What is the Net Worth of Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most recognizable figures in Hollywood and worldwide. He first gained fame as a professional bodybuilder, winning the Mr. Olympia contest a record seven times.

Schwarzenegger then transitioned into a massively successful film career, starring in blockbuster hits like The Terminator, Predator, and Total Recall. In 2003, he ran for governor of California in a recall election and won, serving as governor from 2003 to 2011.

Throughout his diverse career, Schwarzenegger has amassed significant wealth. But what exactly is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth? Here is an in-depth look at how the “Austrian Oak” built his fortune over the decades.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Career Highlights

• Professional bodybuilder – won Mr. Olympia 7 times (1970-1975, 1980)
• Actor in blockbuster films like The Terminator, Predator, Total Recall
• California governor (2003-2011)
• Entrepreneur and businessman

Arnold Schwarzenegger first gained fame in the 1970s as a professional bodybuilder. He won the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition a record seven times, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats in bodybuilding history.

After retiring from competition, Schwarzenegger pivoted to a career in Hollywood. His breakout role was as the cyborg assassin in 1984’s The Terminator, launching his action movie stardom. He starred in a string of hugely successful films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Predator, Total Recall, and True Lies.

In 2003, Schwarzenegger ran for governor of California in a recall election and won. As a Republican governor of a Democratic state, he faced challenges but ultimately served two full terms from 2003 to 2011.

In his business and entrepreneurial ventures, Schwarzenegger has invested in various real estate projects and startup companies. He was also a founding partner in several successful businesses like the Arnold Sports Festival.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Net Worth

According to multiple reports, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s current net worth is estimated to be:

$400 million

Unlike many Hollywood celebrities, the vast majority of Schwarzenegger’s wealth comes from wise investments and business moves rather than simply his movie career.

Let’s take a look at the key factors contributing to his high net worth.

Movie Career Earnings

• Estimated career movie earnings: $400 million
• Highest single paycheck: $30 million for Terminator 3
• Consistent seven-figure salaries since the 1980s

Schwarzenegger’s acting career has been hugely lucrative. While early hits like Conan the Barbarian paid “only” $250,000, his salaries shot up exponentially in the late 1980s with films like Predator ($3 million) and Total Recall ($10 million plus backend profits).

Terminator 2 earned him $15 million plus 20% of the gross profits, resulting in a $35 million payday. Other huge paydays included $25 million for Terminator 3 and $8 million for his small role in The Expendables.

Adding up his big salaries and backend profits, Schwarzenegger has earned an estimated $400 million in film earnings over his career.

Real Estate and Business Investments

• Extensive real estate portfolio including a $15 million compound in LA
• Early investments in Planet Hollywood and mail-order business
• Co-founded several successful companies and brands

In the 1980s, Schwarzenegger began investing his movie earnings in various real estate ventures. He bought an $11 million property in LA which is now worth over $15 million. He also invested in commercial real estate including office buildings, strip malls, and apartment complexes.

Schwarzenegger was one of the original celebrity investors in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain along with Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis. He also had business stakes in mail-order companies and nutrition/supplement brands.

In the 1990s, he co-founded Oak Productions, which launched franchises like the Arnold Sports Festival. The annual multi-sport event generates over $70 million in revenue.

Overall, Schwarzenegger has turned his Hollywood riches into a diversified business empire.

Gubernatorial Salary

• Earned gubernatorial salary of $175,000 per year as California governor
• Did not accept the governor’s pension after leaving office

As governor of California from 2003 to 2011, Schwarzenegger earned a salary of $175,000 per year. Since governors cannot receive outside income while in office, this marked an extended break from Schwarzenegger’s business ventures and investments.

He also declined the governor’s pension of $236,000 per year after leaving office.

Divorce Settlement

• Paid estimated $250 million – $375 million divorce settlement to ex-wife Maria Shriver in 2011
• Kept most of his assets including real estate portfolio

Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver divorced in 2011 after 25 years of marriage. This came following revelations that he had fathered a child with the family’s housekeeper years earlier.

While the exact settlement details were confidential, experts estimate Schwarzenegger paid between $250 million and $375 million in the divorce. While a massive sum, it is a relatively small portion of his net worth.

He kept the vast majority of his assets including his real estate holdings. The LA compound in particular was considered a shared asset before the divorce.

Lifestyle and Assets

With an estimated $400 million net worth, Schwarzenegger maintains an extravagant but not overly lavish lifestyle.

Here are some of the ways he spends and invests his fortune:

• Real estate – Extensive property portfolio including LA mansion, compounds in Sun Valley and Hyannisport, commercial real estate
• Private jet – Owns a Gulfstream III jet worth $35 million
• Philanthropy – Donates to charities for kids’ health/fitness, environment, and political causes
• Exotic cars – Car collection includes military Hummer, Porsche 911, Mercedes Unimog
• Artwork – Multimillion-dollar art collection including nude portraits by LeRoy Neiman
• Business ventures – Continues investing in real estate and startup companies in LA

While maintaining his luxurious residences around the world, Schwarzenegger is not known for outrageous displays of opulence on par with some ultra-wealthy celebrities. His largest regular splurges are on maintaining his private jet and expanding his car collection.

He is also a generous donor to charity, particularly causes related to children’s health and fitness. Political contributions were also notable during his time as a Republican governor in a Democratic state.

At 75 years old, Schwarzenegger remains actively involved in his business and philanthropic interests while also working consistently as an actor in Hollywood (although accepting smaller roles in recent years).

Conclusion

With an astounding career spanning bodybuilding, blockbuster movies, serving as governor, and successful business ventures, Arnold Schwarzenegger has amassed a huge personal fortune. His net worth is estimated at around $400 million today.

The key factors that contributed to building his wealth include:

• Lucrative film career with massive salaries in the tens of millions
• Shrewd investments in real estate, restaurants, and other businesses
• Continually reinventing himself from athlete to actor to politician
• Compounding his earnings by avoiding extravagant spending

Very few celebrities have matched Arnold in terms of diversifying their income streams and building assets outside of the entertainment industry bubble. Combined with his moderate lifestyle, he has converted his superstar fame into generational wealth that should continue growing for years to come.

So when people ask “How much is Arnold Schwarzenegger worth?” the Austrian Oak can proudly respond with a net worth in the hundreds of millions – a towering achievement in Hollywood and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth and wealth sources:

How much did Arnold make from the Terminator movies?

Schwarzenegger earned about $75 million total for the three Terminator films according to reports:

• The Terminator (1984) – $250,000
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – $15 million + estimated $20 million from profits
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) – $30 million + profits

The original Terminator was his breakout role, although the paycheck was still small at $250,000. But his subsequent seven-figure paydays for hits like Predator positioned him for huge salaries on T2 and T3.

What were Arnold’s best-paying movies?

Here are some of Schwarzenegger’s biggest paychecks from individual films:

• Terminator 3 (2003): $30 million
• Terminator 2 (1991): $15 million + profits over $20 million
• Batman & Robin (1997): $25 million
• Total Recall (1990): $10 million + profit points
• Twins (1988): $12 million
• Conan the Destroyer (1984): $5 million

Sequels tended to deliver Schwarzenegger’s biggest upfront salaries, with Terminator 3 delivering his single biggest paycheck. But many top hits also gave him a cut of profits.

How much did Arnold make as Governor of California?

As Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger earned the standard gubernatorial salary of $175,000 per year.

He did not accept the governor’s pension when he left office.

What were Arnold’s major investments outside of movies?

Some of Schwarzenegger’s most notable and successful investments outside of Hollywood included:

• Real estate – Massive portfolio including LA compound, other luxury properties
• Planet Hollywood – Early celebrity investor in the theme restaurant chain
• Arnold Sports Festival – Co-founded the major annual multi-sport event
• Mail-order businesses – Nutrition, apparel, and supplement companies

Much of his wealth comes from diversified business ventures rather than just film earnings. Real estate in particular played a key role in building his net worth over the long run.

How much did Arnold’s divorce settlement cost him?

Schwarzenegger’s divorce from Maria Shriver in 2011 after 25 years of marriage cost him an estimated $250 million to $375 million settlement.

While a massive amount paid to his ex-wife, it represented only a fraction of his total fortune. He retained the vast majority of his assets including his valuable real estate holdings.