative business ventures and real estate investments.{{Cite web |last=Elkins |first=Kathleen |date=February 6, 2017 |title=The way Arnold Schwarzenegger made his first million had nothing to do with acting |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/06/the-way-arnold-schwarzenegger-made-his-first-million.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114112331/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/06/the-way-arnold-schwarzenegger-made-his-first-million.html |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |access-date=November 14, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}

In 1968, Schwarzenegger and fellow bodybuilder Franco Columbu started a bricklaying business. The business flourished thanks to the pair's marketing savvy and an increased demand following the 1971 San Fernando earthquake.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Kay |title=Real Life Action Hero |url=http://www.millionaire.com/interviews_schwarzenegger.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212192915/http://www.millionaire.com/interviews_schwarzenegger.htm |archive-date=December 12, 2004 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |website=Millionaire Magazine}}{{Cite web |title="Working" Out |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/didyouknow/life_didyouknow_eng_legacy_257.asp?sec=life&subsec=didyouknow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523204758/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/didyouknow/life_didyouknow_eng_legacy_257.asp%3Fsec%3Dlife%26subsec%3Ddidyouknow |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}} When signs of profitability emerged as business began to pick up, Schwarzenegger and Columbu rolled over the profits from their bricklaying venture to go on and start their own mail-order business that sold bodybuilding and fitness-related equipment and instructional tapes.

Schwarzenegger transferred profits from the mail-order business and his bodybuilding-competition winnings by rolling the proceeds into his first real estate investment: an apartment building he purchased for $10,000. Schwarzenegger made millions of dollars by investing in a variety of real estate holding companies both within the United States and around the world.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Lance |date=August 10, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger reveals pumped-up finances |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/08/10/ARNOLD.TMP |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318192048/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2003%2F08%2F10%2FARNOLD.TMP |archive-date=March 18, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}{{Cite web |last=Fleschner |first=Malcolm |title=The Best Salesman in America? |url=https://www.sellingpower.com/2010/02/02/6660/the-best-salesman-in-america |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224112746/http://www.sellingpower.com/article/display.asp?aid=SP4182687 |archive-date=February 24, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |publisher=Selling Power}} Schwarzenegger and fellow Hollywood veteran actor and industry adversary Sylvester Stallone brought their long-storied industry rivalry to an end by both investing in the Planet Hollywood{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Ben |date=October 9, 2017 |title=Schwarzenegger Orchestrated a Legendary Hollywood Troll |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-beyond-fest/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727050548/https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-beyond-fest/ |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=July 27, 2020 |website=/Film |language=en-US}} chain of international theme restaurants (modeled after the Hard Rock Cafe) along with Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. However, Schwarzenegger severed his financial ties with the chain in early 2000.{{Cite news |date=January 26, 2000 |title=Arnie's Planet Hollywood split |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/619317.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531075351/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/619317.stm |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2012 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite news |last=Lieberman |first=Paul |date=January 26, 2000 |title=It's Hasta la Vista, Planet Hollywood |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-26-fi-57832-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514174355/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jan/26/business/fi-57832 |archive-date=May 14, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2012 |work=Los Angeles Times}} Schwarzenegger remarked that the restaurant did not achieve the success that he had hoped for, claiming he wanted to focus his attention on "new US global business ventures" and his then-burgeoning acting career.

Schwarzenegger also made a private commercial real estate investment in the Easton Town Center, a shopping mall based in Columbus, Ohio.{{Cite news |last1=Cieply |first1=Michael |last2=Cohn |first2=Gary |last3=Eller |first3=Claudia |last4=Vincent |first4=Roger |date=August 10, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger Built a Vast Business Empire |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-10-me-arnoldbiz10-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223073105/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-10-me-arnoldbiz10-story.html |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |access-date=February 22, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times}} He has talked about some of the mentors who have helped him over the years in business: "I couldn't have learned about business without a parade of teachers guiding me... from Milton Friedman to Donald Trump... and now, Les Wexner and Warren Buffett. I even learned a thing or two from Planet Hollywood, such as when to get out! And I did!" He has significant equity ownership in Dimensional Fund Advisors, an Austin-based investment firm.{{Cite news |last=Weinraub |first=Bernard |date=August 17, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger's Next Goal On Dogged, Ambitious Path |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/17/us/schwarzenegger-s-next-goal-on-dogged-ambitious-path.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530084234/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06E5D81230F934A2575BC0A9659C8B63 |archive-date=May 30, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The New York Times}} Schwarzenegger is also the owner of Arnold's Sports Festival, a sports and fitness festival which he started in 1989 and is held annually in Columbus, Ohio. It is a festival that hosts thousands of international health and fitness professionals which has also expanded into a three-day expo. He also owns a film production company called Oak Productions, Inc. and Fitness Publications, a joint book publishing venture partnered with Simon & Schuster.{{Cite web |last=Andrea N. Browne |date=November 9, 2012 |title=7 self-made immigrant millionaires |url=http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/7-self-made-immigrant-millionaires.html?pt=BureoF4GVB?date=10410705&page=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030052654/http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/7-self-made-immigrant-millionaires.html?pt=BureoF4GVB%3Fdate%3D10410705&page=3 |archive-date=October 30, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2012 |publisher=Yahoo Canada}}

In 2018, Schwarzenegger partnered with basketball player LeBron James to establish Ladder, a company that developed nutritional supplements to help athletes with severe cramps. The pair sold Ladder to Openfit for an undisclosed amount in 2020 after reporting more than $4 million in sales for that year.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Jabari |date=December 2, 2020 |title=LeBron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Sports Nutrition Company Sells to Fitness Platform Openfit |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/business/money-report/lebron-james-arnold-schwarzeneggers-sports-nutrition-company-sells-to-fitness-platform-openfit/2475117/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210184950/https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/business/money-report/lebron-james-arnold-schwarzeneggers-sports-nutrition-company-sells-to-fitness-platform-openfit/2475117/ |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}

In 1992, Schwarzenegger and his wife opened a restaurant in Santa Monica called Schatzi On Main. Schatzi literally means "little treasure", and colloquially "honey" or "darling" in German. In 1998, he sold his restaurant.{{Cite web |title=The foundation for taxpayer and consumer rights is in the wrong in its junk fax lawsuit where it falsely blames Arnold Schwarzenegger for faxes sent to promote a restaurant he doesn't own |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/uptotheminute/news_uptotheminute_eng_legacy_16.asp?sec=news&subsec=uptotheminute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523204836/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/uptotheminute/news_uptotheminute_eng_legacy_16.asp%3Fsec%3Dnews%26subsec%3Duptotheminute |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}}

{{See also|List of richest American politicians}}

In 2024, Forbes estimated that Schwarzenegger was a billionaire.{{Cite news |date=May 30, 2024 |title=How Arnold Schwarzenegger Became A Billionaire |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2024/05/30/how-arnold-schwarzenegger-became-a-billionaire/ |url-access=subscription |work=Forbes}}

In June 1997, Schwarzenegger spent $38 million on a private Gulfstream jet.{{Cite book |last=Fleming |first=Charles |title=High concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess |title-link=High concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-7475-4262-9}}

Regarding his private fortune, Schwarzenegger once quipped: "Money doesn't make you happy. I now have $50 million, but I was just as happy when I had $48 million."

In 2003, Schwarzenegger's net worth was conservatively estimated at $100 million to $200 million.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Lance |date=August 17, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger worth $100 million, experts say |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Schwarzenegger-worth-100-million-experts-say-2561106.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328121715/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2003%2F08%2F17%2FTAXES.TMP |archive-date=March 28, 2008 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

After separating from his wife, Maria Shriver, in 2011, it was estimated that his net worth had been approximately $400 million, and even as high as $800 million, based on tax returns he filed in 2006.{{Cite news |date=May 10, 2011 |title=Arnold and Maria's Surprise Split: How Much is at Stake in Divorce? |url=https://extratv.com/2011/05/10/arnold-and-marias-surprise-split-how-much-is-at-stake-in-divorce/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905045222/http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/05/arnold_and_marias_surprise_split_how_much_is_at_stake_in_divorce.php |archive-date=September 5, 2011 |work=Extra}}

Schwarzenegger has also appeared in a series of commercials for the Machine Zone game Mobile Strike as a military commander and spokesman.{{Cite news |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=November 11, 2015 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in Machine Zone's modern warfare game Mobile Strike (updated) |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/11/11/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-star-of-machine-zones-new-mobile-strike-modern-warfare-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113022946/http://venturebeat.com/2015/11/11/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-the-star-of-machine-zones-new-mobile-strike-modern-warfare-game/ |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |access-date=October 17, 2016 |work=VentureBeat}}

In 1969, Schwarzenegger met Barbara Outland (later Barbara Outland Baker), an English teacher with whom he lived until 1974.{{Cite news |date=September 9, 2003 |title=Arnie's ex-girlfriend pens memoir |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3092740.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422031941/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3092740.stm |archive-date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}} The couple first met six to eight months after his arrival in the U.S. Their first date was watching the first Apollo Moon landing on television. They shared an apartment in Santa Monica, California, for three and a half years, and having little money, they would visit the beach all day or have barbecues in the back yard. Although Baker claims that when she first met Schwarzenegger, he had "little understanding of polite society" and she found him a turn-off, she says, "He's as much a self-made man as it's possible to be—he never got encouragement from his parents, his family, his brother. He just had this huge determination to prove himself, and that was very attractive ... I'll go to my grave knowing Arnold loved me." Schwarzenegger said of Baker in his 1977 memoir, "Basically it came down to this: she was a well-balanced woman who wanted an ordinary, solid life, and I was not a well-balanced man, and hated the very idea of ordinary life." Baker has described Schwarzenegger as a "joyful personality, totally charismatic, adventurous, and athletic" but claims that towards the end of the relationship he became "insufferable—classically conceited—the world revolved around him".{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Lance |date=September 15, 2003 |title=Actor's old flame says he's a great guy |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/09/15/MN272943.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526031215/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2003%2F09%2F15%2FMN272943.DTL |archive-date=May 26, 2012 |access-date=April 19, 2007 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle}} Baker published her memoir in 2006, Arnold and Me: In the Shadow of the Austrian Oak.{{Cite news |last=Elsworth |first=Catherine |date=September 14, 2006 |title=Arnie puts his weight behind ex-lover's tell-all memoir |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1528857/Arnie-puts-his-weight-behind-ex-lover%27s-tell-all-memoir.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610113917/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1528857/Arnie-puts-his-weight-behind-ex-lover%27s-tell-all-memoir.html |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}} Although Baker painted an unflattering portrait of her former lover at times, Schwarzenegger actually contributed to the tell-all book with a foreword, and also met with Baker for three hours. Baker claims that she only learned of his being unfaithful after they split, and talks of a turbulent and passionate love life. Schwarzenegger has made it clear that their respective recollection of events can differ.

Schwarzenegger met his next lover, Beverly Hills hairdresser's assistant Sue Moray, on Venice Beach in July 1977. According to Moray, the couple led an open relationship: "We were faithful when we were both in LA... but when he was out of town, we were free to do whatever we wanted."

Schwarzenegger met television journalist Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy, at the Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament in August 1977. He went on to have a relationship with both Moray and Shriver until August 1978 when Moray (who knew of his relationship with Shriver) issued an ultimatum.

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver-mod.jpg at the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai]]

On April 26, 1986, Schwarzenegger married Shriver in Hyannis, Massachusetts.{{Cite news |date=April 27, 1986 |title=Maria Owings Shriver Wed To Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/27/style/maria-owings-shriver-wed-to-arnold-schwarzenegger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528091553/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE3DF103DF934A15757C0A960948260 |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The New York Times}} They have four children: Katherine (* 1989), Christina (* 1991), Patrick (* 1993) and Christopher (* 1997).{{Cite web |last=Dodd |first=Sophie |date=December 13, 2023 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's 5 Kids: Everything to Know |url=https://people.com/parents/all-about-arnold-schwarzenegger-children/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213183215/https://people.com/parents/all-about-arnold-schwarzenegger-children/ |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |access-date=March 16, 2024 |website=People}}{{Cite news |last=Pace |first=Eric |date=July 24, 1991 |title=Chronicle |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0DD1E3DF937A15754C0A967958260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118154155/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/24/style/chronicle-482791.html |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last=Brozan |first=Nadine |date=September 21, 1993 |title=Chronicle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/21/style/chronicle-924193.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118154133/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/21/style/chronicle-924193.html |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver's Children Face Trauma, Say Experts |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/arnold-schwarzenegger-love-child-emotional-911-maria-shriver/story?id=13630130 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232244/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/arnold-schwarzenegger-love-child-emotional-911-maria-shriver/story?id=13630130 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2019 |website=ABC News |language=en}} All of their children were born in Los Angeles.{{Cite news |last=Brozan |first=Nadine |date=September 30, 1997 |title=Chronicle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/30/nyregion/chronicle-367451.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118154133/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/30/nyregion/chronicle-367451.html |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The New York Times}} The family lived in an {{convert|11000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California,{{Cite news |last=Schiffman |first=Betsy |date=June 27, 2003 |title=Next Stop – Governor's Mansion? |url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/06/27/cx_bs_0627movers.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411195942/http://www.forbes.com/2003/06/27/cx_bs_0627movers.html |archive-date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=Forbes}}{{Cite magazine |last=Lacayo |first=Richard |date=August 10, 2003 |title=The Mind Behind the Muscles |url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,474589,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930044742/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,474589,00.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |magazine=Time}} with vacation homes in Sun Valley, Idaho, and Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.{{Cite web |last=Dunteman |first=Dayna |date=May 2004 |title=Catching Up With Maria Shriver |url=http://www.sacmag.com/media/Sacramento-Magazine/May-2004/Catching-Up-With-Maria-Shriver/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421233026/http://www.sacmag.com/media/Sacramento-Magazine/May-2004/Catching-Up-With-Maria-Shriver/ |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |website=Sacramento Magazine}} They attended St. Monica's Catholic Church.{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2003 |title=Maria Shriver Ends Her Silence On Husband's Campaign |url=http://www.knbc.com/politics/2463270/detail.html |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=NBC}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:Arnoldandson.jpg at Edwards Air Force Base in December 2002]]

On May 9, 2011, Shriver and Schwarzenegger ended their relationship after 25 years of marriage with Shriver moving out of their Brentwood mansion.{{Cite news |last=Mark Z. Barabak |date=May 9, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver announce separation |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-mew-arnold-maria-separate-20010510,0,2542211.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513232123/http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-mew-arnold-maria-separate-20010510,0,2542211.story |archive-date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=May 10, 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite news |last=Hendrix |first=Steve |date=May 10, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver, say they're separating |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/arnold-schwarzenegger-and-wife-of-25-years-maria-shriver-say-theyre-separating/2011/05/10/AF16qwdG_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715143420/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/arnold-schwarzenegger-and-wife-of-25-years-maria-shriver-say-theyre-separating/2011/05/10/AF16qwdG_story.html |archive-date=July 15, 2017 |access-date=August 24, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite news |last=Dan Whitcomb |date=May 10, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger, wife Maria Shriver separate |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-schwarzenegger-idUSTRE7490PP20110510 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152934/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/10/us-schwarzenegger-idUSTRE7490PP20110510 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2017 |work=Reuters}}

Pursuant to the divorce judgment, Schwarzenegger kept the Brentwood home, while Shriver purchased a new home nearby so that the children could travel between their parents' homes. They shared custody of the two youngest children.{{Cite news |last=Reich |first=Ashley |date=July 8, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger–Shriver Divorce: Settlement Decides Who Gets House, Kids |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/schwarzenegger-shriver-divorce_n_893470 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710045526/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/08/schwarzenegger-shriver-divorce_n_893470.html |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=HuffPost}} Schwarzenegger came under fire after the initial petition did not include spousal support and a reimbursement of attorney's fees. However, he claims this was not intentional and that he signed the initial documents without having properly read them. He filed amended divorce papers remedying this.{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2011 |title=Ministry of Gossip |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/07/christopher-schwarzenegger-maria-shriver-arnold.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104182734/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/07/christopher-schwarzenegger-maria-shriver-arnold.html |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times}} Schwarzenegger and Shriver finalized their divorce in 2021, ten years after separating.{{Cite news |last=chen |first=joyce |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are house-hunting for their kids |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/arnold-schwarzenegger-and-maria-shriver-are-house-hunting-for-their-kids |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602021319/http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/arnold-schwarzenegger-and-maria-shriver-are-house-hunting-for-their-kids |archive-date=June 2, 2017 |access-date=June 1, 2017 |work=Architectural digest}}

In June 2022, a jury ruled that Maria Shriver was entitled to half of her ex-husband's post-divorce savings that he earned from 1986 to 2011, including a pension.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Maria Shriver Entitled to Half of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Retirement Money After Finalizing Divorce |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/maria-shriver-arnold-schwarzenegger-divorce-settlement-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627083335/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/maria-shriver-arnold-schwarzenegger-divorce-settlement-details/ |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |access-date=June 27, 2022 |website=Us Weekly}}

On May 16, 2011, the Los Angeles Times revealed that Schwarzenegger had fathered a son, Joseph, more than 14 years earlier with an employee in their household, Mildred Patricia "Patty" Baena.{{Cite news |last=Dillon |first=Nancy |date=May 17, 2011 |title=Mildred 'Patty' Baena, 50, identified as the mother of Arnold Schwarzenegger's out of wedlock child: reports |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/05/17/2011-05-17_mildred_baena_50_identified_as_mother_of_arnold_schwarzeneggers_love_child_tmz_r.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521072834/http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/05/17/2011-05-17_mildred_baena_50_identified_as_mother_of_arnold_schwarzeneggers_love_child_tmz_r.html |archive-date=May 21, 2011 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |work=Daily News |location=New York}}{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger Fathered Child with Household Staff Member |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/17/report-schwarzenegger-fathered-child-household-employee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518140201/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/17/report-schwarzenegger-fathered-child-household-employee/ |archive-date=May 18, 2011 |access-date=May 17, 2011 |publisher=Fox}}{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2011 |title=Mildred Patricia Baena, Mother of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Out of Wedlock Child Revealed (PHOTOS) |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/147401/20110518/mildred-patricia-baena-mother-of-arnold-schwarzenegger-s-out-of-wedlock-child-revealed-photos.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903055900/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/147401/20110518/mildred-patricia-baena-mother-of-arnold-schwarzenegger-s-out-of-wedlock-child-revealed-photos.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |website=International Business Times}} "After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger said to the Times. In the statement, Schwarzenegger did not mention that he had confessed to his wife only after she had confronted him with the information, which she had done after confirming with the housekeeper what she had suspected about the child.{{Cite news |date=May 20, 2011 |title=How Maria found out: Arnie's wife reportedly confronted lover about child |url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/how-maria-found-out-arnies-wife-reportedly-confronted-lover-about-child-20110520-1evji.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522152717/http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/how-maria-found-out-arnies-wife-reportedly-confronted-lover-about-child-20110520-1evji.html |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=May 20, 2011 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

Baena is of Guatemalan origin. She was employed by the family for 20 years and retired in January 2011.{{Cite news |last1=Barabak |first1=Mark Z. |last2=Kim |first2=Victoria |date=May 17, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger fathered a with child his mistress, longtime member of the household staff |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-0517-arnold-20110517,0,312678.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519084305/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-0517-arnold-20110517,0,312678.story |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=May 17, 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times}} The pregnant Baena was working in the home while Shriver was pregnant with the youngest of the couple's four children.{{Cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |last2=Steinhauer |first2=Jennifer |date=May 17, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger Whispers Become an Admission |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/us/18schwarzenegger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207163912/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/us/18schwarzenegger.html |archive-date=December 7, 2016 |access-date=February 5, 2017 |work=The New York Times}} Baena's son with Schwarzenegger was born five days after Shriver gave birth.{{Cite news |title=Schwarzenegger's son with housekeeper born days after Shriver gave birth |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0518-cnn-arnold-child,0,7850501.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617053809/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0518-cnn-arnold-child,0,7850501.story |archive-date=June 17, 2011 |work=Chicago Tribune}}{{Cite news |last=Duke |first=Alan |date=May 19, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's two sons born days apart |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/18/california.schwarzenegger/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518220615/http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/18/california.schwarzenegger/index.html |archive-date=May 18, 2011 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |publisher=CNN}} Schwarzenegger said that it took seven or eight years before he found out that he had fathered a child with his housekeeper. It was not until the boy "started looking like [him] ... that [he] put things together".[https://people.com/celebrity/arnold-schwarzenegger-on-60-minutes-how-he-found-out-he-had-another-son/ Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Boy 'Started Looking Like Me'] People, October 1, 2012 Schwarzenegger has taken financial responsibility for the child "from the start and continued to provide support".{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger: I fathered a secret child |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/43057177 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222211237/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43057177 |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |publisher=NBC News}} KNX 1070 radio reported that, in 2010, he bought a new four-bedroom house with a pool for Baena and their son in Bakersfield, California.{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger Reportedly Fired Housekeeper 4 Weeks Ago |url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/05/18/schwarzenegger-reportedly-bought-housekeeper-4-bedroom-home |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814031518/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/05/18/schwarzenegger-reportedly-bought-housekeeper-4-bedroom-home/ |archive-date=August 14, 2011 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |publisher=CBS}} Baena separated from her husband, Rogelio, a few months after Joseph's birth. She filed for divorce in 2008.{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2011 |title=Exhusband of Schwarzenegger's mistress speaks out |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/248741/Ex-husband-of-Schwarzenegger-mistress-speaks-out |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111181259/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/248741/Ex-husband-of-Schwarzenegger-mistress-speaks-out |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |website=Daily Express}} Rogelio said that the child's birth certificate was falsified and that he planned to sue Schwarzenegger for engaging in conspiracy to falsify a public document, a serious crime in California.{{Cite news |date=May 29, 2011 |title=Ex-husband of Arnie's lover plans to sue |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-30/ex-husband-of-arnies-lover-plans-to-sue/2736790 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702071744/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-30/ex-husband-of-arnies-lover-plans-to-sue/2736790 |archive-date=July 2, 2023 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

When asked in January 2014, "Of all the things you are famous for ... which are you least proud of?" Schwarzenegger replied, "I'm least proud of the mistakes I made that caused my family pain and split us up."{{Cite web |last=Schwarzenegger, Arnold |date=January 21, 2014 |title=IamArnold. AMA 2.0. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1vshw2/iamarnold_ama_20/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122024028/http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1vshw2/iamarnold_ama_20/ |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=Reddit}}[https://site.people.com/?p=2585145&preview_id=2585145]{{Dead link|date=March 2021|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{Cite web |last=Davison |first=Tamara |date=July 16, 2020 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger 'tried every sex act' with Brigitte Nielsen in saucy fling |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/brigitte-nielsen-arnold-schwarzeneggers-saucy-22364336 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625130720/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/brigitte-nielsen-arnold-schwarzeneggers-saucy-22364336 |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |website=mirror}}{{Cite web |last=Sieczkowski |first=Cavan |date=September 29, 2012 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Admits To Affair With Brigitte Nielsen |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arnold-schwarzenegger-affair-brigitte-nielsen-maria-shriver-memoir_n_1925688 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624042922/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arnold-schwarzenegger-affair-brigitte-nielsen-maria-shriver-memoir_n_1925688 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |website=HuffPost}}

Schwarzenegger was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, an aortic valve with only two leaflets, where a normal aortic valve has three.{{Cite news |date=April 18, 1997 |title=Surgery Leaves Star Undimmed |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NEWS+LITE+:+SURGERY+LEAVES+STAR+UNDIMMED-a083864140 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024054528/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NEWS+LITE+:+SURGERY+LEAVES+STAR+UNDIMMED-a083864140 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |access-date=July 29, 2008 |work=The Free Library |publisher=Farlex}}{{Cite web |last=Starnes |first=Dr. Vaughn A. |date=March 8, 2001 |title=Renowned Cardiac Surgeon Proclaims Medical "Facts" In Article "Represent No Facts At All" |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/uptotheminute/news_uptotheminute_eng_legacy_18.asp?sec=news&subsec=uptotheminute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523203941/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/uptotheminute/news_uptotheminute_eng_legacy_18.asp%3Fsec%3Dnews%26subsec%3Duptotheminute |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=March 3, 2009}} He opted in 1997 for a replacement heart valve made from his own pulmonary valve, which itself was replaced with a cadaveric pulmonic valve, in a Ross procedure; medical experts predicted he would require pulmonic heart valve replacement surgery within the next two to eight years because his valve would progressively degrade. Schwarzenegger apparently opted against a mechanical valve, the only permanent solution available at the time of his surgery, because it would have sharply limited his physical activity and capacity to exercise.{{Cite news |date=April 18, 1997 |title=Schwarzenegger Has Elective Heart Surgery |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/18/us/schwarzenegger-has-elective-heart-surgery.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530084553/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E6D9113FF93BA25757C0A961958260 |archive-date=May 30, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}

On March 29, 2018, Schwarzenegger underwent emergency open-heart surgery for replacement of his replacement pulmonic valve.{{Cite news |date=March 30, 2018 |title='I'm back': Arnold Schwarzenegger in stable condition after heart surgery |url=https://news.sky.com/story/arnold-schwarzenegger-undergoes-emergency-open-heart-surgery-11310002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330161050/https://news.sky.com/story/arnold-schwarzenegger-undergoes-emergency-open-heart-surgery-11310002 |archive-date=March 30, 2018 |access-date=March 30, 2018 |publisher=Sky News}} He said about his recovery: "I underwent open-heart surgery this spring, I had to use a walker. I had to do breathing exercises five times a day to retrain my lungs. I was frustrated and angry, and in my worst moments, I couldn't see the way back to my old self."{{Cite web |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |date=December 12, 2018 |title=Schwarzenegger: How I fought my way back to fitness |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/11/opinions/arnold-schwarzenegger-fitness-takes-work-dont-give-up/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212161636/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/11/opinions/arnold-schwarzenegger-fitness-takes-work-dont-give-up/index.html |archive-date=December 12, 2018 |publisher=CNN}}

In 2020, 23 years after his first surgery, Schwarzenegger underwent a surgery for a new aortic valve.{{Cite magazine |last1=Lee |first1=Janet W. |last2=McNary |first2=Dave |date=October 24, 2020 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Fantastic' Condition Following Heart Surgery |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-heart-surgery-2-1234814637/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118201500/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-heart-surgery-2-1234814637/ |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |access-date=November 18, 2021 |magazine=Variety |language=en-US}}

On December 9, 2001, he broke six ribs and was hospitalized for four days after a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles.{{Cite news |date=January 9, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger, son get in motorcycle accident |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-09-schwarzenegger-accident_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414021558/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-09-schwarzenegger-accident_x.htm |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press}}

Schwarzenegger saved a drowning man in 2004 while on vacation in Hawaii by swimming out and bringing him back to shore.{{Cite news |date=April 12, 2004 |title=Schwarzenegger helped swimmer in Maui, according to his office |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/2004-04-10-arnold-swimmer_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318034452/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/2004-04-10-arnold-swimmer_x.htm |archive-date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |work=USA Today}}

On January 8, 2006, while Schwarzenegger was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Los Angeles with his son Patrick in the sidecar, another driver backed into the street he was riding on, causing him and his son to collide with the car at a low speed. While his son and the other driver were unharmed, Schwarzenegger sustained an injury to his lip requiring 15 stitches. "No citations were issued", said Officer Jason Lee, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2006 |title=No Charges Against Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10811025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106010926/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10811025/ |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2008 |publisher=NBC News}} Schwarzenegger did not obtain his motorcycle license until July 3, 2006.{{Cite news |last=Navarro |first=Mireya |date=July 7, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger Finally Gets a License |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/us/07arnold.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212235616/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/us/07arnold.html |archive-date=February 12, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}

Schwarzenegger tripped over his ski pole and broke his right femur while skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho, with his family on December 23, 2006.{{Cite news |date=December 24, 2006 |title=Calif. Gov. Schwarzenegger Breaks Leg in Skiing Accident in Idaho |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/calif-gov-schwarzenegger-breaks-leg-in-skiing-accident-in-idaho |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414041257/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,238562,00.html |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |publisher=Fox News |agency=Associated Press}} On December 26, he underwent a 90-minute operation in which cables and screws were used to wire the broken bone back together. He was released from St. Johns Hospital and Health Center on December 30, 2006.{{Cite news |date=December 26, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger cleared to resume duties after surgery |work=Los Angeles Times}}

Schwarzenegger's private jet made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport on June 19, 2009, after the pilot reported smoke coming from the cockpit, according to a statement released by his press secretary. No one was harmed in the incident.{{Cite news |last=Santa Cruz |first=Nicole |date=June 19, 2009 |title=Governor's plane makes emergency landing in Van Nuys |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/governors-plane-makes-emergency-landing-in-van-nuys.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623225503/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/governors-plane-makes-emergency-landing-in-van-nuys.html |archive-date=June 23, 2009 |access-date=June 20, 2009 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

On May 18, 2019, while on a visit to South Africa, Schwarzenegger was attacked and dropkicked from behind by an unknown malefactor while giving autographs to his fans at one of the local schools. Despite the surprise and unprovoked nature of the attack, he reportedly suffered no injuries and continued to interact with fans. The attacker was apprehended and Schwarzenegger declined to press charges against him.{{Cite web |date=May 19, 2019 |title=Schwarzenegger 'will not press charges' over South Africa attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48322307 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519001508/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48322307 |archive-date=May 19, 2019 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite news |last=Donovan-Smith |first=Orion |date=May 19, 2019 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger unhurt after taking a flying kick in the back from a 'mischievous fan' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/05/18/im-just-glad-idiot-didnt-interrupt-my-snapchat-schwarzenegger-says-after-guy-drop-kicks-him/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518205517/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/05/18/im-just-glad-idiot-didnt-interrupt-my-snapchat-schwarzenegger-says-after-guy-drop-kicks-him/ |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |last=Sager |first=Jessica |date=May 19, 2019 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger won't press charges against attacker |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/arnold-schwarzenegger-charges-assault-arnold-sports-africa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520120044/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/arnold-schwarzenegger-charges-assault-arnold-sports-africa |archive-date=May 20, 2019 |access-date=May 20, 2019 |publisher=Fox News |language=en-US}}

Schwarzenegger was involved in a multi-vehicle collision on the afternoon of Friday, January 21, 2022. Schwarzenegger was driving a black GMC Yukon SUV near the intersections of Sunset Boulevard and Allenford Avenue in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, when his vehicle collided with a red Toyota Prius. The driver of the Prius was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained to her head. Schwarzenegger was uninjured.{{Cite web |date=January 22, 2022 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Involved in Car Crash on Sunset Boulevard That Sent 1 to Hospital |url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2022/01/22/arnold-schwarzenegger-involved-in-car-crash-on-sunset-boulevard/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122150850/https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2022/01/22/arnold-schwarzenegger-involved-in-car-crash-on-sunset-boulevard/ |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2022 |website=losangeles.cbslocal.com}}{{Cite web |date=January 22, 2022 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Involved in Bad Car Accident with Injuries |url=https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/21/arnold-schwarzenegger-car-accident-prius-suv-injuries/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122013943/https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/21/arnold-schwarzenegger-car-accident-prius-suv-injuries/ |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2022 |website=tmz.com}}{{Cite web |date=January 22, 2022 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger involved in multi-car crash in Brentwood, LAPD says |url=https://abc7.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-car-crash-brentwood-sunset-boulevard/11496858/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122022324/https://abc7.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-car-crash-brentwood-sunset-boulevard/11496858/ |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2022 |website=abc7.com}}

Schwarzenegger's official height of {{cvt|6|ft|2|in}} has been brought into question by several articles. During his bodybuilding days in the late 1960s, it was claimed that he measured {{cvt|6|ft|1.5|in}}. However, in 1988, both the Daily Mail and Time Out magazine mentioned that Schwarzenegger appeared noticeably shorter.Andrews, N: True Myths: The Life and Times of Arnold Schwarzenegger, page 157. Bloomsbury, 2003 Prior to running for governor, Schwarzenegger's height was once again questioned in an article by the Chicago Reader.{{Cite web |last=Miner |first=Michael |date=September 23, 2003 |title=Poor Recall |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2003/030919_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423133904/http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2003/030919_1.html |archive-date=April 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |website=Chicago Reader}} As governor, Schwarzenegger engaged in a light-hearted exchange with Assemblyman Herb Wesson over their heights. At one point, Wesson made an unsuccessful attempt to, in his own words, "settle this once and for all and find out how tall he is" by using a tailor's tape measure on the Governor.{{Cite news |last=Salladay |first=Robert |date=October 23, 2003 |title=Incoming governor's mantra: 'Action' |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/10/23/MNG2C2HG8R1.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328131723/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2003%2F10%2F23%2FMNG2C2HG8R1.DTL |archive-date=March 28, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} Schwarzenegger retaliated by placing a pillow stitched with the words "Need a lift?" on the {{convert|5|ft|5|in|adj=on|spell=in}} Wesson's chair before a negotiating session in his office.{{Cite web |last=Weintraub |first=Daniel |title=Schwarzenegger Blinked |url=https://www.ncsl.org/programs/pubs/slmag/2004/04SLDec_Schwarzenegger.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604204415/https://www.ncsl.org/programs/pubs/slmag/2004/04SLDec_Schwarzenegger.pdf |archive-date=June 4, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=National Conference of State Legislators}} Democrat Bob Mulholland also claimed Schwarzenegger was {{cvt|5|ft|10|in}} and that he wore risers in his boots.{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2004 |title=The Governator II: At first it seemed like a bad joke |url=http://www.arnoldwatch.org/articles/articles_000488.php3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525190758/http://www.arnoldwatch.org/articles/articles_000488.php3 |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |publisher=Arnoldwatch.org}} In 1999, Men's Health magazine stated his height was {{cvt|5|ft|10|in}}.{{Cite news |last=Mathews, Jay |date=August 3, 1999 |title=The Shrinking Field |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/tall080399.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103200448/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/tall080399.htm |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=July 23, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Schwarzenegger's autobiography, Total Recall, was released in October 2012. He devotes one chapter called "The Secret" to his extramarital affair. The majority of his book is about his successes in the three major chapters in his life: bodybuilder, actor, and Governor of California.{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2012 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger talks scandal, new book with '60 Minutes' |url=https://abc7.com/archive/8829291/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106004755/http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news%2Fnational_world&id=8829291 |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |publisher=Abclocal.go.com}} Schwarzenegger released a second book in 2023 titled Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, which features life advice and again touches on his life experiences.

Growing up during Allied-occupied Austria, Schwarzenegger commonly saw heavy military vehicles such as tanks as a child.{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2016 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger: My army tank mistake |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyw6mJhb090 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626192439/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyw6mJhb090 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |language=en |via=YouTube}} As a result, he paid $20,000 to bring his Austrian Army M47 Patton tank (331) to the United States,{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2018 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger paid $20,000 to ship his old tank to the US and now uses it to help kids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/26/arnold-schwarzenegger-gives-kids-rides-in-his-old-war-tank.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821234116/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/26/arnold-schwarzenegger-gives-kids-rides-in-his-old-war-tank.html |archive-date=August 21, 2019 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |publisher=CNBC}} which he previously operated during his mandatory service in 1965. However, he later obtained his vehicle in 1991/2,{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2013 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger takes his own personal tank out for a spin |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bp/arnold-schwarzenegger-takes-own-personal-tank-spin-000359471.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALoKyAD8BfAszlUAjxNz_uk2llg7ejHjx-wQ89VcnbTIeM53qfabjtlwM8rkuhFeUN2dnZLXkxfJvpk5qh8d9mqvI4VmbJc7YQVcOUMV1kNVY7LyXl0Q7YN6Jr_-UAWC8lkqZROH4JdW_axEr9P-s7jBKa2Ctrd4epa-aMwZZg-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726101112/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bp/arnold-schwarzenegger-takes-own-personal-tank-spin-000359471.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALoKyAD8BfAszlUAjxNz_uk2llg7ejHjx-wQ89VcnbTIeM53qfabjtlwM8rkuhFeUN2dnZLXkxfJvpk5qh8d9mqvI4VmbJc7YQVcOUMV1kNVY7LyXl0Q7YN6Jr_-UAWC8lkqZROH4JdW_axEr9P-s7jBKa2Ctrd4epa-aMwZZg-4 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |website=yahoo!}} during his tenure as the Chairmen of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition,{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2014 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Crushes Things with Tanks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6njdZO_sCcI&list=RD6njdZO_sCcI&start_radio=1&t=277 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221205820/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6njdZO_sCcI&list=RD6njdZO_sCcI&start_radio=1&t=277 |archive-date=December 21, 2020 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |website=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – YouTube}} and now uses it to support his charity. His first car ever was an Opel Kadett in 1969 after serving in the Austrian army, then he rode a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy in 1991.{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2014 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger and his tank: "I like crushing things" |url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-and-his-m47-patton-tank-i-really-like-crushing-things/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102083537/https://www.driving.co.uk/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-and-his-m47-patton-tank-i-really-like-crushing-things/ |archive-date=November 2, 2018 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |website=driving.co.uk}}

Moreover, he came to develop an interest in large vehicles and became the first civilian in the U.S. to purchase a Humvee. He was so enamored by the vehicle that he lobbied the Humvee's manufacturer, AM General, to produce a street-legal, civilian version, which they did in 1992; the first two Hummer H1s they sold were also purchased by Schwarzenegger. In 2010, he had one regular and three running on non-fossil power sources; one for hydrogen, one for vegetable oil, and one for biodiesel.{{Cite news |date=February 28, 2010 |title=The Hummer and Schwarzenegger: They probably won't be back |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/26/AR2010022603248.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102212601/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/26/AR2010022603248.html |archive-date=November 2, 2015 |access-date=October 4, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Schwarzenegger was in the news in 2014 for buying a rare Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. He was spotted and filmed in 2015 in his car, painted silver with bright aluminium forged wheels. His Bugatti has its interior adorned in dark brown leather.{{Cite web |title=Terminator acelera no seu Bugatti Veyron |url=http://www.maismotores.net/2015/08/terminator-acelera-no-seu-bugatti-veyron/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812001907/http://www.maismotores.net/2015/08/terminator-acelera-no-seu-bugatti-veyron/ |archive-date=August 12, 2015 |access-date=August 11, 2015}} In 2017, Schwarzenegger acquired a Mercedes G-Class modified for all-electric drive.{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Fred |date=January 23, 2017 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger will now drive a new custom all-electric Mercedes G-Class made by Kreisel Electric |url=https://electrek.co/2017/01/23/arnold-schwarzenegger-all-electric-mercedes-g-class-kreisel-electric/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201102212/https://electrek.co/2017/01/23/arnold-schwarzenegger-all-electric-mercedes-g-class-kreisel-electric/ |archive-date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=January 23, 2017 |website=Electrek}}

The Hummers that Schwarzenegger bought in 1992 are so large—each weighs {{convert|6300|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and is {{convert|7|ft|m}} wide—that they are classified as large trucks, and U.S. fuel economy regulations do not apply to them. During the gubernatorial recall campaign, he announced that he would convert one of his Hummers to burn hydrogen. The conversion was reported to have cost about $21,000. After the election, he signed an executive order to jump-start the building of hydrogen refueling plants called the California Hydrogen Highway Network, and gained a United States Department of Energy grant to help pay for its projected US$91,000,000 cost.{{Cite web |title=Thanks to Arnold, California, to Pave the Hydrogen Highway |url=http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/hydrogen/schwarzenegger.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316051803/http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/hydrogen/schwarzenegger.htm |archive-date=March 16, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BMW World}} California took delivery of the first H2H (Hydrogen Hummer) in October 2004.{{Cite web |last=Wickell |first=Dale |title=HUMMER H2H Hydrogen Powered Experimental Vehicle |url=http://trucks.about.com/od/hybridcar/a/hummer_h2h.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525024014/http://trucks.about.com/od/hybridcar/a/hummer_h2h.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |website=About.com Autos |publisher=About.com}}

File:2562670 Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kuwait 2016.jpg in Kuwait in 2016]]

Schwarzenegger was nicknamed the "Austrian Oak" in his bodybuilding days, "Arnie" or "Schwarzy" during his acting career,{{Cite magazine |date=May 15, 2017 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger at University of Houston Commencement: 'None of Us Can Make It Alone' |url=https://time.com/4779796/arnold-schwarzenegger-university-of-houston-uh-commencement-graduation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303053846/https://time.com/4779796/arnold-schwarzenegger-university-of-houston-uh-commencement-graduation/ |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |access-date=March 2, 2021 |magazine=Time}} and "the Governator" (a portmanteau of "Governor" and "Terminator") during his political career. He married Maria Shriver, a niece of the former U.S. president John F. Kennedy, in 1986. They separated in 2011 after he admitted to having fathered a child with their housemaid in 1997; their divorce was finalized in 2021.{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2021 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver Officially Divorced |url=https://www.tmz.com/2021/12/28/arnold-schwarzenegger-maria-shriver-divorced-money-prenup/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229000710/https://www.tmz.com/2021/12/28/arnold-schwarzenegger-maria-shriver-divorced-money-prenup/ |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=TMZ}}

Schwarzenegger has been involved with the Special Olympics for many years after they were founded in 1968 by his later mother-in-law Eunice Kennedy Shriver.{{Cite news |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Charity: Special Olympics, After-School All-Stars |url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/05/04/cx_me_0505featslide_8.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828123849/http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/04/cx_me_0505featslide_8.html |archive-date=August 28, 2011 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |work=Forbes}} In 2007, Schwarzenegger was the official spokesperson for the Special Olympics held in Shanghai, China.{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Charity Work, Events and Causes |url=http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/12-arnold-schwarzenegger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113203057/http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/12-arnold-schwarzenegger |archive-date=January 13, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012}} Schwarzenegger believes that quality school opportunities should be made available to children who might not normally be able to access them.{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=http://www.afterschoolallstars.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=enJJKMNpFmG&b=854711&ct=1126543 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315162614/http://www.afterschoolallstars.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=enJJKMNpFmG&b=854711&ct=1126543 |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012}} In 1995, he founded the Inner City Games Foundation (ICG) which provides cultural, educational and community enrichment programming to youth. ICG is active in 15 cities around the country and serves over 250,000 children in over 400 schools countrywide. He has also been involved with After-School All-Stars and founded the Los Angeles branch in 2002.{{Cite web |title=After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles |url=http://www.la-allstars.org/index.php/about-joomla |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305070742/http://www.la-allstars.org/index.php/about-joomla |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012}} ASAS is an after school program provider, educating youth about health, fitness and nutrition.

On February 12, 2010, Schwarzenegger took part in the Vancouver Olympic Torch relay. He handed off the flame to the next runner, Sebastian Coe.{{Cite news |date=February 12, 2010 |title=How Vancouver almost lost the 2010 Olympics  – Vancouver 2010 Olympics |url=http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/764519--how-vancouver-almost-lost-the-2010-olympics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215071318/http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/764519--how-vancouver-almost-lost-the-2010-olympics |archive-date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |work=Toronto Star |location=Toronto}}

Schwarzenegger had a collection of Marxist busts, which he requested from Russian friends during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as they were being destroyed. In 2011, he revealed that his wife had requested their removal, but he kept the one of Vladimir Lenin present, since "he was the first".[http://www.newshub.co.nz/entertainment/schwarzenegger-gives-up-soviet-statue-collection-2011040412 "Schwarzenegger gives up Soviet statue collection"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211141704/http://www.newshub.co.nz/entertainment/schwarzenegger-gives-up-soviet-statue-collection-2011040412 |date=February 11, 2017 }}, WENN. NewsHub. March 4, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2017 In 2015, he said he kept the Lenin bust to "show losers".[https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/the-unkillable-arnold-schwarzenegger-20150507 "The Unkillable Arnold Schwarzenegger"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819103931/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/the-unkillable-arnold-schwarzenegger-20150507 |date=August 19, 2017 }}, Jonah Weiner. Rolling Stone. May 7, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2017

Schwarzenegger is a supporter of Israel, and has participated in a Los Angeles pro-Israel rally{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2010 |title=Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at L.A.'s Pro-Israel rally |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjZzgvz1-A |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216184232/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjZzgvz1-A |archive-date=February 16, 2014 |access-date=December 28, 2013 |via=YouTube}} among other similar events.{{Cite news |last=Benhorin |first=Yitzhak |title=Schwarzenegger: I love Israel |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4067508,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203162324/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4067508,00.html |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=December 28, 2013 |work=Ynet}} In 2004, Schwarzenegger visited Israel to break ground on Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, and to lay a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, he also met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Moshe Katsav.{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2004 |title=Schwarzenegger, in Israel, Pays Tribute to Holocaust Victims |url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4828736 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017100237/https://www.haaretz.com/1.4828736 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |website=Haaretz}} In 2011, at the Independence Day celebration hosted by the Israeli Consulate General in Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger said: "I love Israel. When I became governor, Israel was the first country that I visited. When I had the chance to sign a bill calling on California pension funds to divest their money from companies that do business with Iran, I immediately signed that bill", then he added, "I knew that we could not send money to these crazy dictators who hate us and threaten Israel any time they have a bad day."

File:2017 Wahlkampf-Tour- Oberösterreich (37342740665).jpg in September 2017]]

Schwarzenegger supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq.{{Cite news |date=September 12, 2007 |title=Schwarzenegger rejects California vote on Iraq war |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-usa-california/schwarzenegger-rejects-california-vote-on-iraq-war-idUSN1146037520070912 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717154053/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-usa-california/schwarzenegger-rejects-california-vote-on-iraq-war-idUSN1146037520070912 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |work=Reuters}} Schwarzenegger also expressed support for the 2011 military intervention in Libya.{{Cite news |date=March 30, 2011 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger rallies to defence of David Cameron on Libya |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2011/mar/30/davidcameron-arnold-schwarzenegger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717154111/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2011/mar/30/davidcameron-arnold-schwarzenegger |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |work=The Guardian}} In 2014, Schwarzenegger released a video message in support of the Euromaidan protests against Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.{{Cite news |date=January 27, 2014 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Releases Message Supporting Ukrainian Protestors (VIDEO) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/video-arnold-schwarzenegger-supports-ukrainian-674402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826112134/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/video-arnold-schwarzenegger-supports-ukrainian-674402 |archive-date=August 26, 2019 |access-date=August 26, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} In 2022, Schwarzenegger released another video message condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Schwarzenegger's Twitter account is one of the 22 accounts that the president of Russia's Twitter account follows.{{Cite web |last=Hubler |first=Shawn |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Why Arnold Schwarzenegger taped an impassioned video to Russia, telling Putin: 'Stop this war.' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/17/world/europe/arnold-schwarzenegger-video-putin.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317192516/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/17/world/europe/arnold-schwarzenegger-video-putin.html |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=The New York Times}}

Schwarzenegger, who played football as a boy, grew up watching Bayern Munich and Sturm Graz. He also expressed his admiration of Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool in October 2019.{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2019 |title=Premier League predictions: Lawro v 'Terminator: Dark Fate' star Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50160816 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027012627/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50160816 |archive-date=October 27, 2019 |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=BBC Sport}}

Schwarzenegger inspired many actors to become action heroes, including Dwayne Johnson,{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2018 |title=Let's rock! Why Dwayne Johnson is the new Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/14/lets-rock-why-dwayne-johnson-is-the-new-schwarzenegger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714073224/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/14/lets-rock-why-dwayne-johnson-is-the-new-schwarzenegger |archive-date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2017 |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Is This Generation's Much-Needed Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://hypebeast.com/2017/7/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-arnold-schwarzenegger-comparison |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123153315/https://hypebeast.com/2017/7/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-arnold-schwarzenegger-comparison |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=Hypebeast}} Matt McColm,{{Cite web |title=Movie Trends / What's happened to all the shoot-'em-up films? Who's the next Sly or Jean-Claude? |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19961130&id=FWhSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6818,6314399 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012357/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19961130&id=FWhSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6818,6314399 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Christian Boeving,{{Cite web |last=Nowicki |first=Albert |date=December 6, 2015 |title=Ranking. Gwiazdy kina akcji, które zgasły prędzej niż rozbłysły |url=http://moviesroom.pl/ranking-gwiazdy-kina-akcji-ktore-zgasly-predzej-niz-rozblysly/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114231508/http://moviesroom.pl/ranking-gwiazdy-kina-akcji-ktore-zgasly-predzej-niz-rozblysly/ |archive-date=January 14, 2016 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=Movies Room |language=pl}} Vidyut Jamwal,{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2013 |title=Vidyut Jamwal wants to be the Indian Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/vidyut-jamwal-wants-to-be-the-indian-arnold-schwarzenegger-631217 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913183941/https://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/vidyut-jamwal-wants-to-be-the-indian-arnold-schwarzenegger-631217 |archive-date=September 13, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=NDTV Movies}} and Daniel Greene. Boeving's character in the 2003 action film When Eagles Strike was based on Schwarzenegger's image from the late 1980s: mostly on Major "Dutch" Schaefer from Predator (1987) and Colonel John Matrix from Commando (1985).{{Cite web |title=Operation Balikatan (2003) − Trivia − IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369795/trivia?ref_=tt_ql_2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200317145122/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369795/trivia?ref_=tt_ql_2 |archive-date=March 17, 2020 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |publisher=IMDb. Amazon}}

In 2012, Schwarzenegger helped to found the Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, which is a part of the USC Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.{{Cite web |title=USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy | Politics & Issues – Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/issues/post/usc-schwarzenegger-institute-for-state-and-global-policy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122051826/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/issues/post/usc-schwarzenegger-institute-for-state-and-global-policy |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}} The institute's mission is to "[advance] post-partisanship, where leaders put people over political parties and work together to find the best ideas and solutions to benefit the people they serve" and to "seek to influence public policy and public debate in finding solutions to the serious challenges we face".{{Cite web |title=About the Institute | USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy |url=http://schwarzenegger.usc.edu/about-the-institute/mission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122053351/http://schwarzenegger.usc.edu/about-the-institute/mission |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.usc.edu}} Schwarzenegger serves as chairman of the institute.{{Cite web |title=Leadership | USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy |url=http://schwarzenegger.usc.edu/about-the-institute/about-the-institute-leadership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122053059/http://schwarzenegger.usc.edu/about-the-institute/about-the-institute-leadership |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.usc.edu}}

{{main|Statue of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}

An {{convert|8|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}}, {{convert|800|lb|kg|abbr=on|0|}} bronze sculpture of Schwarzenegger performing his signature 'twisted double biceps pose' designed by sculptor Ralph Crawford{{Cite web |last=FRANCES KILLEA |date=March 5, 2019 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Statue, Columbus - The tribute to the iconic strongman stands outside the Greater Columbus Convention Center |url=https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/arnold-schwarzenegger-statue-columbus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526112531/https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/arnold-schwarzenegger-statue-columbus |archive-date=May 26, 2022 |access-date=May 1, 2023 |website=Ohiomagazine.com}} is located outside the Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio, which is the venue of the annual Arnold Sports Festival.{{Cite news |last=Audi |first=Tamara |date=2012-03-03 |title=Hello, Columbus: Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Back, Bigger Than Ever in Ohio |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203753704577255310284584738 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228130327/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203753704577255310284584738 |archive-date=2019-02-28 |access-date=2019-02-28 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}

For the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, Schwarzenegger endorsed fellow Republican John Kasich.{{Cite web |title=Schwarzenegger calls Kasich the 'Terminator' |url=http://www.unionleader.com/Arnold_Schwarzenegger_calls_Kasich_The_Terminator |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215071504/http://www.unionleader.com/Arnold_Schwarzenegger_calls_Kasich_The_Terminator%26source%3DRSS |archive-date=February 15, 2016 |website=New Hampshire Union Leader}} However, he announced in October that he would not vote for the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in that year's United States presidential election, with this being the first time he did not vote for the Republican candidate since becoming a citizen in 1983.{{Cite news |date=October 8, 2016 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Will Not Be Voting For Donald Trump |url=http://people.com/politics/arnold-schwarzenegger-will-not-be-voting-for-donald-trump-choose-your-country-over-your-party/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009104158/http://people.com/politics/arnold-schwarzenegger-will-not-be-voting-for-donald-trump-choose-your-country-over-your-party/ |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |access-date=October 9, 2016 |work=People |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=October 9, 2016 |title='I want to punch him': De Niro launches scathing attack on Trump |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-09/robert-de-niro-says-he-would-like-to-punch-trump/7916292 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009083618/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-09/robert-de-niro-says-he-would-like-to-punch-trump/7916292 |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |access-date=October 9, 2016 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |title=Schwarzenegger, McCain, More Drop Support of Trump |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-john-mccain-wont-vote-for-donald-trump-w444040 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009104008/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-john-mccain-wont-vote-for-donald-trump-w444040 |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |access-date=October 9, 2016 |work=Us Weekly}}

File:California Governors - Your Action Saves Lives campaign video.ogg

In 2017, Schwarzenegger condemned white supremacists who were seen carrying Nazi and Confederate flags by calling their heroes "losers".{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2017 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger to white supremacists: 'Your heroes are losers' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-trump-the-united-states-no-place-for-nazi-flags-2017-8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026142949/https://www.businessinsider.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-trump-the-united-states-no-place-for-nazi-flags-2017-8 |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Business Insider}}

Following the January 6 United States Capitol attack by supporters of President Donald Trump, Schwarzenegger posted a video address on social media in which he likened the insurrection to Nazi Germany's Kristallnacht, which he described as "a night of rampage against the Jews carried out [by] the Nazi equivalent of the Proud Boys." He spoke of his father's alcoholism, domestic violence, and abuse, and how it was typical of other former Nazis and collaborators in the post-war era; and described Trump as "a failed leader. He will go down in history as the worst president ever."{{Cite tweet |number=1348249481284874240 |user=Schwarzenegger |title=(Video) My message to my fellow Americans and friends around the world following this week's attack on the Capitol |first=Arnold |last=Schwarzenegger |date=January 10, 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=January 10, 2021 |title=Schwarzenegger rebukes Trump and compares Capitol riot to Kristallnacht |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/10/capitol-riot-schwarzenegger-rebukes-trump-kristallnacht |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111174640/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/10/capitol-riot-schwarzenegger-rebukes-trump-kristallnacht |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=The Guardian}}

In late March 2021, Schwarzenegger was interviewed by Politico about the upcoming recall election in California in which he said that "it's pretty much the same atmosphere today as it was then,"{{Cite web |last=Marinucci |first=Carla |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger has a warning for Gavin Newsom |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/31/arnold-schwarzenegger-newsom-california-recall-478575 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401163517/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/31/arnold-schwarzenegger-newsom-california-recall-478575 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=Politico}} and when he was asked about Newsom's claim of this being a "Republican recall" he responded that "this recall effort is sparked by ordinary folks," and that this was not a power grab by Republicans.{{Cite web |last=Fordham |first=Evie |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Newsom recall effort is sparked by 'ordinary people,' not Republican 'power grab': Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arnold-schwarzenegger-newsom-recall-governor-republican |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401055727/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arnold-schwarzenegger-newsom-recall-governor-republican |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |publisher=Fox News}}{{Cite web |last=Haefeli |first=Laura |date=April 1, 2021 |title=Former California Gov. Schwarzenegger Warns Newsom To Take Looming Recall Election Seriously |url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2021/04/01/former-california-gov-schwarzenegger-warns-newsom-to-take-looming-recall-election-seriously/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401170558/https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2021/04/01/former-california-gov-schwarzenegger-warns-newsom-to-take-looming-recall-election-seriously/ |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=sacramento.cbslocal.com |publisher=CBS Sacramento}}

Schwarzenegger has spoken out about COVID-19, urging Americans to wear masks and practice social distancing. In August 2021, he said: "There is a virus here. It kills people and the only way we prevent it is: get vaccinated, wear masks, do social distancing, washing your hands all the time, and not just to think about, 'Well my freedom is being kind of disturbed here.' No, screw your freedom."{{Cite web |title='Screw your freedom': Arnold Schwarzenegger calls anti-maskers 'schmucks' in powerful rant |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/08/12/arnold-schwarzenegger-anti-maskers-screw-your-freedom/8106562002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218215937/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/08/12/arnold-schwarzenegger-anti-maskers-screw-your-freedom/8106562002/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |website=USA Today}}

On January 17, 2024, Schwarzenegger was detained by German authorities after failing to claim an item to customs agents after landing in Munich. A spokesperson for the customs agency said that Schwarzenegger would face criminal tax proceedings because he failed to declare an item that originated in a country that is not a part of the European Union. The item in question was a watch manufactured by Audemars Piguet, a Swiss company. A spokesperson for Schwarzenegger said that he was never asked to fill out a declaration form and he was compliant with officials upon his detainment. Schwarzenegger was held for three hours and was released after pre-paying potential taxes. The watch was subsequently auctioned off at a dinner in Kitzbühel to raise funds for the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative the next day, fetching €270,000.{{Cite news |last1=Elizabeth Wagmeister |last2=Chris Stern |last3=Jorge Engels |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger held at Munich airport after failing to declare expensive watch |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/17/europe/arnold-schwarzenegger-munich-airport-watch-intl/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120141355/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/17/europe/arnold-schwarzenegger-munich-airport-watch-intl/index.html |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ogunbayo |first=Morayo |date=January 19, 2024 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's undeclared watch fetches $294K at climate auction |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/19/entertainment/arnold-schwarzeneggers-undeclared-watch-fetches-usd294k-at-climate-auction/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120141355/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/19/entertainment/arnold-schwarzeneggers-undeclared-watch-fetches-usd294k-at-climate-auction/index.html |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}

On October 30, 2024, Schwarzenegger endorsed Kamala Harris for president.{{Cite web |last=Tasolides |first=Justin |date=October 30, 2024 |title=Former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorses Harris |url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2024/10/30/arnold-schwarzenegger-endorses-harris-walz-republican-trump |access-date=October 30, 2024 |website=Spectrum News NY1}}

File:Arnold Schwarzenegger February 2015.jpg

At a 2015 security conference, Schwarzenegger called climate change the issue of our time,{{Cite web |year=2015 |title=Schwarzenegger: Climate change is 'the issue of our time' |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/schwarzenegger-climate-change-the-issue-our-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203180454/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/schwarzenegger-climate-change-the-issue-our-time |archive-date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=February 8, 2016 |publisher=MSNBC}} and urged politicians to stop treating it as a political issue.{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2015 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger: Republicans need to stop treating climate change like a political issue |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/schwarzenegger-on-climate-change-2015-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026151428/https://www.businessinsider.com/schwarzenegger-on-climate-change-2015-12 |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Business Insider}} Next, in 2016, he collaborated on a campaign by WildAid, starring in the PSA, "Less Meat, Less Heat,"{{Cite web |date=2016 |title='Less Meat Less Heat' starring Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3q-7ish6vk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126171842/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3q-7ish6vk |archive-date=November 26, 2023 |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=WildAid}} that encourages people to eat less meat as a means of combating climate change.{{Cite web |last=Shoard |first=Catherine |date=June 23, 2016 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron urge people to eat less meat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/23/arnold-schwarzenegger-james-cameron-eat-less-meat-china |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126174149/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/23/arnold-schwarzenegger-james-cameron-eat-less-meat-china |archive-date=November 26, 2023 |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=The Guardian}}

He appeared in, and was one of 12 executive producers along with, James Cameron, Pamela Anderson, Steve Bellamy, Rip Esselstyn, Jackie Chan, and Brendan Brazier for the 2018 documentary The Game Changers. This film explores the rise of plant-based diets in professional sports.{{Cite web |last=Dundas |first=Chad |date=2020-01-03 |title='TUF' champ James Wilks finds second life — and controversy — as plant-based-diet advocate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1506838/2020/01/03/tuf-champ-james-wilks-finds-second-life-and-controversy-as-plant-based-diet-advocate/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |work=New York Times}}{{Cite news |last=Lodge |first=Guy |date=March 8, 2018 |title=Film Review: 'The Game Changers' |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/the-game-changers-review-1202721601/ |access-date=September 29, 2019 |work=Variety}}

In February 2022, he said that he has "been about 80% plant-based for the past five years of my life".{{Cite web |last=Maziotta |first=Julie |date=February 24, 2022 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Has Been 80% Plant-Based for 5 Years, Feels 'Healthier and Younger Overall' |url=https://people.com/health/arnold-schwarzenegger-has-been-80-plant-based-for-5-years-feels-healthier-and-younger-overall/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=People Magazine}} He also says that while he occasionally still consumes smaller amounts of animal products, following a mostly plant-based diet is better for his "overall-health," and that James Cameron helped him to understand that it is better for the environment.

{{Main|Arnold Schwarzenegger filmography}}

Schwarzenegger has appeared in over 40 films, and has also ventured into directing and producing. He began his acting career primarily with small roles in film and television starting in 1969. In the 1980s, he became his primary character in two film franchises: as Conan in the Conan series and as The Terminator in the Terminator series.

Schwarzenegger has received several awards and nominations for his work in films. In Stay Hungry, one of his early roles, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture. He has also been nominated for various awards for his roles in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Junior, and True Lies. According to Box Office Mojo, a box office revenue tracking website, films in which Schwarzenegger has acted have grossed a total of more than $1.7 billion within the United States, with an average of $67 million per film and total $4.0 billion worldwide.{{Cite news |date=August 24, 2023 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://arnoldschwarzeneggers.com/ |access-date=August 24, 2023}} According to The Numbers, another box office revenue tracking website, films in which Schwarzenegger has acted have total grossed around $4.5 billion worldwide.{{Cite news |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/person/128750401-Arnold-Schwarzenegger |access-date=February 20, 2014 |publisher=The Numbers}}

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Arnold Schwarzenegger}}

Bodybuilding

• Seven-time Mr. Olympia winner
• Four-time Mr. Universe winner
• 1969 World Amateur Bodybuilding Champion
• September 18, 2024, honorary doctorate from the Hertie School in Berlin for his achievements in the field of governance and climate action{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2024 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger receives honorary doctorate in Berlin for commitment to climate action |url=https://apnews.com/video/arnold-schwarzenegger-berlin-california-5deee0b66f9c45c9a8da171292e96414 |access-date=September 24, 2024 |website=AP News}}

Entertainment

• 1977 Golden Globe Award winner
• 2012 Inkpot Award{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2012 |title=Inkpot Award |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot |website=Comic-Con International: San Diego}}
• 2014 Primetime Emmy Award winner for producing the documentary series Years of Living Dangerously{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger {{pipe}} Emmy Awards |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/arnold-schwarzenegger |access-date=January 24, 2023 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}

Halls of Fame

• International Sports Hall of Fame (class of 2012){{Cite web |title=International Sports Hall of Fame |url=http://www.ishof.net/#!bio-arnold-schwarzenegger.csui |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228033534/http://www.ishof.net/#!bio-arnold-schwarzenegger.csui |archive-date=February 28, 2017 |access-date=March 13, 2017}}
• WWE Hall of Fame (class of 2015){{Citation |title=WWE Hall of Fame 2015, every inductee! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bfIn_ykLy0 |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221205216/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bfIn_ykLy0 |archive-date=December 21, 2020 |language=en}}
• Medal for Humanitary Merit of the Austrian Albert Schweitzer Society (2011){{Cite web |title=ReportCanada-USA |url=http://www.oeasg.org/ReportCanUSA.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916022554/http://www.oeasg.org/ReportCanUSA.htm |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |website=oeasg.org}}
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

State/local

• Public art mural portrait "Arnold Schwarzenegger" (2012) by Jonas Never, Venice, Los Angeles{{Cite journal |last=Salim |first=Zia |year=2019 |title=The Contours of Creativity: Public Art, Cultural Landscapes, and Urban Space in Venice, California |url=http://scholarworks.csun.edu/bitstream/handle/10211.3/211188/CAGeo58-42-79-Salim.pdf?sequence=1 |url-status=dead |journal=The California Geographer/The California Geographical Society |volume=58 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109172255/http://scholarworks.csun.edu/bitstream/handle/10211.3/211188/CAGeo58-42-79-Salim.pdf?sequence=1 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=September 22, 2020}}
• Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy (part of the USC Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California) named in his honor.
• Arnold's Run ski trail at Sun Valley Resort named in his honor.{{Cite web |title=And … here's Arnold's Run |url=http://www.mtexpress.com/2001/01-12-05/01-12-05arnoldsrun.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011207105112/http://www.mtexpress.com/2001/01-12-05/01-12-05arnoldsrun.htm |archive-date=December 7, 2001 |access-date=July 13, 2008}} The trail is categorized as a black diamond, or most difficult, for its terrain.

International

• Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in Gold (1993){{Cite web |title=Österreichische Nationalbibliothek – Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=15217485 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927113219/http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Pages/ImageDetail.aspx?p_iBildID=15217485 |archive-date=September 27, 2017 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |website=bildarchivaustria.at}}
• Cavalier (2011) and Commander (2017) of the French Legion of Honor{{Cite web |date=May 19, 2011 |title=A bad week for the males of our species |url=https://www.salon.com/2011/05/19/lyons_male_species/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102183101/https://www.salon.com/2011/05/19/lyons_male_species/ |archive-date=November 2, 2019 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |website=Salon |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Receives France's Highest Honor for his Environmental Work |url=https://people.com/movies/arnold-schwarzenegger-awarded-for-environmental-work/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331164736/http://people.com/movies/arnold-schwarzenegger-awarded-for-environmental-work/ |archive-date=March 31, 2018 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |website=People |language=en}}
• Honorary Ring of the Federal State of Styria (Austria, June 2017){{Cite web |last=Wutti |first=Kerstin |date=June 22, 2017 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger erhielt Ehrenring des Landes Steiermark |url=https://www.meinbezirk.at/steiermark/c-leute/arnold-schwarzenegger-erhielt-ehrenring-des-landes-steiermark_a2166212 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729105511/https://www.meinbezirk.at/steiermark/c-leute/arnold-schwarzenegger-erhielt-ehrenring-des-landes-steiermark_a2166212 |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |publisher=meinbezirk.at |language=de}}
• "A Day for Arnold" on July 30, 2007, in Thal, Austria. For his 60th birthday, the mayor sent Schwarzenegger the enameled address sign (Thal 145) of the house where Schwarzenegger was born, declaring "This belongs to him. No one here will ever be assigned that number again".{{Cite web |title=Schwarzenegger's WWE HOF bio |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/arnold-schwarzenegger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211010752/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/arnold-schwarzenegger |archive-date=February 11, 2015 |access-date=January 28, 2015 |publisher=WWE}}{{Cite news |date=July 30, 2007 |title=Strudel, schnitzel shower Schwarzenegger at 60th birthday bash |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-07-30-schwarzenegger_N.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705114202/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-07-30-schwarzenegger_N.htm |archive-date=July 5, 2011 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press}}
• "Honor et Gloria" White Cross (No.179) – 2023; Ukrainian non-state decoration bestowed by the VGO "Kraina" (NGO) at the request of Mr Anatoliy Ostapenko (member of the Verkhovna Rada){{Cite web |title=Білий хрест "HONOR ET GLORIA" |url=https://vto-orden.com.ua/catalog/award/bilij-hrest-chest-ta-slava |access-date=September 1, 2023 |publisher=vto-orden.com.ua |language=uk}}

• {{Cite book |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |title=Arnold: Developing a Mr. Universe Physique |publisher=Schwarzenegger |year=1977 |oclc=6457784}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Schwarzenegger |first1=Arnold |url=https://archive.org/details/arnoldeducationo00schw |title=Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder |last2=Douglas Kent Hall |author-link2=Douglas Kent Hall |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1977 |isbn=978-0-671-22879-8 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Schwarzenegger |first1=Arnold |url=https://archive.org/details/arnoldsbodyshapi00schw |title=Arnold's Bodyshaping for Women |last2=Douglas Kent Hall |author-link2=Douglas Kent Hall |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1979 |isbn=978-0-671-24301-2 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Schwarzenegger |first1=Arnold |url=https://archive.org/details/arnoldsbodybuild00schw |title=Arnold's Bodybuilding for Men |last2=Bill Dobbins |author-link2=Bill Dobbins |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-671-25613-5 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Schwarzenegger |first1=Arnold |title=The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding |last2=Bill Dobbins |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-684-84374-2 |edition=Rev. |location=New York}}
• {{Cite book |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |url=https://archive.org/details/totalrecallmyunb0000schw |title=Total Recall |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84983-971-6 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
• {{Cite book |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |title=Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-59365-595-5 |location=London}}

• List of United States governors born outside the United States

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Andrews |first=Nigel |url=https://archive.org/details/truemythslifetim0000andr |title=True Myths: The Life and Times of Arnold Schwarzenegger: From Pumping Iron to Governor of California |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-58234-465-2 |edition=rev. |location=New York}}
• {{Cite AV media |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger: Hollywood Hero |date=November 11, 1999 |type=Television production (special) |people=Baker, Todd (director)}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Blitz |first1=Michael |title=Why Arnold Matters: The Rise of a Cultural Icon |last2=Louise Krasniewicz |publisher=Basic Books |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-465-03752-0 |location=New York}}
• {{Cite book |last=Borowitz |first=Andy |author-link=Andy Borowitz |title=Governor Arnold: A Photodiary of His First 100 Days in Office |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7432-6266-8 |location=New York}}
• {{Cite book |last=Brandon |first=Karen |url=https://archive.org/details/arnoldschwarzene00bran |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger |publisher=Lucent Books |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-59018-539-1 |location=San Diego}}
• {{Cite book |last=Saunders |first=Dave |title="Arnie": Schwarzenegger and the Movies |publisher=I. B. Tauris |year=2008 |location=London}}
• {{Cite book |last=Sexton |first=Colleen A. |url=https://archive.org/details/arnoldschwarzene0000sext |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger |publisher=Lerner Publications |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-8225-1634-7 |location=Minneapolis |url-access=registration}}
• {{Cite book |last=Zannos |first=Susan |url=https://archive.org/details/arnoldschwarzene00zann |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger |publisher=Mitchell Lane |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-883845-95-7 |location=Childs, Md.}}

{{Sister project auto}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://arnieslife.com/Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum]
• {{WWE superstar}}
• {{C-SPAN}}
• {{IMDb name}}
• {{TCMDb name}}
• {{British pathe|v=c7Iaz_r2t-g&list=PLF6DFF20B9F98951B|d=Schwarzenegger competing in Mr. Universe|year=1969}}

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{{Navboxes

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