Challenges in the Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Arnold Schwarzenegger faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, businessman, former politician, and bodybuilder. He rose to fame as a bodybuilding champion, subsequently transitioning to a successful acting career, primarily known for action films like "The Terminator". His career culminated in his election as the 38th Governor of California, serving from 2003 to 2011.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1969: First attempt at Mr. Olympia

In 1969, Arnold Schwarzenegger made his first attempt at winning the Mr. Olympia competition, but lost to Sergio Oliva.

May 20, 1971: Death of Meinhard Schwarzenegger

On May 20, 1971, Arnold Schwarzenegger's brother, Meinhard, died in a car crash while driving drunk.

1988: Height Questioned

In 1988, both the Daily Mail and Time Out magazine mentioned that Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared noticeably shorter than his official height.

1993: Named International Star of the Decade and Last Action Hero release

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 it did not perform well at the box office.

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1999: Men's Health Magazine Height Claim

In 1999, Men's Health magazine stated Arnold Schwarzenegger's height was 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), adding to the ongoing discussion about his actual height.

December 9, 2001: Motorcycle crash

On December 9, 2001, Arnold Schwarzenegger broke six ribs and was hospitalized for four days after a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles.

2003: Sexual Misconduct Allegations

During the 2003 campaign for governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger faced allegations of sexual and personal misconduct, which were reported in the Los Angeles Times.

2004: Responded to Allegations

In 2004, Arnold Schwarzenegger responded to allegations of sexual misconduct, admitting he had "behaved badly sometimes" and apologized, while also disputing the truthfulness of many of the stories.

2004: Schwarzenegger discusses childhood abuse

In 2004, in an interview with Fortune, Schwarzenegger discussed the child abuse he suffered at the hands of his father.

November 2005: Defeat of Ballot Measures in Special Election

In November 2005, a special election called by Arnold Schwarzenegger resulted in the defeat of four ballot measures he sponsored.

2005: Attempt to Revoke Austrian Citizenship

In 2005, Peter Pilz from the Austrian Green Party unsuccessfully advocated for the Austrian Parliament to revoke Arnold Schwarzenegger's Austrian citizenship due to his decision not to intervene in the executions of Donald Beardslee and Stanley Williams, citing Article 33 of the Austrian Citizenship Act.

January 8, 2006: Motorcycle accident in Los Angeles

On January 8, 2006, while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle with his son Patrick, Arnold Schwarzenegger was involved in an accident in Los Angeles, sustaining a lip injury that required 15 stitches; neither his son nor the other driver were injured.

December 23, 2006: Broke his right femur while skiing

On December 23, 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger tripped over his ski pole and broke his right femur while skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho, with his family.

April 2010: Named One of the "Worst Governors"

In April 2010, Arnold Schwarzenegger was named one of the 11 "worst governors" in the United States by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington due to various ethics issues during his term as governor.

January 2014: Schwarzenegger discusses mistakes

In January 2014, when asked what he was least proud of, Arnold Schwarzenegger replied, "I'm least proud of the mistakes I made that caused my family pain and split us up."

March 29, 2018: Emergency open-heart surgery

On March 29, 2018, Arnold Schwarzenegger underwent emergency open-heart surgery for replacement of his replacement pulmonic valve.

May 18, 2019: Attacked in South Africa

On May 18, 2019, while visiting South Africa, Arnold Schwarzenegger was attacked and dropkicked from behind while signing autographs; he was unharmed and declined to press charges against the attacker.

January 21, 2022: Multi-vehicle collision

On January 21, 2022, Arnold Schwarzenegger was involved in a multi-vehicle collision in Los Angeles while driving a black GMC Yukon SUV; the driver of the other vehicle, a red Toyota Prius, was hospitalized with head injuries, while Schwarzenegger was uninjured.

2023: Revisited Sexual Misconduct Allegations

In 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger revisited the issue of sexual misconduct allegations while promoting his Netflix documentary called "Arnold", stating that he was "totally wrong".