Arnold Schwarzenegger Age, Height, Net Worth & Biography

Arnold Schwarzenegger age 79 has become one of the most searched celebrity facts of the year, and the former bodybuilder turned movie star turned governor remains one of the most famous people on the planet nearly six decades after he first won Mr. Universe. Born on July 30, 1947, in Thal, Austria, Schwarzenegger went from a small village with no running water to seven Mr. Olympia titles, to the biggest action star of the 1980s and 1990s, to two terms as Governor of California. Today he is worth an estimated $1 billion.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Quick Facts

Full Name	Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger
Date of Birth	July 30, 1947
Age	79 years old
Birthplace	Thal, Styria, Austria
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Children	5 (Katherine, born 1989; Christina, born 1991; Patrick, born 1993; Christopher, born 1997; Joseph, born 1997)
Occupation	Actor, politician, bodybuilder, businessman, author
Net Worth	Approx. $1 billion (Celebrity Net Worth, 2026)
Known For	The Terminator; Conan the Barbarian; Predator; Total Recall; True Lies; Governor of California

Who Is Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, politician, bodybuilder and businessman who is one of the most recognisable figures of the past half-century. He first became famous as a bodybuilder, winning the Mr. Universe title at 20 and the Mr. Olympia title seven times, including six in a row from 1970 to 1975. He then became the biggest action star of the 1980s and 1990s, with films including Conan the Barbarian, The Terminator, Predator, Total Recall and True Lies, and his line “I’ll be back” became one of the most famous in cinema.

In 2003, Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California in a recall election, serving two terms until 2011 in a period that earned him the nickname “the Governator.” He built a business empire in real estate and founded the Arnold Sports Festival, one of the largest multi-sport events in the world. He returned to acting after leaving office, starring in The Expendables films and the Netflix series FUBAR. James Cameron directed him in The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and True Lies. His son Patrick Schwarzenegger starred in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus in 2025.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Early Life & Background

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in Thal, a small village near Graz in Styria, Austria. His father, Gustav, was a police chief, and his mother, Aurelia, was a homemaker. He grew up in a strict household in a home with no running water and no telephone, and he has said his father expected discipline and hard work from his sons. He began lifting weights at the age of 15, inspired by the bodybuilder Reg Park, and he trained at a local gym in Graz, where he also played soccer.

At 20, he won the Mr. Universe title in London in 1967, becoming the youngest winner of the contest, and the following year he moved to the United States with little money and a dream of becoming a film star. He settled in California, where he studied at Santa Monica College and the University of California, Los Angeles, and invested his bodybuilding prize money in real estate, becoming a millionaire before his acting career took off. He won the Mr. Olympia title in 1970 and held it for six consecutive years, then won it once more in 1980.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Career

Schwarzenegger’s first film role was in Hercules in New York in 1970, in which he was credited as Arnold Strong because his surname was considered too hard to pronounce. His breakthrough came with the documentary Pumping Iron in 1977, which followed his preparation for the Mr. Olympia contest, and with Stay Hungry in 1976, which won him a Golden Globe as New Star of the Year. His star-making role arrived in 1982, when he played Conan in Conan the Barbarian, and two years later he played the cyborg assassin in The Terminator, a film that made him a global star.

The 1980s and 1990s brought a run of box-office hits, including Commando in 1985, Predator in 1987, The Running Man in 1987, Twins in 1988, Total Recall in 1990, Kindergarten Cop in 1990, Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991 and True Lies in 1994. After a quieter period in the early 2000s, he entered politics, winning the California governorship in the 2003 recall election and serving two terms until 2011, during which he pushed environmental policies and healthcare reform. After leaving office he returned to film, appearing in The Expendables series, Terminator Genisys in 2015 and Terminator: Dark Fate in 2019, and he starred in the Netflix action-comedy series FUBAR in 2023. He also wrote the bestselling memoir Total Recall in 2012 and the self-help book Be Useful in 2023.

Facts About Arnold Schwarzenegger

• He won the Mr. Olympia title seven times, including six in a row from 1970 to 1975.
• He became a United States citizen in 1983 and was elected Governor of California in the 2003 recall election.
• “I’ll be back,” from The Terminator (1984), was voted one of the greatest movie lines of all time by the American Film Institute.
• He was a millionaire from real estate before he became a movie star, having invested his bodybuilding prize money in property.
• His son Patrick Schwarzenegger starred in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Arnold Schwarzenegger is 79 years old. He was born on July 30, 1947, in Thal, Austria, and turns 80 in July 2027.

How tall is Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Arnold Schwarzenegger is 6 feet 2 inches tall (1.88 m).

Is Arnold Schwarzenegger married?

No. Arnold Schwarzenegger is not currently married. He was married to Maria Shriver from 1986 to 2021.

What is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth is approx. $1 billion (Celebrity Net Worth, 2026), earned from acting, real estate, business ventures and his sports festival.

What is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Instagram?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Instagram handle is @schwarzenegger, where he shares fitness tips, film updates and his daily newsletter, the Pump Club.

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