Arnold Schwarzenegger Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, an Austrian-American, is a renowned bodybuilder, model, actor, businessman, and politician boasting a net worth of $750 million. Known globally, he has, at various times, been the highest-paid individual in the entertainment industry. During the peak of his career, he regularly earned between $20-30 million per film, accumulating hundreds of millions in film salaries throughout his career.

Apart from his earnings in films, Arnold has established a significant real estate portfolio and, crucially, holds a 5% stake in an investment firm known as Dimensional Fund Advisors. Since his arrival in the US in the 1970s, he has invested his earnings into real estate. By the age of 25, these investments had already made him a millionaire. His commercial and personal real estate assets are estimated to be worth between $100-200 million. In 1996, he acquired his 5% share in Dimensional Fund Advisors for an undisclosed sum, at a time when the company managed $12 billion in assets. According to a financial disclosure from 2003, during his gubernatorial campaign in California, the firm’s asset management had increased to $300 billion, and it is currently believed to manage close to $700 billion. At this valuation, Arnold’s pre-tax share in the firm could be valued as low as $300 million and potentially as high as $500 million.

Arnold Schwarzenegger exemplifies what can be achieved through sheer, relentless ambition. After gaining recognition as an Austrian bodybuilding champion in the early 60s and winning the “Mr. Universe” title in both 1967 and 1968, he relocated to the US, aiming to become an actor despite having minimal English language skills. Over the following nine years, he improved his English, obtained a Bachelor’s degree, penned a bestselling book, and claimed nearly every bodybuilding title available. He began his acting career in the early 1970s, receiving a Golden Globe for his performance in his second film. However, it wasn’t until “Conan the Barbarian” in 1982 that he truly captured the audience’s attention. This success paved his way to the “The Terminator” franchise, a prolific career as an action star, and a politically astute marriage to Maria Shriver, the niece of John F. Kennedy. Notably, he also served as California’s Governor for eight years from 2003 to 2011, during which he chose to forgo around $200 million in acting earnings.

2003 Financial Disclosure

As mentioned earlier, in August 2003, Arnold released a comprehensive financial report outlining his business ventures and net worth as part of his campaign for Governor. His financial disclosures at the time indicated a net worth of $200 million. The report revealed that he earned $14 million in 2003 and $24 million in 2002, having paid $11 million in federal taxes and $4 million in state taxes over the prior three years. Arnold manages all his movie income through an LLC named Oak Productions Inc., headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Oak Productions operates out of a commercial building at 3110 Main Street, which houses around a dozen tenants in a prime location, and Arnold owns the entire building. An April 2006 disclosure indicated that he earned $17 million in 2004, but he had not yet filed his taxes for 2005 by that time.

Early Life

Born on July 30, 1947, in the small village of Thal, Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger was raised by his father Gustav, who served as the local police chief, and his mother, a homemaker. In 1960, his football (soccer) coach took him to a local gym and introduced…

He was introduced to the world of bodybuilding at the age of 13. Initially, his father envisioned the young Arnold pursuing a career as a police officer, while his mother wished for him to go to trade school. However, deep down, Arnold felt his destiny lay far beyond their small Austrian village. Upon discovering that several recent Mr. Universe champions transitioned into successful acting careers in Hollywood, he set his aspirations firmly on becoming the most renowned professional bodybuilder globally.

In 1965, Arnold emerged victorious in the Junior Mr. Europe Contest. By 1967, at just 20 years old, he made history as the youngest person to claim the Mr. Universe title, which he later won three additional times. Despite his impressive accomplishments in bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger still prioritized attending business school during his free time.

Real Estate Investments

With $27,000 saved from competition winnings, Arnold immigrated to America in September 1968 at the age of 21. Adjusted for inflation, that amount in today’s currency equates to about $182,000, marking a significant amount for a young immigrant. Shortly after his arrival in Hollywood, he began to dabble in real estate investments, initially purchasing a small plot of land in Palmdale, California, which was rumored to be the future site of a supersonic airport. When this venture fell through, Arnold remained unfazed. He used his remaining funds and borrowed an additional $10,000 from his trainer at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California, to acquire an apartment building priced at $214,000. Within a year, he sold the property for $360,000, then successfully upgraded to a 12-unit building, followed by a 36-unit, and eventually a 100-unit building. Each time he sold a property, he reinvested the profits to minimize taxes and boost his prospective returns. By the age of 25, Arnold had already achieved millionaire status in real estate, all before gaining fame as an actor.

Currently, Arnold possesses an extensive real estate portfolio comprised mainly of commercial properties located in Southern California, valued at over $100 million, excluding his personal residences.

Dimensional Fund Advisors

In 1996, Arnold acquired a 5% interest in the investment company Dimensional Fund Advisors for an undisclosed sum. At that time, the firm was managing approximately $12 billion in assets, a figure that now approaches $700 billion. Reports suggest that Arnold’s stake is worth between $300 and $500 million, pre-tax.

Film Success

He secured his initial “Mr. Olympia” title in 1970, a title he would go on to win multiple times throughout his career. Following this achievement, Arnold was offered his first significant film role in “Hercules in New York.” His prominence surged even further in 1977 with the release of the bodybuilding documentary “Pumping Iron.”

As his fame escalated with films like “Conan the Barbarian,” it wasn’t until he starred in the 1984 blockbuster “The Terminator” that his career truly skyrocketed. For his role in The Terminator, he earned $75,000, and the film grossed $80 million worldwide. This breakthrough led to a series of successful films, including “The Running Man,” “Red Heat,” and “The Predator.” He even ventured into comedy with the 1988 film “Twins,” directed by Ivan Reitman and co-starring Danny DeVito.

During the 1990s, Arnold reprised his role as the Terminator under the direction of his friend James Cameron, resulting in even greater success with the film “True Lies.” As the decade ended, Schwarzenegger starred in movies such as “Last Action Hero,” “Eraser” in 1996, and ultimately “Batman and Robin.”

Largest Paycheck

Arnold has accumulated over $400 million in film salaries alone, before taxation, so far. However, the largest single paycheck he received came from a film that might surprise you. It was not an action blockbuster, but rather the 1988 film “Twins.”

For “Twins,” Arnold, Danny Devito, and director Ivan Reitman struck an agreement to forgo their salaries from the studio in exchange for a 40% ownership of the film (13.33% each). The movie became a major success, grossing over $215 million worldwide at the box office alone. It also performed well in VHS sales and cable viewership. In a March 2014 interview, Arnold mentioned that he made more money from “Twins” than any other movie in his entire filmography. It’s presumed that Reitman and Devito experienced a similar situation. If we assume that each of them earned $35-40 million from the movie back in 1988, adjusting for inflation, that would be equivalent to about $70-$80 million. The trio later reunited for the film “Junior.”

Other Notable Salaries

As previously mentioned, Arnold was paid $75,000 for his role in “The Terminator.” He received $2 million for “Commando,” and $3.5 million for “Predator.” For “Total Recall,” he earned $11 million, and for both “Kindergarten Cop” and “Terminator 2,” he made $12 million. In Terminator 2, with just 700 words of dialogue, this meant he earned $21,429 for every word spoken.

For “True Lies,” “Junior,” and “Last Action Hero,” he made $15 million each, and $20 million for both “Eraser” and “Jingle All The Way.” Arnold’s earnings surpassed $25 million for films like “Batman & Robin,” “The 6th Day,” and “Collateral Damage.”

Terminator 3 Salary

Following James Cameron’s approval to star in a Terminator movie that was not helmed by the franchise’s creator, Arnold began to negotiate his contract for what eventually became 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 earnings exceeding $380 million for “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” The film grossed $433 million worldwide, raising Arnold’s total earnings to approximately $35 million. His arrangement was “pay or play,” meaning he would be compensated even if the movie was never produced for any reason. Additionally, his contract provided for $1.6 million for each filming day that exceeded the planned 19-week shooting schedule. Moreover, during production, Arnold was allocated a budget of $1.5 million for private jet flights, a gym-modified trailer, three hotel suites, bodyguards, and drivers available 24/7.

Governor of California

A longtime member of the Republican Party, Schwarzenegger delivered a notable speech at the 2004 National Republican Convention to explain his reasons for joining. He surprised the nation in 2003 when he announced his candidacy for Governor of California during “The Tonight Show.” Serving as Governor from 2003 to 2011, Arnold later stated that he missed out on $200 million in potential movie earnings during his eight years in office. Although the annual salary for the Governor was set at $175,000, Arnold chose to forgo 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 had four children, including Katherine Schwarzenegger, who is wed to actor Chris Pratt, and model/actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Their relationship concluded in 2011 after it was revealed that Arnold had fathered a son with the family housekeeper fourteen years prior. Their divorce, which lasted six years to finalize, allegedly cost Arnold $200 million. He retained their long-time Brentwood family home while Maria used the funds to purchase a nearby residence.

Personal Real Estate

A collection of real estate assets valued at $50-60 million belongs to Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2002, Arnold and Maria invested $4.8 million in a 6-acre property situated in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Following their separation, Arnold continued to reside in this home. Nestled within a gated community, which is also home to Dr. Dre, Arnold’s residence features a 14,500-square-foot mansion, complete with ocean views, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and ample privacy. This property is currently estimated to be worth between $20-30 million.

Additionally, Arnold and Maria share ownership of family vacation properties located in Sun Valley, Idaho, and Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.