Arnold Schwarzenegger Biography – The Real Muscle is His Brain

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He created a physique that became the gold standard for muscular development. He used it to achieve one goal after another, rising to the pinnacle of not one, but three careers. Yet, from the very start, Arnold Schwarzenegger faced significant challenges. He was often dismissed, ridiculed, and parodied. What many failed to realize was that Arnold’s strongest asset was not his bicep, but his intellect. With it, he orchestrated career moves that took him to the very top. In this Biographics video, we uncover the unlikely rags-to-riches story of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“For me, life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist or survive, but to move ahead, to achieve, to conquer.”

**Early Life**

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born in the small Austrian village of Thal, near Graz, on July 30, 1947. His father, Gustav, was the local police chief. Arnold and his older brother, Meinhard, grew up under the strict discipline of a man who was used to being obeyed. Arnold’s early years were very regimented. He would wake up early, fetch milk from the farm next door, and complete a set of physical exercises that his father had outlined for him, earning his breakfast by doing a certain number of sit-ups. In the afternoons, after finishing his homework and chores, his father made Arnold and Meinhard practice soccer, regardless of the weather. If they made mistakes, they faced consequences. Gustav had been a champion ice curler in his youth and pushed his sons to excel physically.

With his father’s encouragement, Arnold first got into organized competitive sports at the age of ten, playing soccer passionately for almost five years. When he was fifteen, his soccer coach suggested that lifting weights once a week would help his players stay in shape, leading them to a local gym. That day changed Arnold’s life. He was captivated by the bodybuilders at the gym and later wrote about his feelings in his autobiography, “Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder.”

Arnold embraced weightlifting and soon discovered his remarkable ability to build muscle. Within two years, he had surpassed most of the other trainers at the gym in Graz, where he worked out diligently. He trained harder than anyone else, even breaking into the gym one Sunday to get his workout in when it was closed. Arnold’s father was not impressed with his son’s newfound passion. Bodybuilding was considered a fringe sport in Austria, and when it was discovered that Arnold had pictures of muscular men on his bedroom wall, a psychiatrist was called in to address his interests. The psychiatrist assured Arnold’s parents that this was just a phase he would outgrow.

By the age of seventeen, Arnold realized that bodybuilding would be his path to worldwide fame. He spent many Saturday afternoons at the local movie theater watching bodybuilders-turned-actors like Steve Reeves and Reg Park, who played mythic heroes on screen. He aspired to do the same, but he aimed to be even bigger and better.

**Army Life**

Arnold entered the Austrian army in 1965 to fulfill his mandatory one-year service. By then, he had built his body to 200 pounds of muscle. He was assigned as a driver in a tank unit. Shortly after his induction, Arnold received an invitation to compete in the junior division of the Mr. Europe contest in Stuttgart, Germany. However, he was in the middle of basic training, and no soldier was allowed to leave the base. Determined to compete, Arnold decided to go AWOL, crawling over the wall with only the clothes on his back and just enough money for a third-class ticket to Germany.

When he arrived at the competition, he had to borrow posing trunks and tanning oil. Despite the circumstances, his muscles were undeniable, and he was announced Junior Mr. Europe that night. Initially, the army was not pleased, and he was put in jail for seven days with minimal food. However, news of his victory spread, and the army’s top brass decided that his title added prestige. Upon his return, he was held up as an ideal, with his drill instructor telling the troops, “You have to fight for your fatherland. Look at what Schwarzenegger did to win this title.”

After his army service, Arnold took a job as a gym instructor at a health club in Munich, Germany, which allowed him to train for the 1966 Mr. Europe competition. He trained twice a day, working tirelessly to forge the winning physique. By the time he arrived in Stuttgart for the Mr. Europe contest, people were eager to see the “monster from Munich.” Arnold’s emphatic win led to an offer to pay his way to the upcoming Mr. Universe contest.

He arrived in London, knowing little English, but as soon as he stepped out of his cab, people began to mob him. He was the first bodybuilder in Europe with 20-inch arms. However, he didn’t win that day; an American competitor had a more complete physique and took first place. Arnold returned to Munich and focused solely on winning the 1967 Mr. Universe. On September 23, 1967, at just 20 years old, Arnold became the youngest Mr. Universe in history. A year later, he returned to London to claim the Professional Mr. Universe title.

Following that victory, Arnold received a call from Joe Weider, a bodybuilding guru and publisher of Muscle Builder Magazine. Weider invited Arnold to compete in the IFBB Mr. Universe in Miami and then to train in California and work for him.

**America**

Arnold arrived in America in September 1968 with a gym bag, twenty dollars, and virtually no English. He settled into a small apartment in Venice Beach and received a stipend from Weider in exchange for the rights to use his image in magazines. Arnold’s plan was to stay in the USA for one year, learn their training strategies, and then use them to beat the Americans at their own game.

He began training at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, where he quickly established himself as a leader among top American bodybuilders. In 1970, Arnold won the coveted triple crown of bodybuilding, claiming the Mr. Universe, Mr. World, and Mr. Olympia titles. He was now the undisputed king of bodybuilding, going on to win six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.

Arnold was ready to implement phase two of his master plan: acting. In 1970, Joe Weider received a call from a film production company looking for a bodybuilder to play Hercules in a low-budget film. Weider immediately thought of Arnold, telling the producer that he had been a Shakespearean actor in Europe. They signed him up for “Hercules Goes to New York,” which became Arnold’s first film, albeit a forgettable one. He earned $10,000, which he invested in California real estate.

His next paycheck took longer to arrive, as Arnold found Hollywood less receptive than he had hoped. Several agents told him he had everything going against him: a long name, a thick accent, and an unusual physique. This only fueled Arnold’s determination. He began acting lessons in 1974 and won a supporting role in the movie “Stay Hungry,” where he played a bodybuilder named Joe Santo. His performance earned him a Golden Globe for Best Newcomer.

In 1977, the documentary “Pumping Iron” opened in theaters, chronicling Arnold’s victory in the 1975 Mr. Olympia over Lou Ferrigno. Arnold’s on-screen charisma was impossible to resist, leading to small roles in “The Villain” and “The Jayne Mansfield Story.”

**Businessman**

By this time, Arnold was already a successful businessman, combining real estate investments, a bestselling biography, and bodybuilding training courses. This allowed him to wait for the right film project. He filled his time with public appearances and social functions, including the Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament, where he met Maria Shriver, the daughter of Sargent and Eunice Kennedy Shriver and niece of John F. Kennedy. Arnold and Maria fell in love at first sight. Through the Shrivers, Arnold became involved with the Special Olympics, a cause he has passionately supported ever since.

In 1979, Arnold began a career as a CBS sports commentator and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a business degree. A year later, he made a stunning comeback at the Mr. Olympia competition in Australia, capturing his seventh title and solidifying his legendary status. However, his comeback was controversial, as he had signed up to compete at the last minute and was friends with the head judge. Despite mixed reactions, his seventh Mr. Olympia title was officially recorded.

**Breakthrough**

Arnold’s impressive physique for the 1980 Mr. Olympia propelled him into his breakthrough role in “Conan the Barbarian.” After a year of training and preparation, he filmed in Yugoslavia and Spain for six months. “Conan the Barbarian” grossed over $100 million at the box office, solidifying Arnold’s status in Hollywood. Following its success, he was offered a low-budget film by first-time director James Cameron, which would become his most iconic role. In “The Terminator,” Arnold played a cyborg sent back in time to kill the mother of the future savior of humanity. The role was perfectly suited for him, and “The Terminator” became a worldwide hit, establishing Arnold as a leading action star.

By 1985, he was named International Star of the Year. On April 26, 1986, Arnold married Maria Shriver. Shortly after their honeymoon, he flew to Mexico to film “Predator,” which further solidified his status as an action star. After a series of successful action films, Arnold ventured into comedy. Director Ivan Reitman created a special vehicle for him called “Twins,” which became an immediate hit due to the chemistry between Arnold and Danny DeVito. Two years later, they collaborated again for “Kindergarten Cop,” another comedy success.

Arnold’s ability to laugh at himself contributed to the success of these films. His comedic talent was evident, especially in “Pumping Iron.” His rapport with children in “Kindergarten Cop” caught the attention of President George Bush, who appointed Arnold as the Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. Arnold embraced this role, promoting a fitness lifestyle across the country.

His movie career continued to thrive with hits like “Total Recall” and “Terminator 2,” which became the most expensive film at the time, returning $519.8 million at the box office. Arnold earned $15 million for his role. However, his next film, “Last Action Hero,” was a box office bomb, leading to speculation about his declining popularity. Undeterred, Arnold bounced back with “True Lies,” a successful collaboration with James Cameron.

**Governorship**

In the mid-1990s, Arnold began focusing on giving back to the country that had given him so much. He organized and sponsored the Annual Inner City Games and became involved in the After School Care program. In 2003, during an appearance on “The Jay Leno Show,” Arnold announced his candidacy for Governor of California following the recall of Governor Gray Davis. Despite facing a smear campaign, Arnold’s charm and wit helped him rise above the accusations. He won the governorship and set about implementing his agenda in Sacramento, often referring to his Democratic opposition in a humorous manner.

Arnold’s first term included early victories like repealing a vehicle license increase and addressing illegal immigration issues. However, he faced opposition from powerful state unions, and several ballot measures he sponsored were defeated. Despite this, he was re-elected in 2006 with 56% of the vote. During his second term, he focused on environmental issues, signing the Global Warming Solutions Act, making California the first state to cap greenhouse gas emissions. Arnold’s governorship ended in January 2011.

A few months later, the LA Times reported that Arnold had fathered a child fourteen years earlier with the family’s longtime maid, leading to the end of his marriage to Maria Shriver.

**Post-Governorship**

After his governorship, Arnold continued to star in action films like “The Expendables” series, “Escape Plan,” and the fifth installment of “Terminator,” where he faced his younger self. He maintained strong ties to the bodybuilding community, promoting the Mr. Olympia competition and co-founding the Arnold Classic, the second-largest pro bodybuilding show.

Arnold credits his success to the self-discipline, drive, and focus he learned from bodybuilding. Recently, he has been involved in a social media feud with former President Donald Trump, following Arnold’s replacement of Trump on “Celebrity Apprentice.” Trump blamed Arnold for the show’s ratings, while Arnold offered advice on leadership. A staunch Republican, Arnold did not support Trump in the 2016 presidential election, marking a departure from his usual party loyalty. Although he cannot run for president himself due to his birthplace, Arnold continues to live a fitness-focused lifestyle, working out daily even after celebrating his 70th birthday.

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