Arnold Schwarzenegger Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Net Worth: What Is It?

The net worth of Arnold Schwarzenegger, an Austrian-American bodybuilder, model, actor, businessman, and politician, stands at $750 million. Renowned globally, Arnold has frequently been one of the highest-paid individuals in the entertainment industry. During his career peak, he typically earned between $20 and $30 million per film, accumulating hundreds of millions in film earnings throughout his career.

Apart from his film earnings, Arnold has built a substantial real estate portfolio and, notably, holds a 5% stake in an investment firm known as Dimensional Fund Advisors. Since arriving in the US in the 1970s, he has invested his earnings into real estate, becoming a millionaire by age 25 through these endeavors. His commercial and personal properties are estimated to be worth between $100 and $200 million. In 1996, he acquired his 5% interest in Dimensional Fund Advisors for an undisclosed amount when the firm managed $12 billion in assets. By 2003, as per his financial disclosures during his gubernatorial campaign, the firm’s assets grew to $300 billion. Currently, the firm manages nearly $700 billion, making Arnold’s pre-tax stake worth between $300 and $500 million.

Arnold Schwarzenegger exemplifies the heights one can reach through relentless, “take-no-prisoners” ambition. Beginning as a bodybuilding champion in Austria during the early 60s, he won “Mr. Universe” titles in 1967 and 1968 before moving to the US, driven by his aspiration to become an actor, despite limited English proficiency. Over the next nine years, he significantly improved his English skills, obtained a Bachelor’s degree, authored a bestselling book, and clinched nearly every bodybuilding title available. His acting career began in the early 70s, earning him a Golden Globe for his second film. However, it wasn’t until the 1982 release of “Conan the Barbarian” that he garnered widespread recognition, leading to a successful action star career and a politically astute marriage to Maria Shriver, John F. Kennedy’s niece. Arnold also served as Governor of California for eight years from 2003 to 2011, forgoing approximately $200 million in acting salaries during his tenure.

2003 Financial Disclosure

As mentioned earlier, Arnold released a comprehensive financial report in August 2003 during his gubernatorial campaign, detailing his business empire and net worth at that time. According to this disclosure, his net worth was pegged at $200 million, with earnings of $14 million in 2003 and $24 million in 2002. He paid $11 million in federal taxes and $4 million in state taxes over the preceding three years. Arnold operates all his film income through an LLC named Oak Productions Inc., headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The company is situated in a building at 3110 Main Street, a commercial property housing approximately a dozen tenants, which Arnold owns entirely. An April 2006 disclosure indicated that Arnold earned $17 million in 2004, and at that time, he hadn’t yet filed his taxes for 2005.

Early Life

Born on July 30, 1947, in the small village of Thal, Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the son of the local police chief, Gustav, and a homemaker mother. In 1960, after being introduced to bodybuilding by his football (soccer) coach at a local gym, the 13-year-old Arnold found a passion in the sport. His father envisioned a law enforcement career for him, while his mother preferred a trade school education. Knowing he was destined for something greater beyond their village, Arnold set his sights on becoming the most renowned bodybuilder in the world after discovering that previous Mr. Universe champions often transitioned to successful acting careers in Hollywood.

In 1965, Arnold emerged victorious in the Junior Mr. Europe Contest. By 1967, at just 20 years old, he made history as the youngest winner of the Mr. Universe title, a title he would claim three more times. Despite his success as a bodybuilder, Schwarzenegger made time to attend business school in his free moments.

Real Estate Investments

Arriving in America in September 1968 with $27,000, all of it saved from competition winnings, Schwarzenegger faced a new challenge. Adjusting for inflation, $27,000 in 1968 equates to about $182,000 today. Shortly after settling in Hollywood, Arnold began making small real estate investments. He first purchased a plot of land in Palmdale, California, expected to host a supersonic airport. Although this initial investment did not succeed, Arnold was undeterred. He used his remaining funds and borrowed $10,000 from his trainer at Gold’s Gym in Venice to buy an apartment building priced at $214,000. He sold the property a year later for $360,000. Following this success, he stepped up to a 12-unit building, then a 36-unit, and eventually a 100-unit building, reinvesting the profits with tax avoidance strategies to enhance future returns. By age 25, Arnold had already established himself as a millionaire in real estate, all before becoming a recognized actor.

Currently, Arnold possesses an extensive real estate portfolio that primarily consists of commercial properties in Southern California. Excluding his personal residences, this portfolio is valued at over $100 million.

Dimensional Fund Advisors

In 1996, Arnold acquired a 5% interest in Dimensional Fund Advisors for an undisclosed amount, with the firm’s assets totaling around $12 billion at that time. Presently, the firm oversees nearly $700 billion in assets, placing Arnold’s 5% stake in the range of $300-500 million, pre-tax.

Film Success

Arnold secured his first “Mr. Olympia” title in 1970, with multiple subsequent victories throughout his career. This achievement catapulted him into the film industry, where he earned his first major role in “Hercules in New York.” His fame skyrocketed in 1977 with the release of the bodybuilding documentary “Pumping Iron.”

His rising stardom continued with films such as “Conan the Barbarian,” but it was the 1984 blockbuster “The Terminator” that truly launched his career. Arnold received $75,000 for his performance in The Terminator, a film grossing $80 million worldwide. Following this film, his career soared even higher with successes like “The Running Man,” “Red Heat,” and “The Predator,” as well as a comedic role in Ivan Reitman’s 1988 film “Twins,” co-starring Danny DeVito.

During the 1990s, Arnold reprised his role as the Terminator in collaboration with his friend and director James Cameron, achieving further success with “True Lies.” He closed the decade with hits such as “Last Action Hero,” 1996’s “Eraser,” and ultimately “Batman and Robin.”“`html

Largest Paycheck

Thus far, Arnold has accumulated at least $400 million solely from film salaries, not accounting for taxes. Interestingly, his biggest paycheck was from a film you might not expect; it wasn’t an action hit but rather the 1988 movie “Twins.”

For the film “Twins,” Arnold, Danny Devito, and director Ivan Reitman all consented to forgo salaries from the studio to retain 40% ownership of the film (13.33% each). The movie became a blockbuster, grossing over $215 million worldwide at the box office alone. It also performed well on VHS and cable. During a March 2014 interview, Arnold asserted that he earned more from “Twins” than from all the other films in his career. Presumably, the same applies to Reitman and Devito. If we assume Arnold, Danny, and Ivan each earned $35-40 million from the film in 1988, adjusting for inflation puts that sum at approximately $70-$80 million. The trio eventually reunited in the film “Junior.”

Other Notable Salaries

Previously, we mentioned that Arnold was paid $75,000 for “The Terminator.” He received $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 fact, for Terminator 2, Arnold’s dialogue consisted of only 700 words, giving him a rate of $21,429 per word spoken.

For “True Lies,” “Junior,” and “Last Action Hero,” he earned $15 million each, followed by $20 million for “Eraser” and “Jingle All The Way.” His salaries exceeded $25 million for “Batman & Robin,” “The 6th Day,” and “Collateral Damage.”

Terminator 3 Salary

After securing James Cameron’s approval to feature in a Terminator film independent of the franchise’s creator, Arnold began negotiating his contract for what turned into the 2003 release “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” Ultimately, Arnold struck a deal for 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 globally, boosting Arnold’s paycheck to an estimated $35 million. His contract stipulated a “pay or play” clause, ensuring compensation even if the project didn’t proceed. Additionally, he was entitled to $1.6 million for every filming day that extended beyond the 19-week schedule. Moreover, during production, Arnold was allocated a $1.5 million budget to cover private jet travel, a trailer converted into a gym, three hotel suites, personal bodyguards, and 24/7 drivers.

Governor of California

Schwarzenegger has been affiliated with the Republican Party for a long time. In fact, he spoke at the 2004 National Republican Convention, detailing his reasons for being a Republican. In a surprising move, Arnold declared on “The Tonight Show” in 2003 that he would run for Governor of California. He held the Governor position from 2003 until 2011. Arnold later remarked that his eight years in office cost him an estimated $200 million in potential film earnings. Although the position afforded him an annual salary of $175,000, he opted not to accept it.

Personal Life

From 1986 to 2017, Arnold was married to Maria Shriver, a television news personality and niece of President John F. Kennedy. They share four children, including Katherine Schwarzenegger (married to actor Chris Pratt) and model/actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Arnold and Maria’s marriage ended in 2011 after revelations emerged about Arnold fathering a son with their housekeeper 14 years earlier. Their divorce settlement extended over six years and reportedly cost Arnold $200 million. While Arnold retained ownership of their long-time family residence in Brentwood, Maria used Arnold’s funds to buy a new home nearby.

Personal Real Estate

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s real estate holdings are valued between $50-60 million. In 2002, Arnold and Maria purchased a roughly 6-acre property in LA’s Brentwood area for $4.8 million. Following their separation, Arnold kept this residence. Nestled within a gated community, which also houses Dr. Dre, the property features a 14,500-square-foot mansion that boasts ocean views, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and significant privacy. This property is currently assessed at $20-30 million.

Additionally, Arnold and Maria jointly own family vacation homes located in Sun Valley, Idaho, and Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.