Arnold Schwarzenegger Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Title: Arnold Schwarzenegger Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: December 5, 2024

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At 13 years old, he was introduced to the world of bodybuilding. Initially, his father had aspirations for young Arnold to pursue a career in law enforcement, while his mother envisioned him attending a trade school. However, Arnold felt he was meant for something much greater beyond their small village in Austria. Discovering that several recent winners of the Mr. Universe competition transitioned into successful acting careers in Hollywood, Arnold promptly set his ambitions on becoming the most renowned professional bodybuilder globally.

Arnold clinched victory at the Junior Mr. Europe Contest in 1965. At just 20 years old in 1967, he became the youngest individual to win the Mr. Universe title, later securing the title three additional times. Despite his accomplishments in bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger made sure to dedicate time to attend business school during his free moments.

Real Estate Investments

In September 1968, at the age of 21, Schwarzenegger relocated to America with $27,000 saved from his competition winnings. Adjusted for inflation, that amount in today’s dollars is approximately $182,000, making it a substantial sum. Shortly after arriving in Hollywood, Arnold started investing in real estate, purchasing a small plot of land in Palmdale, California, which was rumored to become a supersonic airport in the future. Although this initial investment did not succeed, Arnold remained optimistic. He used the remaining funds and borrowed $10,000 from his trainer at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California, to acquire an apartment building that cost $214,000. A year later, he sold that building for $360,000. He then upgraded to a 12-unit building, followed by a 36-unit building, and ultimately a 100-unit building. With each sale, Arnold reinvested his profits into the next venture to minimize taxes and maximize future returns. By the time he reached 25, he had already become a millionaire in real estate, well before establishing himself as a prominent actor.

Currently, Arnold has a vast real estate portfolio consisting mainly of commercial properties in Southern California, with the portfolio, excluding his personal homes, valued at over $100 million.

Dimensional Fund Advisors

In 1996, Arnold acquired a 5% stake in an investment firm known as Dimensional Fund Advisors for an undisclosed amount. When he made the investment, the firm managed approximately $12 billion in assets, and today, it oversees nearly $700 billion. His 5% stake is estimated to be worth between $300 million and $500 million, pre-tax.

Film Success

He won his first “Mr. Olympia” title in 1970, a title he would later reclaim multiple times throughout his career. Following his Mr. Olympia victory, Arnold landed his first significant film role in “Hercules in New York.” His fame skyrocketed in 1977 with the release of the bodybuilding documentary “Pumping Iron.”

His popularity surged with films such as “Conan the Barbarian,” but his career truly took off when he starred in the 1984 blockbuster “The Terminator,” for which he earned $75,000. The film grossed $80 million worldwide, catapulting Arnold’s career into unprecedented heights. He continued to star in successful films like “The Running Man,” “Red Heat,” and “The Predator,” and even ventured into comedy with the 1988 hit “Twins,” alongside Danny DeVito.

In the 1990s, Arnold returned to his iconic role as the Terminator, collaborating with his friend and director James Cameron, resulting in further successes such as “True Lies.” He concluded the decade with films like “Last Action Hero,” 1996’s “Eraser,” and “Batman and Robin.”

Largest Paycheck

Arnold has amassed a minimum of $400 million solely from film salaries as of now, prior to taxes. Surprisingly, his most significant single paycheck originated from a film you might not expect. It wasn’t an action-packed blockbuster; rather, it was the 1988 film “Twins.”

For the movie “Twins,” Arnold, Danny Devito, and director Ivan Reitman agreed to forgo a salary from the studio in exchange for a 40% ownership stake in the film (13.33% each). The film turned out to be a tremendous success, grossing over $215 million worldwide at the box office. It also gained popularity on VHS and cable. In a March 2014 interview, Arnold asserted that he earned more from “Twins” than any other film in his career. He believed that this was likely true for both Reitman and Devito as well. Assuming Arnold, Danny, and Ivan each took home $35-40 million from the movie in 1988, when adjusted for inflation, that would equate to earning $70-$80 million. The three would later come together again for the film “Junior.”

Other Notable Salaries

As mentioned earlier, Arnold received $75,000 for “The Terminator.” He earned $2 million for “Commando,” $3.5 million for “Predator,” $11 million for “Total Recall,” and $12 million for both “Kindergarten Cop” and “Terminator 2.” In Terminator 2, Arnold had only 700 words of dialogue, translating to $21,429 per word spoken.

He made $15 million for “True Lies,” “Junior,” and “Last Action Hero,” followed by $20 million for both “Eraser” and “Jingle All The Way.” Arnold’s paychecks exceeded $25 million for “Batman & Robin,” “The 6th Day,” and “Collateral Damage.”

Terminator 3 Salary

After receiving James Cameron’s approval to star in a Terminator film that wouldn’t involve the franchise’s original creator, Arnold began negotiating his contract for what would become the 2003 film “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” Ultimately, Arnold secured an upfront salary of $29.25 million along with a 20% royalty on gross profits exceeding $380 million for “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” The film grossed $433 million worldwide, elevating Arnold’s total paycheck to an estimated $35 million. His salary agreement was “pay or play,” ensuring payment even if the film was never produced. Furthermore, his contract entitled him to $1.6 million for each filming day that extended beyond the 19-week schedule. Additionally, during production, Arnold was allocated a $1.5 million budget for private jet travel, a trailer converted into a gym, three hotel suites, bodyguards, and around-the-clock drivers.

Governor of California

A long-time member of the Republican Party, Schwarzenegger made headlines at the 2004 National Republican Convention with a speech illustrating his reasons for becoming a Republican. The nation was taken by surprise in 2003 when he declared on “The Tonight Show” his candidacy for Governor of California. Serving from 2003 to 2011, Arnold would later state that during his eight years as Governor, he forfeited $200 million in potential earnings from filmmaking. Although his annual salary as Governor was set at $175,000, he chose to reject this payment.

Personal Life

From 1986 until 2017, Arnold was married to Maria Shriver, a television news personality and the niece of President John F. Kennedy. Together, they have four children, including Katherine Schwarzenegger, who is married to actor Chris Pratt, and model/actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

The couple’s relationship ended in 2011 when it was revealed that Arnold had fathered a son with the family housekeeper 14 years prior. Their divorce process took six years to finalize and reportedly cost Arnold $200 million. After their separation, Arnold retained ownership of their long-time family residence in Brentwood, while Maria used his money to purchase a new home nearby.

Personal Real Estate

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s real estate portfolio is valued at approximately $50-60 million. Back in 2002, he and Maria purchased a 6-acre property in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles for $4.8 million. After their separation, Arnold kept this home. Situated in a gated community that also houses Dr. Dre, Arnold’s residence is a 14,500-square-foot mansion offering ocean views, a tennis court, a pool, and ample privacy. Today, this property is estimated to be worth between $20-30 million.

Furthermore, Arnold and Maria continue to jointly own vacation properties in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and Sun Valley, Idaho.