Arnold Schwarzenegger: From an Austrian Village to the Pinnacle of the American Dream

1. Humble Beginnings

Arnold was born in a small Austrian village. His childhood home had no indoor toilet, telephone, or refrigerator. His father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, was a policeman and a former member of the Nazi Party.

2. Childhood Dreams

As a boy, Arnold had three dreams: to move to the United States, become a famous actor, and marry into the Kennedy family. Incredibly, he fulfilled all three—his ex-wife Maria Shriver is the niece of President John F. Kennedy.

3. Breaking the Rules for a Trophy

During his mandatory military service in Austria, Arnold went AWOL to compete in a bodybuilding contest. He won the competition—but spent several days in military jail afterward.

4. Millionaire Before Fame

Schwarzenegger became a self-made millionaire by the age of 22—long before his acting career took off—through smart investments in real estate and a bricklaying business.

5. Many Names, One Icon

He’s known by a range of nicknames, including Arnie, The Austrian Oak, The Running Man, Republican Conan, Machine, and Iron Arnie.

6. Playing the Villain

In The Terminator, Arnold was originally cast as the hero. But he convinced the director that he was better suited for the cold, relentless villain—cementing his place in film history.

7. “I’ll Be Back”

The iconic line “I’ll be back” was originally written as “I’ll come back.” Due to Arnold’s thick accent, the line was modified—and became one of cinema’s most quoted phrases.

8. No Blinking Allowed

In Terminator 2, Schwarzenegger trained himself not to blink during action scenes to appear more robotic. He delivered just 700 words in the film and was paid $15 million—about $21,000 per word. The line “Hasta la vista, baby” alone earned him roughly $70,000.

9. A Smart Deal in “Twins”

For the film Twins, Arnold and co-star Danny DeVito waived their upfront salaries in exchange for 20% of the profits. It became the most lucrative payday of their careers.

10. His Worst Film?

In End of Days, Schwarzenegger’s character dies—one of the few times he doesn’t survive. The film was panned by critics and is considered one of his weakest.

11. The Governor Who Gave It All Back

As Governor of California, Arnold declined his $175,000 annual salary, choosing to donate it to charity. He served two terms between 2003 and 2011.

12. A Record-Breaking Physique

Schwarzenegger could lift over 300 kilograms and holds a Guinness World Record as the most physically developed man in history.

13. First Civilian Hummer Owner

Arnold was the first private citizen in the U.S. to own a Hummer. Beyond the action star image, he enjoys reading philosophy and economics, and speaks German, English, French, and Spanish.