How Arnold Schwarzenegger built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, businessman, and former politician and bodybuilder. He is famed for his action film roles, achieving global recognition in movies like 'The Terminator.' Transitioning from entertainment, he served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, demonstrating a career shift into the political arena after his bodybuilding and acting successes.
In 1960, Arnold Schwarzenegger began weight training when his football coach took his team to a local gym.
In 1963, Arnold Schwarzenegger participated in his first professional competition.
In 1964, Arnold Schwarzenegger won two weightlifting contests.
In 1965, Arnold Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army, fulfilling the one-year mandatory service. During his service, he won the Junior Mr. Europe contest and briefly went AWOL.
In 1965, Arnold Schwarzenegger won the Junior Mr. Europe contest, marking one of his earliest bodybuilding competition victories.
In 1965, Arnold Schwarzenegger won two weightlifting contests.
In 1966, Arnold Schwarzenegger took his first plane trip to London to attend the NABBA Mr. Universe competition, where he placed second.
In 1966, Arnold Schwarzenegger won a powerlifting contest.
In 1966, Charles "Wag" Bennett offered to coach Arnold Schwarzenegger and invited him to stay in his family home in London, helping him improve his English and leg definition.
In 1967, Arnold Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Universe title for the first time, becoming the youngest ever to do so at age 20.
In 1967, Arnold Schwarzenegger won the Munich stone-lifting contest, lifting a 508 German pound (254 kg / 560 lb) stone.
In October 1968, at age 21, Arnold Schwarzenegger moved to the United States, fulfilling his long-held dream, and began training at Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles.
In 1968, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu started a bricklaying business.
In 1968, Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived in the United States and during the Nixon–Humphrey presidential race, he was drawn to Nixon's views on free enterprise, limited government, lower taxes, and a stronger military, leading him to become a Republican.
In 1968, Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to London to win his next Mr. Universe title, before which he attended business school and worked at Rolf Putziger's gym in Munich from 1966.
In 1968, Arnold Schwarzenegger won a powerlifting contest.
In 1968, the Special Olympics were founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who later became Arnold Schwarzenegger's mother-in-law. Schwarzenegger has been involved with the organization for many years.
In 1969, Arnold Schwarzenegger began his acting career primarily with small roles in film and television.
In 1969, Arnold Schwarzenegger first attempted to win the Mr. Olympia title but lost to Sergio Oliva, who was a three-time champion at the time.
In 1970, Arnold Schwarzenegger made his acting debut in "Hercules in New York", credited as "Arnold Strong". His accent was so strong that his lines were dubbed after production.
In 1970, Arnold Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Olympia competition, becoming the youngest ever Mr. Olympia at the age of 23, a record that still holds to this day.
In 1970, at age 23, Arnold Schwarzenegger captured his first Mr. Olympia title in New York.
In 1971, Arnold Schwarzenegger continued his winning streak in bodybuilding competitions.
In 1972, Arnold Schwarzenegger toured different countries selling vitamins. In Helsinki, Finland, he lived at the YMCA Hotel Hospiz and presented vitamin pills at the Stockmann shopping center.
In 1973, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared as a mob hitman in the film "The Long Goodbye".
In 1973, Ric Drasin, one of Schwarzenegger's weight training partners, designed the original Gold's Gym logo.
From 1970 to 1974, Arnold Schwarzenegger's weight training partners included Ric Drasin, a professional wrestler.
In 1974, Arnold Schwarzenegger continued his winning streak in bodybuilding competitions.
In 1975, Arnold Schwarzenegger won Mr. Olympia. The documentary film Pumping Iron (1977) shows Schwarzenegger smoking a marijuana joint after winning Mr. Olympia in 1975.
In 1975, Arnold Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Olympia title for the sixth consecutive time, beating Franco Columbu. After the 1975 competition, he announced his retirement from professional bodybuilding.
Months before the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, filmmakers persuaded Arnold Schwarzenegger to compete and film his training for the bodybuilding documentary "Pumping Iron". After losing weight for the film Stay Hungry, Schwarzenegger won the 1975 Mr. Olympia for the sixth time, beating Lou Ferrigno.
In 1976, Arnold Schwarzenegger received a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor, for his role in the film "Stay Hungry".
In 1977, Arnold Schwarzenegger gained more attention with the release of the bodybuilding film "Pumping Iron". Also in 1977, he made guest appearances in "The San Pedro Beach Bums" and "The Streets of San Francisco".
In 1977, Arnold Schwarzenegger published his autobiography, "Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder", and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary "Pumping Iron", which helped launch his film career.
In 1977, Arnold Schwarzenegger's autobiography and weight-training guide, "Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder", was released and became very successful. Also in 1977, he posed for the gay magazine "After Dark".
In 1979, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared with Kirk Douglas and Ann-Margret in the comedy film "The Villain".
In May 1980, Arnold Schwarzenegger formally graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Superior and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing.
In 1980, Arnold Schwarzenegger came out of retirement to compete in Mr. Olympia. Training for his role in "Conan", he decided to compete last minute, winning with only seven weeks of preparation. He announced his official retirement from competition after winning the event for the seventh time. This victory was considered controversial due to his lack of muscle mass compared to other competitors. The event was covered in the documentary "The Comeback".
In 1980, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in a biographical film about the 1950s actress Jayne Mansfield, playing Mansfield's husband, Mickey Hargitay.
In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger had his breakthrough role in the sword and sorcery epic "Conan the Barbarian", which became a box-office hit.
In 1983, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the promotional video "Carnival in Rio".
In 1984, Arnold Schwarzenegger made his first appearance as the Terminator in James Cameron's film "The Terminator". Also in 1984, he appeared in "Conan the Destroyer", the sequel to "Conan the Barbarian".
In 1984, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the science fiction film "The Terminator", establishing himself as a major action star. A sequel followed.
In 1985, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared in "Stop the Madness", an anti-drug music video sponsored by the Reagan administration.
In 1985, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred as Colonel John Matrix in the movie Commando.
In 1985, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in "Red Sonja". During the 1980s, he and Sylvester Stallone rose to international stardom through action films, developing a rivalry.
In 1985, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action film "Commando", furthering his action star status.
In 1986, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action film "Raw Deal".
In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred as Major "Dutch" Schaefer in the movie Predator.
In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action films "The Running Man" and "Predator", solidifying his position as a leading action star.
In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action films "The Running Man" and "Predator".
During the 1988 presidential election, Arnold Schwarzenegger first came to wide public notice as a Republican when he accompanied then-Vice President George H. W. Bush at a campaign rally.
In 1988, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the comedy film "Twins" with Danny DeVito, which proved to be a commercial success. Schwarzenegger took no upfront salary but received over $40 million in profits after expenses, marking his biggest paycheck.
In 1988, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the comedy film "Twins".
In 1989, Arnold Schwarzenegger started Arnold's Sports Festival, an annual sports and fitness festival held in Columbus, Ohio, that hosts thousands of international health and fitness professionals and has expanded into a three-day expo.
In 1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced the first episode of the Milton Friedman hosted PBS series "Free to Choose".
In 1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in "Total Recall", earning $10 million and 15% of the film's gross. He also starred in "Kindergarten Cop", reuniting with director Ivan Reitman. Additionally, in 1990, he made his directorial debut with an episode of "Tales from the Crypt" called "The Switch".
In 1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action film "Total Recall" and the comedy film "Kindergarten Cop".
In 1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger was appointed as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by President George H. W. Bush.
The plan aimed to reduce California's emissions by 25 percent to 1990s levels by 2020.
In 1991 or 1992, during his time as Chairman of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, Arnold Schwarzenegger acquired his Austrian Army M47 Patton tank and also rode a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy.
In 1991, Arnold Schwarzenegger purchased the rights to the film "Pumping Iron", its outtakes, and associated still photography.
In 1991, Arnold Schwarzenegger reprised his role in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day", which became the highest-grossing film of the year.
In 1991, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day", a sequel to "The Terminator".
In 1992, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife opened a restaurant in Santa Monica called Schatzi On Main, which means "little treasure", and colloquially "honey" or "darling" in German.
In 1992, Arnold Schwarzenegger directed the telemovie "Christmas in Connecticut". He has not directed since.
Between 1993 and 1994, Arnold Schwarzenegger served as a Red Cross ambassador, recording television and radio public service announcements to encourage blood donation.
In 1993, Arnold Schwarzenegger was named the "International Star of the Decade" by the National Association of Theatre Owners. His film "Last Action Hero" was released but did not perform well at the box office.
In 1993, Arnold Schwarzenegger's term as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports ended.
Between 1993 and 1994, Arnold Schwarzenegger served as a Red Cross ambassador, recording television and radio public service announcements to encourage blood donation.
In 1994, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in "True Lies", reuniting with director James Cameron.
In 1994, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action film "True Lies".
In 1995, Arnold Schwarzenegger founded the Inner City Games Foundation (ICG), which provides cultural, educational, and community enrichment programming to youth in 15 cities around the country.
In 1996, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in "Eraser" and the Christmas comedy "Jingle All The Way".
In 1996, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the comedy film "Jingle All the Way".
In 1997, Arnold Schwarzenegger played Mr. Freeze in "Batman & Robin", marking his final film before taking time to recover from a back injury.
In 1998, Arnold Schwarzenegger published "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding", adding to his contributions to bodybuilding literature.
In 1998, Arnold Schwarzenegger sold his restaurant Schatzi On Main.
In 1999, Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to acting with the supernatural thriller "End of Days".
In late 1999, Arnold Schwarzenegger mentioned in an interview with Talk magazine that he had considered running for office. Following his initial comments, Schwarzenegger downplayed the possibility, stating he was still actively pursuing his show business career.
In 2000, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action film "The 6th Day", which failed to do well at the box office.
In early 2000, Arnold Schwarzenegger severed his financial ties with the Planet Hollywood chain of theme restaurants, stating the restaurant did not achieve the success that he had hoped for and claiming he wanted to focus on "new US global business ventures" and his then-burgeoning acting career.
In 2002, Arnold Schwarzenegger founded the Los Angeles branch of After-School All-Stars (ASAS), an after-school program provider educating youth about health, fitness, and nutrition.
In 2002, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action film "Collateral Damage", which failed to do well at the box office.
In 2002, a local cultural association, Forum Stadtpark, proposed building an 80-foot Terminator statue in Graz. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger, while flattered, suggested that the money be better allocated to social projects and the Special Olympics.
On August 6, 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in the California recall election for Governor of California on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".
On September 24, 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger participated in a gubernatorial debate among recall replacement candidates.
On October 7, 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California in the recall election, succeeding Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger received 48.6% of the vote.
In October 2003, Gray Davis was recalled as governor.
In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger made his third appearance as the Terminator in "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", which earned over $150 million domestically.
In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a special recall election, replacing Gray Davis. He received 48.6% of the vote.
In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger's net worth was conservatively estimated to be between $100 million and $200 million.
In May 2004, Arnold Schwarzenegger had high approval ratings, as high as 65% as governor.
In November 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger played a significant role in opposing Proposition 66, an amendment to the Californian Three Strikes Law. He launched an intense campaign, arguing that the amendment would release dangerous criminals.
At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a speech explaining why he was a Republican, stating that the Democrats of the 1960s sounded too much like Austrian socialists.
In 2004, Arnold Schwarzenegger made a cameo appearance in the remake of "Around the World in 80 Days" after becoming Governor of California.
In November 2005, the four ballot measures sponsored by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger were defeated in a special election. Schwarzenegger accepted responsibility for the defeats.
In 2005, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared as himself in the film "The Kid & I". He also voiced Baron von Steuben in the "Valley Forge" episode of "Liberty's Kids".
In 2005, Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order calling to reduce greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
In 2005, Arnold Schwarzenegger relinquished his executive editor role at Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines after criticism arose over a conflict of interest due to his position as governor and decisions concerning dietary supplement regulations. The deal involved the magazines donating $250,000 annually to his fitness initiatives and Schwarzenegger receiving at least $1 million a year.
On September 27, 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, setting the nation's first cap on greenhouse gas emissions. This law established new regulations for emissions from utilities, refineries, and manufacturing plants.
On October 17, 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order enabling California to collaborate with the Northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by issuing carbon credits to power plants, which took effect in 2009.
On November 7, 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger won re-election against Democrat Phil Angelides in the California gubernatorial election. Schwarzenegger secured 56.0% of the vote, a margin of over 1 million votes, despite a challenging year for the Republican party nationally.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's tax returns filed in 2006 estimated that his net worth was between $400 million and $800 million. This was mentioned in 2011, after separating from Maria Shriver.
In 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected as governor of California with an increased vote share of 55.9 percent to serve a full term.
In 2006, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 was enacted. This action was significant enough for Arnold Schwarzenegger to win the 2007 European Voice campaigner of the year award.
In 2007, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the official spokesperson for the Special Olympics held in Shanghai, China.
In 2007, Arnold Schwarzenegger won the European Voice campaigner of the year award for his actions against climate change with the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
On April 20, 2009, Arnold Schwarzenegger was invited to open the 2009 SAE World Congress in Detroit, in recognition of his contribution to the US motor industry.
In 2009, the plan for California to work with the Northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative took effect, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
In 2010, Arnold Schwarzenegger made a cameo appearance in Sylvester Stallone's film "The Expendables".
In January 2011, shortly after leaving office in California, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he was considering new film scripts, including the World War II action drama "With Wings as Eagles" by Randall Wallace.
On March 6, 2011, at the Arnold Seminar of the Arnold Classic, Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed he was considering several films, including sequels to "The Terminator" and remakes of "Predator" and "The Running Man". He also announced he was "packaging" a comic book character, later revealed as the Governator.
On May 20, 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger's entertainment counsel announced a halt to all film projects in development as Schwarzenegger focused on personal matters.
On July 11, 2011, it was announced that Arnold Schwarzenegger was considering a comeback film, despite ongoing legal problems related to his divorce.
In 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger founded the R20 Regions of Climate Action to develop a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
In 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger reached his term limit as governor of California and returned to acting.
In 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger's term as the Governor of California ended.
In October 2012, Arnold Schwarzenegger released his autobiography, "Total Recall", which covers his life as a bodybuilder, actor, and Governor of California, and includes a chapter on his extramarital affair.
In 2012, Arnold Schwarzenegger helped found the Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy at the USC Price School of Public Policy.
In 2012, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in "The Expendables 2" as Trench Mauser.
In March 2013, Arnold Schwarzenegger accepted American Media Inc.'s renewed offer to become executive editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines.
In 2013, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in "The Last Stand", his first leading role in 10 years, and also co-starred in "Escape Plan" alongside Sylvester Stallone.
In March 2014, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the film "Sabotage".
In August 2014, Arnold Schwarzenegger returned as Trench Mauser in "The Expendables 3".
In September 2015, it was announced that Arnold Schwarzenegger would replace Donald Trump as host of "The New Celebrity Apprentice".
At a 2015 security conference, Arnold Schwarzenegger called climate change the issue of our time, urging politicians to treat it seriously.
In 2015, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the fifth Terminator film, "Terminator Genisys".
During the 2016–2017 TV season, Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted "The New Celebrity Apprentice", using phrases like "you're terminated" and "get to the choppa" from his iconic movie roles.
In 2016, Arnold Schwarzenegger collaborated with WildAid on the "Less Meat, Less Heat" campaign, encouraging people to reduce meat consumption to combat climate change.
In January 2017, Arnold Schwarzenegger reacted to Donald Trump's remarks via Instagram, suggesting they switch jobs.
In March 2017, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he would not return for another season of "The New Celebrity Apprentice" following repeated criticisms from Donald Trump.
In April 2017, producer Chris Morgan stated that Universal had dropped "Conan the Conqueror", previously named "The Legend of Conan", although there was a possibility of a TV show.
In September 2017, "Killing Gunther" was released. Also in September 2017, it was announced that Arnold Schwarzenegger would star in and produce a film about the ruins of Sanxingdui called "The Guest of Sanxingdui".
In 2017, Arnold Schwarzenegger joined French President Emmanuel Macron in calling for the adoption of a Global Pact for the Environment. In 2017, Schwarzenegger also launched the Austrian World Summit in Vienna, Austria.
On February 6, 2018, Amazon Studios announced they were developing a new series, "Outrider", with Arnold Schwarzenegger starring and executive producing. The series, a western-drama set in the Oklahoma Indian Territory, was never completed.
In 2018, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared in and was one of the executive producers for "The Game Changers", a documentary exploring plant-based diets in professional sports.
In 2018, Arnold Schwarzenegger partnered with basketball player LeBron James to establish Ladder, a company that developed nutritional supplements to help athletes with severe cramps.
On November 1, 2019, Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to the Terminator franchise with "Terminator: Dark Fate", produced by James Cameron.
In 2020, Arnold Schwarzenegger and LeBron James sold Ladder to Openfit for an undisclosed amount after the company reported more than $4 million in sales for that year.
The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, signed on September 27, 2006, included a plan to reduce California's emissions by 25 percent to 1990s levels by 2020.
In March 2021, Arnold Schwarzenegger was interviewed by Politico about the upcoming recall election in California, stating that the atmosphere was similar to when he ran for governor and that the recall effort was sparked by ordinary folks, not a Republican power grab.
In 2024, Forbes estimated that Arnold Schwarzenegger was a billionaire.
As of 2025, Arnold Schwarzenegger is noted as being among the last Republicans to win or hold statewide office in California, achieving this in 2006.
In 2005, Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order calling to reduce greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
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