Arnold
Schwarzenegger
"Schwarzenegger" redirects here.
For other people of the same name, see Schwarzenegger (surname).
Schwarzenegger began weight
training at the age of 15. He won the Mr. Universe title at age
20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest seven times.
Schwarzenegger has remained a prominent presence in bodybuilding and has
written many books and articles on the sport. Schwarzenegger gained worldwide
fame as a Hollywood action film icon. He was nicknamed the
"Austrian Oak" and the "Styrian Oak" in his
bodybuilding days, "Arnie" during his acting career and more recently
"The Governator" (a portmanteau of "Governor" and
"The Terminator" – one of his best-known movie roles).[2]Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (/ˈʃwɔrtsənɛɡər/; German: [ˈaɐnɔlt ˈalɔʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənˌʔɛɡɐ]; born
July 30, 1947) is an Austrian American former
professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician.
Schwarzenegger served two terms as the 38th Governor of
California from 2003 until 2011.
As a Republican, he was first elected on
October 7, 2003, in a special recall election to replace
then-Governor Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger was sworn in on November 17,
2003, to serve the remainder of Davis's term. Schwarzenegger was then
re-elected on November 7, 2006, in California's 2006 gubernatorial
election, to serve a full term as governor, defeating Democrat Phil
Angelides, who was California State Treasurer at the time.
Schwarzenegger was sworn in for his second term on January 5, 2007.[3] In
2011, Schwarzenegger completed his second term as governor, and it was
announced that he had separated from Maria Shriver, his wife for the last
25 years, and a member of the influential Kennedy family, as a niece of
the late Democratic US President John F. Kennedy.
Early
life
Schwarzenegger was born
in Thal, Austria, a village bordering
the Styrian capital Graz, and was christened Arnold Alois
Schwarzenegger.[4] His parents were the local police
chief, Gustav Schwarzenegger (1907–1972), and Aurelia (née Jadrny;
1922–1998). Gustav served in World War II, after he voluntarily applied to join
the Nazi Party in 1938.[5] Gustav served with
the German Army as a Hauptfeldwebel of the Feldgendarmerie and
was discharged in 1943 after contracting malaria. They were married on
October 20, 1945 – Gustav was 38, and Aurelia was 23-years-old. According
to Schwarzenegger, both of his parents were very strict: "Back then in
Austria it was a very different world, if we did something bad or we disobeyed
our parents, the rod was not spared."[6] He grew up in a
Roman Catholic family who attended Mass every Sunday.[7][8]
Gustav had a preference for his older son,
Meinhard, over Arnold.[9] His favoritism was "strong and
blatant," which stemmed from unfounded suspicion that Arnold was not his
biological child.[10]Schwarzenegger has said his father had "no
patience for listening or understanding your problems."[7] Schwarzenegger
had a good relationship with his mother and kept in touch with her until her
death.[11] In later life, Schwarzenegger commissioned
the Simon Wiesenthal Center to research his father's wartime record,
which came up with no evidence of Gustav's being involved in atrocities,
despite Gustav's membership in the Nazi Party and SA.[9] Schwarzenegger's
father's background received wide press attention during the
2003 California recall campaign.[12] At school,
Schwarzenegger was apparently in the middle but stood out for his
"cheerful, good-humored and exuberant" character.[7] Money
was a problem in their household; Schwarzenegger recalled that one of the
highlights of his youth was when the family bought a refrigerator.[10]
As a boy, Schwarzenegger played several
sports, heavily influenced by his father.[7] He picked up his
first barbell in 1960, when his football (soccer) coach took his team
to a local gym.[4] At the age of 14, he
chose bodybuilding over football as a career.[13][14] Schwarzenegger
has responded to a question asking if he was 13 when he started weightlifting:
"I actually started weight training when I was 15, but I'd been participating
in sports, like soccer, for years, so I felt that although I was slim, I was
well-developed, at least enough so that I could start going to the gym and
start Olympic lifting."[6] However, his official website
biography claims: "At 14, he started an intensive training program with
Dan Farmer, studied psychology at 15 (to learn more about the power of mind
over body) and at 17, officially started his competitive career."[15] During
a speech in 2001, he said, "My own plan formed when I was 14 years old. My
father had wanted me to be a police officer like he was. My mother wanted me to
go to trade school."[16] Schwarzenegger took to visiting a
gym in Graz, where he also frequented the local movie theaters to see
bodybuilding idols such as Reg Park, Steve Reeves, and Johnny
Weissmuller on the big screen.[6] When Reeves died in
2000, Schwarzenegger fondly remembered him: "As a teenager, I grew up with
Steve Reeves. His remarkable accomplishments allowed me a sense of what was
possible, when others around me didn't always understand my dreams. Steve
Reeves has been part of everything I've ever been fortunate enough to
achieve." In 1961, Schwarzenegger met former Mr. Austria Kurt Marnul, who
invited him to train at the gym in Graz.[4] He was so dedicated
as a youngster that he broke into the local gym on weekends, when it was
usually closed, so that he could train. "It would make me sick to miss a
workout... I knew I couldn't look at myself in the mirror the next morning if I
didn't do it."[6] When Schwarzenegger was asked about his
first movie experience as a boy, he replied: "I was very young, but I
remember my father taking me to the Austrian theaters and seeing some
newsreels. The first real movie I saw, that I distinctly remember, was
a John Wayne movie."[6]
In 1971, his brother, Meinhard, died in a car
accident.[4] Meinhard had been drinking and was killed
instantly. Schwarzenegger did not attend his funeral.[10] Meinhard
was due to marry Erika Knapp, and the couple had a three-year-old son, Patrick.
Schwarzenegger would pay for Patrick's education and help him to immigrate to
the United States.[10] Gustav died the following year from a
stroke.[4] In Pumping Iron, Schwarzenegger claimed
that he did not attend his father's funeral because he was training for a
bodybuilding contest. Later, he and the film's producer said this story was
taken from another bodybuilder for the purpose of showing the extremes that
some would go to for their sport and to make Schwarzenegger's image more cold
and machine-like in order to fan controversy for the film.[17] Barbara
Baker, his first serious girlfriend, has said he informed her of his father's
death without emotion and that he never spoke of his brother.[18] Over
time, he has given at least three versions of why he was absent from his
father's funeral.[10]
In an interview with Fortune in
2004, Schwarzenegger told how he suffered what "would now be called child
abuse" at the hands of his father: "My hair was pulled. I was hit
with belts. So was the kid next door. It was just the way it was. Many of the
children I've seen were broken by their parents, which was the German-Austrian
mentality. They didn't want to create an individual. It was all about
conforming. I was one who did not conform, and whose will could not be broken.
Therefore, I became a rebel. Every time I got hit, and every time someone said,
'you can't do this,' I said, 'this is not going to be for much longer, because
I'm going to move out of here. I want to be rich. I want to be somebody.'"[5]
Early
adulthood
Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian
Army in 1965 to fulfill the one year of service required at the time of
all 18-year-old Austrian males.[4][15] During his army service,
he won the Junior Mr. Europe contest.[14] He
went AWOL during basic training so he could take part in the
competition and spent a week in military prison: "Participating in the
competition meant so much to me that I didn't carefully think through the
consequences." He won another bodybuilding contest in Graz, at Steirer Hof
Hotel (where he had placed second). He was voted best built man of Europe,
which made him famous. "The Mr. Universe title was my ticket to
America – the land of opportunity, where I could become a star and get
rich."[16] Schwarzenegger made his first plane trip in
1966, attending the NABBA Mr. Universe competition in London.[15] He
would come in second in the Mr. Universe competition, not having the muscle
definition of American winner Chester Yorton.[15]
Charles "Wag" Bennett, one of the
judges at the 1966 competition, was impressed with Schwarzenegger and he
offered to coach him. As Schwarzenegger had little money, Bennett invited him
to stay in his crowded family home above one of his two gyms in Forest Gate,
London, England. Yorton's leg definition had been judged superior, and
Schwarzenegger, under a training program devised by Bennett, concentrated on
improving the muscle definition and power in his legs. Staying in the East
End of London helped Schwarzenegger improve his rudimentary grasp of the
English language.[19][20] Also in 1966, Schwarzenegger had the
opportunity to meet childhood idol Reg Park, who became his friend and
mentor.[21] The training paid off and, in 1967, Schwarzenegger
won the title for the first time, becoming the youngest ever Mr. Universe at
the age of 20.[15] He would go on to win the title a further
three times.[14] Schwarzenegger then flew back to Munich,
training for four to six hours daily, attending business school and working in
a health club (Rolf Putzinger's gym where he worked and trained from
1966–1968), returning in 1968 to London to win his next Mr. Universe title.[15] He
frequently told Roger C. Field, his English coach and friend in Munich at
that time, "I'm going to become the greatest actor!"[22]
Move
to the U.S.
Schwarzenegger, who dreamed of moving to the
U.S. since the age of 10, and saw bodybuilding as the avenue through which to
do so,[23] realized his dream by moving to the United States in
September 1968 at the age of 21, speaking little English.[4][14] There
he trained at Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles, California,
under Joe Weider. From 1970 to 1974, one of Schwarzenegger's weight training
partners was Ric Drasin, a professional wrestler who designed
the original Gold's Gym logo in 1973.[24] Schwarzenegger also
became good friends with professional wrestler "Superstar" Billy
Graham. In 1970, at age 23, he captured his firstMr. Olympia title in New
York, and would go on to win the title a total of seven times.[15]
Immigration law firm Siskind & Susser
have stated that Schwarzenegger may have been an illegal immigrant at
some point in the late 1960s or early 1970s because of violations in the terms
of his visa.[25] LA Weekly would later say in
2002 that Schwarzenegger is the most famous immigrant in America, who
"overcame a thick Austrian accent and transcended the unlikely background
of bodybuilding to become the biggest movie star in the world in the
1990s".[23]
In 1977, Schwarzenegger's
autobiography/weight-training guide Arnold: The Education of a
Bodybuilder was published and became a huge success.[4] After
taking English classes at Santa Monica College in California, he
earned a BA by correspondence from the University of Wisconsin–Superior,
where he graduated with a degree in international marketing of fitness and
business administration in 1979.[26]
Bodybuilding
career
One of the first competitions he won was the
Junior Mr. Europe contest in 1965.[4] He won Mr. Europe the
following year, at age 19.[4][15] He would go on to compete in,
and win, many bodybuilding contests. His bodybulding victories included five
Mr. Universe (4 – NABBA [England],
1 – IFBB [USA]) wins, and seven Mr. Olympia wins, a record which
would stand until Lee Haney won his eighth consecutive Mr. Olympia
title in 1991.The magazine MuscleMag International has
a monthly two-page article on him, and refers to him as "The King".
Schwarzenegger continues to work out even
today. When asked about his personal training during the 2011 Arnold
Classic he said that he was still working out a half an hour with weights
every day.[30]
- Competition Weight: 235 lb
(107 kg) (top 250 lb (113 kg))
- Off Season Weight: 255 lb
(116 kg) (top 260 lb (118 kg))
Powerlifting/weightlifting
During Arnold's early years in bodybuilding,
he also competed in several Olympic
weightlifting and powerlifting contests. Arnold won two
weightlifting contests in 1964 and 1965, as well as two powerlifting contests
in 1966 and 1968.[28]
In 1967, Schwarzenegger competed in and won
the Munich stone-lifting contest, in which a stone weighing 508
German pounds (254 kg/560 lbs.) is lifted between the legs while
standing on two foot rests.
Personal
records
- Clean and press – 264 lb
(120 kg)[28]
- Snatch – 243 lb
(110 kg)[28]
- Clean & jerk –
298 lb (135 kg)[28]
- Squat – 545 lb
(247 kg)[28]
- Bench press – 500 lb
(230 kg)[28]
- Deadlift – 710 lb
(320 kg)[28]
Mr.
Olympia
Schwarzenegger's goal was to become the
greatest bodybuilder in the world, which meant becoming Mr. Olympia.[4][15] His
first attempt was in 1969, when he lost to three-time champion Sergio
Oliva. However, Schwarzenegger came back in 1970 and won the competition,
making him the youngest ever Mr. Olympia at the age of 23, a record he still
holds to this day.[15]
He continued his winning streak in the
1971–74 competitions.[15] In 1975, Schwarzenegger was once
again in top form, and won the title for the sixth consecutive time,[15] beating Franco
Columbu. After the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest, Schwarzenegger announced his
retirement from professional bodybuilding.[15]
Months before the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest,
filmmakers George Butler and Robert Fiore persuaded Schwarzenegger to compete,
in order to film his training in the bodybuilding documentary calledPumping
Iron. Schwarzenegger had only three months to prepare for the
competition, after losing significant weight to appear in the film Stay
Hungry with Jeff Bridges. Lou Ferrigno proved not to be
a threat, and a lighter-than-usual Schwarzenegger convincingly won the 1975 Mr.
Olympia.
Schwarzenegger came out of retirement,
however, to compete in the 1980 Mr. Olympia.[4]Schwarzenegger was
training for his role in Conan, and he got into such good shape
because of the running, horseback riding and sword training, that he decided he
wanted to win the Mr. Olympia contest one last time. He kept this plan a
secret, in the event that a training accident would prevent his entry and cause
him to lose face. Schwarzenegger had been hired to provide color
commentary for network television, when he announced at the eleventh hour
that while he was there: "Why not compete?" Schwarzenegger ended up
winning the event with only seven weeks of preparation. After being declared
Mr. Olympia for a seventh time, Schwarzenegger then officially retired from
competition.
Steroid
use
Schwarzenegger has admitted to using
performance-enhancing anabolic steroids while they were legal,
writing in 1977 that "steroids were helpful to me in maintaining muscle
size while on a strict diet in preparation for a contest. I did not use them
for muscle growth, but rather for muscle maintenance when cutting
up."[31] He has called the drugs "tissue
building."[32]
In 1999, Schwarzenegger sued Dr. Willi Heepe,
a German doctor who publicly predicted his early death on the basis of a link
between his steroid use and his later heart problems. As the doctor had
never examined him personally, Schwarzenegger collected a US$10,000 libel
judgment against him in a German court.[33] In 1999,
Schwarzenegger also sued and settled with The Globe, a U.S. tabloid
which had made similar predictions about the bodybuilder's future health.[34]
Acting
career
Selected notable roles:
- 1970: Hercules in New York as Hercules
- 1973: The Long Goodbye as
Hood in Augustine's office
- 1974: Happy Anniversary
and Goodbye as Rico
- 1976: Stay Hungry as
Joe Santo
- 1977: Pumping Iron as
Himself
- 1979: The Villain as
Handsome Stranger
- 1979: Scavenger Hunt as
Lars
- 1980: The Jayne Mansfield
Story as Mickey Hargitay
- 1981: Conan the Barbarian as Conan
- 1984: Conan the Destroyer as
Conan
- 1984: The Terminator as The
Terminator/T-800 Model 101
- 1985: Red Sonja as
Kalidor
- 1985: Commando as
John Matrix
- 1986: Raw Deal as
Mark Kaminsky, aka Joseph P. Brenner
- 1987: Predator as
Major Alan "Dutch" Schaeffer
- 1987: The Running Man as
Ben Richards
- 1988: Red Heat as
Captain Ivan Danko
- 1988: Twins as
Julius Benedict
- 1990: Total Recall as
Douglas Quaid/Hauser
- 1990: Kindergarten Cop as
Detective John Kimble
- 1991: Terminator 2:
Judgment Day as The Terminator/T-800 Model 101
- 1993: Last Action Hero as
Jack Slater / Himself
- 1993: Dave as
Cameo
- 1994: True Lies as
Harry Tasker
- 1994: Junior as
Dr. Alex Hesse
- 1996: Eraser as
U.S. Marshal John 'The Eraser' Kruger
- 1996: Jingle All the Way as
Howard Langston
- 1997: Batman and Robin as Mr.
Freeze
- 1999: End of Days as
Jericho Cane
- 2000: The 6th Day as
Adam Gibson/Adam Gibson Clone
- 2001: Dr. Dolittle 2 as
White Wolf
- 2001: Collateral Damage as
Gordy Brewer
- 2003: Terminator 3: Rise
of the Machines as The Terminator/T-850 Model 101
- 2003: The Rundown as
Cameo
- 2004: Around the World in
80 Days as Prince Hapi
- 2010: The Expendables as
Trench
- 2012: The Expendables 2 as
Trench
- 2013: The Last Stand as
Sheriff Ray Owens
- 2013: Escape Plan as
Rottmayer
- 2014: Sabotage as
John 'Breacher' Wharton
- 2014: The Expendables 3 as
Trench Mauser
- 2014: Maggie as
Wade Pace
- 2015: Terminator 5
Early
roles
Schwarzenegger wanted to move from
bodybuilding into acting, finally achieving it when he was chosen to play the
role of Hercules in 1970's Hercules in New York. Credited under the
name "Arnold Strong," his accent in the film was so thick that his
lines were dubbed after production.[14] His second
film appearance was as a deaf mute hit-man for the mob in director Robert
Altman'sThe Long Goodbye (1973), which was followed by a much more
significant part in the film Stay Hungry (1976), for which he
was awarded a Golden Globe for New Male Star of the Year. Schwarzenegger
has discussed his early struggles in developing his acting career. "It was
very difficult for me in the beginning – I was told by agents and casting
people that my body was 'too weird', that I had a funny accent, and that my
name was too long. You name it, and they told me I had to change it. Basically,
everywhere I turned, I was told that I had no chance."[6]
Schwarzenegger drew attention and boosted his
profile in the bodybuilding film Pumping Iron (1977),[13][14] elements
of which were dramatized. In 1991, Schwarzenegger purchased the rights to the
film, its outtakes, and associated still photography.[35] Schwarzenegger
auditioned for the title role of The Incredible Hulk, but did not
win the role because of his height. Later, Lou Ferrignogot the part of Dr.
David Banner's alter ego. Schwarzenegger appeared with Kirk
Douglas and Ann-Margret in the 1979 comedy The Villain.
In 1980 he starred in a biographical film of the 1950s actress Jayne Mansfield as
Mansfield's husband, Mickey Hargitay.
Action
superstar
Schwarzenegger's breakthrough film was
the sword-and-sorcery epic Conan the Barbarian in
1982, which was a box-office hit.[13] This was followed by a
sequel, Conan the Destroyer, in 1984, although it was not as
successful as its predecessor.[36] In 1983, Schwarzenegger
starred in the promotional video "Carnival in Rio". In 1984, he made
his first appearance as the eponymous character, and what some would say was
his acting career's signature role, in James Cameron's science
fiction thriller film The Terminator.[13][14][37] Following
this, Schwarzenegger made Red Sonja in 1985.[36]
During the 1980s, audiences had an appetite
for action films, with both Schwarzenegger and Sylvester
Stallone becoming international stars.[14] Schwarzenegger's
roles reflected his sense of humor, separating his roles from more serious
action hero films. The alternative-universe comedy thriller Last Action
Hero featured a poster of the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day,
which, in the alternate universe, starred Stallone. He made a number of
successful films, such as Commando (1985), Raw Deal (1986), The
Running Man (1987), Predator (1987), and Red
Heat (1988).
Twins (1988), a comedy with Danny
DeVito, also proved successful. Total Recall (1990) netted
Schwarzenegger $10 million and 15% of the film's gross. A science fiction
script, the film was based on the Philip K. Dick short story "We
Can Remember It for You Wholesale". Kindergarten Cop (1990)
reunited him with director Ivan Reitman, who directed him in Twins.
Schwarzenegger had a brief foray into directing, first with a 1990 episode of
the TV series Tales from the Crypt, entitled "The
Switch", and then with the 1992 telemovie Christmas in
Connecticut. He has not directed since.
Schwarzenegger's commercial peak was his
return as the title character in 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day,
which was the highest-grossing film of 1991. In 1993, the National
Association of Theatre Owners named him the "International Star of
the Decade".[4] His next film project, the 1993
self-aware action comedy spoof Last Action Hero, was
released opposite Jurassic Park, and did not do well at the box
office. His next film, the comedy drama True Lies (1994), was
a popular spy film, and saw Schwarzenegger reunited with James Cameron.
That same year, the comedy Junior was
released, the last of Schwarzenegger's three collaborations with Ivan Reitman
and again co-starring Danny DeVito. This film brought him his second Golden
Globe nomination, this time for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy. It
was followed by the action thrillerEraser (1996), the Christmas
comedy Jingle All The Way (1996), and the comic
book-based Batman & Robin (1997), in which he played the
villain Mr. Freeze. This was his final film before taking time to
recuperate from a back injury. Following the critical failure of Batman
& Robin, his film career and box office prominence went into decline.
He returned with the supernatural thriller End of Days (1999),
later followed by the action films The 6th Day(2000) and Collateral
Damage (2002), both of which failed to do well at the box office. In
2003, he made his third appearance as the title character in Terminator
3: Rise of the Machines, which went on to earn over $150 million
domestically.[citation needed]
In tribute to Schwarzenegger in 2002, Forum
Stadtpark, a local cultural association, proposed plans to build a 25-meter
(82 ft) tall Terminator statue in a park in
central Graz. Schwarzenegger reportedly said he was flattered, but thought
the money would be better spent on social projects and the Special
Olympics.[38]
Retirement
His film appearances after becoming Governor
of California included a three-second cameo appearance in The Rundown,
and the 2004 remake ofAround the World in 80 Days. In 2005, he appeared
as himself in the film The Kid & I. He voiced Baron von
Steuben in the Liberty's Kids episode "Valley
Forge". He had been rumored to be appearing in Terminator
Salvation as the original T-800; he denied his involvement,[39] but
it was later revealed that he would appear briefly via his image being inserted
into the movie from stock footage of the first Terminator movie.[40][41] Schwarzenegger
appeared in Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables, where he made
a cameo appearance.
Return
to acting
In January 2011, just weeks after leaving
office in California, Schwarzenegger announced that he was reading several new
scripts for future films, one of them being the World War II action drama With
Wings as Eagles, written by Randall Wallace, based on a true story.[42][43] On
March 6, 2011, at the Arnold Seminar of the Arnold Classic, Schwarzenegger
revealed that he was being considered for several films, including sequels
to The Terminator and remakes of Predator and The
Running Man, and that he was "packaging" a comic book character.[44] The
character was later revealed to be the Governator, star of the comic book
and animated series of the same name. Schwarzenegger inspired the character and
co-developed it with Stan Lee, who would have produced the series.
Schwarzenegger would have voiced the Governator.[45][46][47][48]
On May 20, 2011, Schwarzenegger's
entertainment counsel announced that all movie projects currently in
development were being halted: "Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal
matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or timelines."[49] On
July 11, 2011, it was announced that Schwarzenegger was considering a comeback
film despite his legal problems.[50] He appeared in The
Expendables 2 (2012),[51] and starred in The
Last Stand (2013), his first leading role in 10 years, and Escape
Plan (2013), his first co-starring role alongside Sylvester Stallone.
His next release is Sabotage (2014). He will reprise his role
as Conan the Barbarian in the 2014 film The Legend of Conan[52][53] and
is set to star in a fifth Terminator movie.[54]
Political
career
Early
politics
Schwarzenegger has been a
registered Republican for many years. As an actor, his political
views were always well known as they contrasted with those of many other
prominent Hollywood stars, who are generally considered to be a liberal and Democratic-leaning
community. At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Schwarzenegger gave
a speech and explained why he was a Republican:[55]
I finally arrived here in 1968. What a
special day it was. I remember I arrived here with empty pockets but full of
dreams, full of determination, full of desire. The presidential
campaign was in full swing. I remember watching
the Nixon-Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend of mine who
spoke German and English translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that
sounded like socialism, which I had just left.
But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking
about free enterprise, getting the government off your back, lowering the taxes
and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a
breath of fresh air. I said to my friend, I said, "What party is he?"
My friend said, "He's a Republican." I said, "Then I am a
Republican." And I have been a Republican ever since.
In 1985, Schwarzenegger appeared in Stop
the Madness, an anti-drug music video sponsored by the Reagan
administration. He first came to wide public notice as a Republican during
the 1988 Presidential election, accompanying then-Vice
President George H.W. Bush at a campaign rally.[56]
Schwarzenegger's first political appointment
was as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,
on which he served from 1990 to 1993.[4] He was nominated by
George H. W. Bush, who dubbed him "Conan the Republican". He
later served as Chairman for the California Governor's Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports under Governor Pete Wilson.
Between 1993 and 1994, Schwarzenegger was
a Red Cross ambassador (a ceremonial role fulfilled by celebrities),
recording several television/radio public service announcements to
donate blood.
In an interview with Talk magazine
in late 1999, Schwarzenegger was asked if he thought of running for office. He
replied, "I think about it many times. The possibility is there, because I
feel it inside."[57] The Hollywood Reporter claimed
shortly after that Schwarzenegger sought to end speculation that he might run
for governor of California.[57] Following his initial
comments, Schwarzenegger said, "I'm in show business – I am in the
middle of my career. Why would I go away from that and jump into something
else?"[57]
Governor
of California
Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in
the 2003 California recall election for Governor of California on the
August 6, 2003 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[14] According
to Schwarzenegger, he did not decide to run until the day of the announcement:
The recall happens and people are asking me,
‘What are you going to do?’ I thought about it but decided I wasn’t going to do
it. I told Maria I wasn’t running. I told everyone I wasn’t running. I wasn’t
running. I just thought [en route to the Tonight Show], This will
freak everyone out. It’ll be so funny. I’ll announce that I am running. I told
Leno I was running. And two months later I was governor. What the fuck is that?
All these people are asking me, ‘What’s your plan? Who’s on your staff?’ I
didn’t have a plan. I didn’t have a staff. I wasn’t running until I went on Jay
Leno.[58]
Schwarzenegger had the most name recognition
in a crowded field of candidates, but he had never held public office and his
political views were unknown to most Californians. His candidacy immediately
became national and international news, with media outlets dubbing him the
"Governator" (referring to The Terminator movies,
see above) and "The Running Man" (the name of another one of his
films), and calling the recall election "Total Recall" (yet another
Schwarzenegger starrer). Schwarzenegger declined to participate in several
debates with other recall replacement candidates, and appeared in only one debate
on September 24, 2003.[59]
On October 7, 2003, the recall election
resulted in Governor Gray Davis being removed from office with 55.4%
of the Yes vote in favor of a recall. Schwarzenegger was
elected Governor of California under the second question on the ballot with
48.6% of the vote to choose a successor to Davis. Schwarzenegger defeated
Democrat Cruz Bustamante, fellow Republican Tom McClintock, and
others. His nearest rival, Bustamante, received 31% of the vote. In total,
Schwarzenegger won the election by about 1.3 million votes. Under the
regulations of the California Constitution, no runoff election was
required. Schwarzenegger was the second foreign-born governor of California
after Irish-born Governor John G. Downey in 1862.
As soon as Schwarzenegger was elected
governor, Willie Brown said he would start a drive to recall the
governor. Schwarzenegger was equally entrenched in what he considered to be his
mandate in cleaning up gridlock. Building on a catchphrase from the sketch
"Hans and Franz" from Saturday Night Live(which partly
parodied his bodybuilding career), Schwarzenegger called the Democratic State
politicians "girlie men".[60]
Schwarzenegger's early victories included
repealing an unpopular increase in the vehicle registration fee as well as
preventing driver's licenses being given out to illegal immigrants, but later
he began to feel the backlash when powerful state unions began to oppose his
various initiatives. Key among his reckoning with political realities was
a special election he called in November 2005, in which four ballot
measures he sponsored were defeated. Schwarzenegger accepted personal
responsibility for the defeats and vowed to continue to seek consensus for the
people of California. He would later comment that "no one could win if the
opposition raised 160 million dollars to defeat you".
Schwarzenegger then went against the advice
of fellow Republican strategists and appointed a Democrat, Susan Kennedy, as
his Chief of Staff. Schwarzenegger gradually moved towards a more politically
moderate position, determined to build a winning legacy with only a short time
to go until the next gubernatorial election.
Schwarzenegger ran for re-election against
Democrat Phil Angelides, the California State Treasurer, in
the 2006 elections, held on November 7, 2006. Despite a poor year
nationally for the Republican party, Schwarzenegger won re-election with 56.0%
of the vote compared with 38.9% for Angelides, a margin of well over one
million votes.[61] In recent years, many commentators have seen
Schwarzenegger as moving away from the right and towards the center of the
political spectrum. After hearing a speech by Schwarzenegger at the
2006 Martin Luther King, Jr.breakfast, San Francisco mayor Gavin
Newsom said that, "[H]e's becoming a Democrat [... H]e's running
back, not even to the center. I would say center-left".
It was rumored that Schwarzenegger might run
for the United States Senate in 2010, as his governorship would be
term-limited by that time. This turned out to be false.[62][63]
Wendy Leigh, who wrote an unofficial
biography on Schwarzenegger, claims he plotted his political rise from an early
age using the movie business andbodybuilding as building blocks to escape
a depressing home.[9] Leigh portrays Schwarzenegger as obsessed
with power and quotes him as saying, "I wanted to be part of the small
percentage of people who were leaders, not the large mass of followers. I think
it is because I saw leaders use 100% of their potential – I was always
fascinated by people in control of other people."[9] Schwarzenegger
has said that it was never his intention to enter politics, but he says,
"I married into a political family. You get together with them and you
hear about policy, about reaching out to help people. I was exposed to the idea
of being a public servant and Eunice and Sargent Shriver became my
heroes."[23] Eunice Kennedy Shriver was sister
of John F. Kennedy, and mother-in-law to Schwarzenegger; Sargent Shriver
is husband to Eunice and father-in-law to Schwarzenegger. He cannot run for
president as he is not a natural born citizen of the United States.
In The Simpsons Movie (2007), he is portrayed as the
President, and in the Sylvester Stallone movie, Demolition
Man (1993, ten years before his first run for political office), it is
revealed that a constitutional amendment passed which allowed Schwarzenegger to
run for President.[citation needed]
Schwarzenegger is a dual Austria/United
States citizen.[64] He holds Austrian citizenship by birth and
has held U.S. citizenship since becoming naturalized in 1983. Being Austrian
and thus European, he was able to win the 2007 European
Voice campaigner of the year award for taking action against climate
change with the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and
plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme with other US states and possibly
with the EU.[65]
Because of his personal wealth from his
acting career, Schwarzenegger did not accept his governor's salary of $175,000
per year.[66]
Schwarzenegger's endorsement in
the Republican primary of the 2008 U.S. Presidential
election was highly sought; despite being good friends with candidates Rudy
Giuliani and Senator John McCain, Schwarzenegger remained neutral
throughout 2007 and early 2008. Giuliani dropped out of the Presidential race
on January 30, 2008, largely because of a poor showing in Florida, and endorsed
McCain. Later that night, Schwarzenegger was in the audience at a Republican
debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. The
following day, he endorsed McCain, joking, "It's Rudy's fault!" (in
reference to his friendships with both candidates and that he could not make up
his mind). Schwarzenegger's endorsement was thought to be a boost for Senator
McCain's campaign; both spoke about their concerns for the environment and
economy.[67]
In its April 2010
report, Progressive ethics watchdog group Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Schwarzenegger one of 11
"worst governors" in the United States because of various ethics
issues throughout Schwarzenegger's term as governor.[68][69]
Governor Schwarzenegger played a significant
role in opposing Proposition 66, a proposed amendment of the
Californian Three Strikes Law, in November 2004. This amendment would have
required the third felony to be either violent or serious to mandate a 25-years-to-life
sentence. In the last week before the ballot, Schwarzenegger launched an
intensive campaign[70] against Proposition 66.[71] He
stated that "it would release 26,000 dangerous criminals and
rapists".[72]
Although he began his tenure as governor with
record high approval ratings (as high as 89% in December 2003), he left office
with a record low 23%,[73] only one percent higher than that of
Gray Davis's when he was recalled in October 2003.
Allegations
of sexual misconduct
During his initial campaign for governor,
allegations of sexual and personal misconduct were raised against
Schwarzenegger, dubbed "Gropegate".[74]Within the last
five days before the election, news reports appeared in the Los Angeles
Times recounting allegations of sexual misconduct from several
individual women, six of whom eventually came forward with their personal
stories.[75]
Three of the women claimed he had grabbed
their breasts, a fourth said he placed his hand under her skirt on her buttock.
A fifth woman claimed Schwarzenegger tried to take off her bathing suit in a
hotel elevator, and the last said he pulled her onto his lap and asked her
about a sex act.[74]
Schwarzenegger admitted that he has
"behaved badly sometimes" and apologized, but also stated that
"a lot of [what] you see in the stories is not true". This came after
an interview in adult magazine Oui from 1977 surfaced, in
which Schwarzenegger discussed attending sexual orgies and using substances
such as marijuana.[76] Schwarzenegger is shown smoking a
marijuana joint after winning Mr. Olympia in the 1975 documentary filmPumping
Iron. In an interview with GQ magazine in October
2007, Schwarzenegger said, "[Marijuana] is not a drug. It's a leaf. My
drug was pumping iron, trust me."[77] His spokesperson
later said the comment was meant to be a joke.[77]
British television personality Anna
Richardson settled a libel lawsuit in August 2006 against Schwarzenegger,
his top aide, Sean Walsh, and his publicist, Sheryl Main.[78] A
joint statement read: "The parties are content to put this matter behind
them and are pleased that this legal dispute has now been settled."[78] Richardson
claimed they tried to tarnish her reputation by dismissing her allegations that
Schwarzenegger touched her breast during a press event for The 6th Day in
London.[79] She claimed Walsh and Main libeled her in a Los
Angeles Times article when they contended she encouraged his behavior.[78]
Citizenship
In 2005, Peter Pilz, from
the Austrian Green Party, demanded that parliament revoke Schwarzenegger's
Austrian citizenship. This demand was based on Article 33 of the Austrian
Citizenship Act that states: A citizen, who is in the public service of
a foreign country, shall be deprived of his citizenship, if he heavily damages
the reputation or the interests of the Austrian Republic.[64] Pilz
claimed that Schwarzenegger's actions in support of the death penalty
(prohibited in Austria under Protocol 13 of the European Convention on
Human Rights) had indeed done damage to Austria's reputation. Schwarzenegger
explained his actions by referring to the fact that his only duty as Governor
of California was to prevent an error in the judicial system.
Environmental
record
On September 27, 2006 Schwarzenegger signed a
bill creating the nation's first cap on greenhouse gas emissions. The law set
new regulations on the amount of emissions utilities, refineries and
manufacturing plants are allowed to release into the atmosphere. Schwarzenegger
also signed a second global warming bill that prohibits large utilities and
corporations in California from making long-term contracts with suppliers who
do not meet the state's greenhouse gas emission standards. The two bills are
part of a plan to reduce California's emissions by 25 percent to 1990s levels
by 2020. In 2005, Schwarzenegger issued an executive order calling to reduce
greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.[80]
Schwarzenegger signed another executive order
on October 17, 2006 allowing California to work with the Northeast's Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative. They plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by
issuing a limited amount of carbon credits to each power plant in participating
states. Any power plants that exceed emissions for the amount of carbon credits
will have to purchase more credits to cover the difference. The plan took
effect in 2009.[81] In addition to using his political power to
fight global warming, the governor has taken steps at his home to reduce his
personal carbon footprint. Schwarzenegger has adapted one of
his Hummers to run on hydrogen and another to run on biofuels. He has
also installed solar panels to heat his home.[82]
In respect of his contribution to the direction
of the US motor industry, Schwarzenegger was invited to open the
2009 SAE World Congress in Detroit, on April 20, 2009.[83]
In 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger founded
the R20 Regions of Climate Action to develop a sustainable, low
carbon economy.[84]
Electoral
history
In late 2013, multiple media outlets reported
that Schwarzenegger was exploring a future run for President. The former
California governor would face a constitutional hurdle; Section One,
Article Two nominally prevents individuals born outside of the United States
from assuming the office. He has reportedly been lobbying legislators about a
possible constitutional change, or filing a legal challenge to the
provision. Columbia University law professor Michael
Dorf observed that Arnold's possible lawsuit could ultimately win him the
right to run for the office, noting that "The law is very clear, but it’s
not 100 percent clear that the courts would enforce that law rather than leave
it to the political process".[85][86]Presidential
ambitions
Business
career
Schwarzenegger has had a highly successful
business career.[9][23] Following his move to the United
States, Schwarzenegger became a "prolific goal setter" and would
write his objectives at the start of the year on index cards, like starting a
mail order business or buying a new car – and succeed in doing so.[18] By
the age of 30, Schwarzenegger was a millionaire, well before his career in
Hollywood. His financial independence came from his success as a budding
entrepreneur with a series of successful business ventures and investments.
Bricklaying
business
In 1968, Schwarzenegger and fellow
bodybuilder Franco Columbu started a bricklaying business. The
business flourished thanks to the pair's marketing savvy and an increased
demand following the 1971 San Fernando earthquake.[87][88][58] Schwarzenegger
and Columbu used profits from their bricklaying venture to start a mail order
business, selling bodybuilding and fitness-related equipment and instructional
tapes.[4][87]
Real
estate investing
Schwarzenegger rolled profits from the mail
order business and his bodybuilding competition winnings into his first real
estate investment venture: an apartment building he purchased for $10,000. He
would later go on to invest in a number of real estate holding companies.[89][90]
Restaurant
In 1992, Schwarzenegger and his wife opened a
restaurant in Santa Monica called Schatzi On Main. Schatzi literally
means "little treasure," colloquial for "honey" or
"darling" in German. In 1998, he sold his restaurant.[91]
Planet
Hollywood investment
See also: Planet Hollywood
Schwarzenegger was a founding celebrity
investor in the Planet Hollywood chain of international theme
restaurants (modeled after the Hard Rock Cafe) along with Bruce
Willis, Sylvester Stalloneand Demi Moore. Schwarzenegger severed his
financial ties with the business in early 2000.[92][93] Schwarzenegger
said the company had not had the success he had hoped for, claiming he wanted
to focus his attention on "new US global business ventures" and his movie
career.[92]
Other
ventures and investments
He also invested in a shopping mall
in Columbus, Ohio. He has talked about some of those who have helped him
over the years in business: "I couldn't have learned about business
without a parade of teachers guiding me... from Milton
Friedman to Donald Trump... and now, Les
Wexner and Warren Buffett. I even learned a thing or two from Planet
Hollywood, such as when to get out! And I did!"[16] He has
significant ownership in Dimensional Fund Advisors, an investment firm.[94] Schwarzenegger
is also the owner of Arnold's Sports Festival, which he started in 1989 and is
held annually in Columbus, Ohio. It is a festival that hosts thousands of
international health and fitness professionals which has also expanded into a
three-day expo. He also owns a movie production company called Oak Productions,
Inc., and Fitness Publications, a joint publishing venture with Simon
& Schuster.
Personal
life
Early
love life
In 1969, Schwarzenegger met Barbara Outland
(later Barbara Outland Baker), an English teacher he lived with until 1974.[96] Schwarzenegger
talked about Barbara in his memoir in 1977: "Basically it came
down to this: she was a well-balanced woman who wanted an ordinary, solid life,
and I was not a well-balanced man, and hated the very idea of ordinary
life."[96] Baker has described Schwarzenegger as "[a]
joyful personality, totally charismatic, adventurous, and athletic" but
claims towards the end of the relationship he became "insufferable –
classically conceited – the world revolved around him".[97] Baker
published her memoir in 2006, entitled Arnold and Me: In the Shadow of
the Austrian Oak.[98] Although Baker, at times, painted an
unflattering portrait of her former lover, Schwarzenegger actually contributed
to the tell-all book with a foreword, and also met with Baker for three hours.[98] Baker
claims, for example, that she only learned of his being unfaithful after they
split, and talks of a turbulent and passionate love life. Schwarzenegger
has made it clear that their respective recollection of events can differ.The
couple first met six to eight months after his arrival in the U.S—their first
date was watching the first Apollo Moon landing on television. They
shared an apartment in Santa Monica for three and a half
years, and having little money, would visit the beach all day, or have
barbecues in the back yard. Although Baker claims that when
she first met him, he had "little understanding of polite society"
and she found him a turn-off, she says, "He's as much a self-made man as
it's possible to be—he never got encouragement from his parents, his family,
his brother. He just had this huge determination to prove himself, and that was
very attractive ... I'll go to my grave knowing Arnold loved me."
Schwarzenegger met his next paramour, Sue
Moray, a Beverly Hills hairdresser's assistant, on Venice
Beach in July 1977. According to Moray, the couple led an open
relationship: "We were faithful when we were both in LA ... but when he
was out of town, we were free to do whatever we wanted."[10] Schwarzenegger
met Maria Shriver at the Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament in
August 1977, and went on to have a relationship with both women until August
1978, when Moray (who knew of his relationship with Shriver) issued an
ultimatum.
Marriage
and family
On April 26, 1986, Schwarzenegger married
television journalist Maria Shriver, niece of President John F.
Kennedy, in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
The Rev. John Baptist Riordan performed the ceremony at St.
Francis Xavier Catholic Church. They have four
children: Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger (born December 13, 1989 in
Los Angeles); Christina Maria Aurelia Schwarzenegger (born July 23, 1991 in Los
Angeles); Patrick Arnold Shriver Schwarzenegger (born
September 18, 1993 in Los Angeles); and Christopher
Sargent Shriver Schwarzenegger (born September 27, 1997 in Los Angeles). Schwarzenegger
lives in a 11,000-square-foot (1,000 m2) home
in Brentwood.The divorcing couple currently own
vacation homes in Sun Valley, Idahoand Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.[105] They
attended St. Monica's Catholic Church.[106]
Marital
separation
On May 9, 2011, Shriver and Schwarzenegger
separated after 25 years of marriage, with Shriver moving out of the couple's
Brentwood mansion.[107][108][109] On May 16, 2011, the Los
Angeles Times revealed that Schwarzenegger had fathered a son more
than fourteen years earlier with an employee in their household, Mildred
Patricia 'Patty' Baena.[110][111][112] "After leaving the
governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade
ago," Schwarzenegger said in a statement issued to The Times.
In the statement, Schwarzenegger did not mention that he had confessed to his
wife only after Shriver had confronted him with the information, which she had
done after confirming with the housekeeper what she had suspected about the
child.[113]
Fifty-year-old Baena,
of Guatemalan origin, was employed by the family for 20 years and
retired in January 2011.[114] The pregnant Baena was working in
the home while Shriver was pregnant with the youngest of the couple’s four
children.[115] Baena's son with Schwarzenegger, Joseph,[116] was
born on October 2, 1997;[117] Shriver gave birth to Christopher
on September 27, 1997.[118] Schwarzenegger found ways to spend
time with this child: in one instance, in 1998, Shriver and Schwarzenegger's
children unexpectedly accompanied Schwarzenegger to the lovechild's baptism;[119] and
he was photographed teaching the boy how to play golf and swinging him
playfully above his head.[119] Despite Schwarzenegger's
interactions with the child, the boy was never told that Schwarzenegger was his
father, and he was unaware of the fact until it was revealed by the press.[120] Schwarzenegger
has taken financial responsibility for the child "from the start and
continued to provide support."[121] KNX 1070 radio
reported that he bought a new, four-bedroom house, with a pool,
in Bakersfield, about 112 miles (180 km) north of Los Angeles, in
2010 for Baena and their son.[122] Baena separated from her
husband, Rogelio, in 1997, a few months after Joseph's birth, and filed for
divorce in 2008.[123] Baena's ex-husband says that the child's
birth certificate was falsified and that he plans to sue Schwarzenegger for
engaging in conspiracy to falsify a public document, a serious crime in
California.[124]
Schwarzenegger has consulted an attorney, Bob
Kaufman. Kaufman has earlier handled divorce cases for celebrities such
as Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.[125][126] Schwarzenegger
will keep the Brentwood home as part of their divorce settlement and Shriver
has purchased a new home nearby so that the children may travel easily between
their parents' homes. They will share custody of the two minor children.[127] Schwarzenegger
came under fire after the initial petition did not include spousal support and
a reimbursement of attorney's fees.[52] However, he claims this
was not intentional and that he signed the initial documents without having
properly read them.[52] Schwarzenegger has filed amended
divorce papers remedying this.[52][128]
In the aftermath of Schwarzenegger's
infidelity scandal, actress Brigitte Nielsen came forward and stated
that she too had an affair with Schwarzenegger while he was in a relationship
with Shriver,[129] saying, "Maybe I wouldn't have got into
it if he said 'I'm going to marry Maria' and this is dead serious, but he
didn't, and our affair carried on."[129]
Accidents
and injuries
Schwarzenegger was born with a bicuspid
aortic valve, an aortic valve with only two leaflets (a normal aortic valve has
three leaflets).[130][131] Schwarzenegger opted in 1997 for a
replacement heart valve made of his own transplanted tissue; medical experts
predicted he would require heart valve replacement surgery in the following two
to eight years as his valve would progressively degrade. Schwarzenegger
apparently opted against a mechanical valve, the only permanent solution
available at the time of his surgery, because it would have sharply limited his
physical activity and capacity to exercise.[132]
On December 9, 2001, he broke six ribs and
was hospitalized for four days after a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles.[133]
Schwarzenegger saved a drowning man's life in
2004 while on vacation in Hawaii by swimming out and bringing him back to
shore.[134]
On January 8, 2006, while Schwarzenegger was
riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle in Los Angeles, with his son
Patrick in the sidecar, another driver backed into the street he was riding on,
causing him and his son to collide with the car at a low speed. While his son
and the other driver were unharmed, the governor sustained a minor injury to his
lip, requiring 15 stitches. "No citations were issued", said Officer
Jason Lee, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman.[135] Schwarzenegger
did not obtain his motorcycle license until July 3, 2006.[136]
Schwarzenegger tripped over his ski pole and
broke his right femur while skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho, with
his family on December 23, 2006.[137] On December 26, 2006, he
underwent a 90-minute operation in which cables and screws were used to wire
the broken bone back together. He was released from the St. John's Health
Center on December 30, 2006.[138]
Schwarzenegger's private jet made an
emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport on June 19, 2009, after the
pilot reported smoke coming from the cockpit, according to a statement released
by the governor's press secretary. No one was harmed in the incident.[139]
Height
Schwarzenegger's official height of 6'2"
(1.88 m) has been brought into question by several articles. In his
bodybuilding days in the late 1960s, he was measured to be 6'1.5"
(1.87 m), a height confirmed by his fellow bodybuilders.[140][141] However,
in 1988 both the Daily Mail and Time Out magazine
mentioned that Schwarzenegger appeared noticeably shorter.[142] Prior
to running for Governor, Schwarzenegger's height was once again questioned in
an article by the Chicago Reader.[143] As Governor,
Schwarzenegger engaged in a light-hearted exchange with AssemblymanHerb
Wesson over their heights. At one point, Wesson made an unsuccessful
attempt to, in his own words, "settle this once and for all and find out
how tall he is" by using a tailor's tape measure on the Governor.[144] Schwarzenegger
retaliated by placing a pillow stitched with the words "Need a lift?"
on the five-foot-five inch (165 cm) Wesson's chair before a negotiating
session in his office.[145] Bob Mulholland also claimed
Schwarzenegger was 5'10" (1.78 m) and that he wore risers in his
boots.[146] The debate on Schwarzenegger's height has spawned a
website solely dedicated to the issue,[147] and his page
remains one of the most active on CelebHeights.com, a website which discusses
the heights of celebrities.[140] Men's Health magazine
has estimated his height at 5'10".[27]
Autobiography
Schwarzenegger's autobiography, Total
Recall, was released in October 2012. He devotes one chapter called
"The Secret" to his extramarital affair. The majority of his book is
about his successes in the three major chapters in his life: bodybuilder,
actor, and Governor of California.[148]
Net
worth
See also: List of richest American
politicians
Schwarzenegger's net worth had been
conservatively estimated at $100–$200 million.[149] After
separating from his wife, Maria Shriver, in 2011, it has been estimated
that his net worth has been approximately $400 million, and even as high as
$800 million, based on tax returns he filed in 2006.[150][151] Over
the years as an investor, he invested his bodybuilding and movie
earnings in an array of stocks, bonds, privately controlled
companies, and real estate holdings worldwide, so a more accurate estimation of
his net worth is difficult to calculate, particularly in light of declining
real estate values owing to economic recessions in the United States and
Europe. In June 1997, Schwarzenegger spent $38 million of his own money on
a private Gulfstream jet.[152]Schwarzenegger once said of his
fortune, "Money doesn't make you happy. I now have $50 million, but I
was just as happy when I had $48 million."[9] He has
also stated, "I've made many millions as a businessman many times over."[16]
Activism
He bought the first Hummer manufactured for
civilian use in 1992, a model so large, 6,300 lb (2,900 kg) and 7
feet (2.1 m) wide, that it is classified as a large truck and U.S. fuel
economy regulations do not apply to it. During the gubernatorial recall
campaign he announced that he would convert one of his Hummers to burn
hydrogen. The conversion was reported to have cost about US$21,000. After the
election, he signed an executive order to jump-start the building of hydrogen
refueling plants called the California Hydrogen Highway Network, and gained
a U.S. Department of Energy grant to help pay for its projected
US$91,000,000 cost.[153] California took delivery of the first
H2H (Hydrogen Hummer) in October 2004.[154]
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been involved with
the Special Olympics for many years after they were founded by his
ex-mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. In 2007, Schwarzenegger was the
official spokesperson for the Special Olympics which were held in Shanghai,
China.[156] Schwarzenegger believes that quality school
opportunities should be made available to children who might not normally be
able to access them.[157] In 1995, he founded the Inner City
Games Foundation (ICG) which provides cultural, educational and community
enrichment programming to youth.[157] ICG is active in 15
cities around the country and serves over 250,000 children in over 400 schools
countrywide. He has also been involved with After-School All-Stars, and
founded the Los Angeles branch in 2002. ASAS is an after school program
provider, educating youth about health, fitness and nutrition.
On February 12, 2010, Schwarzenegger took
part in the Vancouver Olympic Torch relay. He handed off the flame to the next
runner, Sebastian Coe.[159]
Honors
Schwarzenegger's home town of Graz had its soccer stadium named The Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium in his honor. It is the home of both Grazer AK and Sturm Graz. After the Stanley Williams execution and street protests in Schwarzenegger's hometown, several local politicians began a campaign to remove his name from the stadium. In response, Schwarzenegger said "to spare the responsible politicians of the city of Graz further concern, I withdraw from them as of this day the right to use my name in association with the Liebenau Stadium", and set a deadline of two days to remove his name. Graz officials removed Schwarzenegger's name from the stadium in December 2005. It is now officially titled UPC-Arena.
Schwarzenegger's home town of Graz had its soccer stadium named The Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium in his honor. It is the home of both Grazer AK and Sturm Graz. After the Stanley Williams execution and street protests in Schwarzenegger's hometown, several local politicians began a campaign to remove his name from the stadium. In response, Schwarzenegger said "to spare the responsible politicians of the city of Graz further concern, I withdraw from them as of this day the right to use my name in association with the Liebenau Stadium", and set a deadline of two days to remove his name. Graz officials removed Schwarzenegger's name from the stadium in December 2005. It is now officially titled UPC-Arena.
The Sun Valley Resort has a short ski trail
called Arnold's Run, named after Schwarzenegger in 2001.[161] The
trail is categorized as a black diamond, or most difficult, for its terrain.
People in Thal, Austria, celebrated
Schwarzenegger's 60th birthday by throwing a party. Officials proclaimed
"A Day for Arnold" on July 30, 2007. The mayor sent Schwarzenegger
the enameled sign, Thal 145, the number of the house where Schwarzenegger was
born, declaring "This belongs to him. No one here will ever be assigned
that number again".[162]
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