Arnold Schwarzenegger Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth?

With a net worth of $750 million, Arnold Schwarzenegger stands out as an Austrian-American bodybuilder, model, actor, businessman, and politician. Known globally, he has often held the title of the highest-paid individual in the entertainment industry. At the pinnacle of his career, he was routinely making between $20-30 million per film. Throughout his professional journey, Arnold has amassed hundreds of millions from film salaries alone.

In addition to his earnings from movies, Schwarzenegger has established a real estate empire and notably owns a 5% stake in an investment firm known as Dimensional Fund Advisors. From his early days in the United States in the 1970s, he invested his income into real estate, achieving millionaire status by the age of 25 due to these ventures. His commercial and personal real estate holdings are estimated to have a value ranging from $100-200 million. He purchased his 5% share in Dimensional Fund Advisors in 1996 for an undisclosed amount, at which point the firm managed $12 billion in assets. By 2003, when he was campaigning for Governor of California, the firm’s assets inflated to $300 billion, and it is currently estimated to manage just under $700 billion. Therefore, his pre-tax valuation in the firm might range from $300 million to potentially $500 million.

Arnold Schwarzenegger exemplifies what relentless ambition can achieve. He commenced his journey as a bodybuilding champion in Austria during the early 60s, securing the “Mr. Universe” title in both 1967 and 1968. With aspirations of becoming an actor and minimal proficiency in English, he moved to the United States. Remarkably, within the next nine years, he honed his English skills, obtained a Bachelor’s degree, authored a bestselling book, and captured numerous bodybuilding titles. He started acting in the early 70s, winning a Golden Globe for his second film. However, it wasn’t until the release of “Conan the Barbarian” in 1982 that his talent garnered significant attention. This led him to the “The Terminator” series, paving the way for a highly successful career as an action star and a politically aware marriage to Maria Shriver, who is John F. Kennedy’s niece. Notably, Arnold also fulfilled the role of Governor of California for eight years from 2003 to 2011, during which he passed on approximately $200 million in acting salaries.

2003 Financial Disclosure

As previously noted, in August 2003, Arnold unveiled a comprehensive financial report that detailed his business empire and net worth during his campaign for Governor. The disclosures indicated that his net worth was $200 million at that time. According to these records, Arnold earned $14 million in 2003 and $24 million in 2002, dishing out $11 million in federal taxes and $4 million in state taxes over the prior three years. His film income is processed through an LLC named Oak Productions Inc., situated in Santa Monica, California. This company is based in a building located at 3110 Main Street, a commercial property that houses approximately a dozen tenants in a strategic location, of which Arnold is the sole owner. An April 2006 report revealed that Arnold made $17 million in 2004, but at that moment, he had yet to submit his 2005 tax returns.

Early Life

On July 30, 1947, Arnold Schwarzenegger entered the world in the small village of Thal, Austria. His father, Gustav, was the local police chief, while his mother was a homemaker. In 1960, Schwarzenegger found himself introduced to the local gym by his football (soccer) coach, who guided him on a path towards fitness and bodybuilding.

The world of bodybuilding was introduced to the 13-year-old. Initially, his father envisioned him becoming a police officer, while his mother preferred he attend a trade school. However, Arnold felt a strong calling towards a different path beyond their small village in Austria. Upon discovering that recent Mr. Universe winners had transitioned into successful acting careers in Hollywood, he set his ambition on becoming the most recognized professional bodybuilder globally.

In 1965, Arnold secured victory at the Junior Mr. Europe Contest. By 1967, at just 20 years old, he became the youngest individual to earn the Mr. Universe title, which he would claim three additional times. Despite his remarkable success in bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger still allocated time to attend business school during his free hours.

Real Estate Investments

In September 1968, at the age of 21, Schwarzenegger relocated to America with $27,000 accumulated from competition winnings. When adjusted for inflation, that amount is approximately $182,000 today, illustrating it was a considerable sum. Shortly after settling in Hollywood, Arnold began investing in real estate. He acquired a small parcel of land in Palmdale, California, rumored to be the upcoming site of a supersonic airport. Though this initial investment did not succeed, Arnold remained resolute. He utilized his remaining capital and borrowed $10,000 from his trainer at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California, to purchase an apartment building for $214,000. Within a year, he sold the property for $360,000, allowing him to upgrade to a 12-unit building, then a 36-unit building, and eventually a 100-unit building. Each sale’s profits were reinvested to mitigate taxes and enhance his prospective returns. By the age of 25, Arnold had achieved millionaire status in real estate, well ahead of his rise to fame as an actor.

Presently, Arnold has an extensive real estate portfolio consisting primarily of commercial properties in Southern California, valued at over $100 million, excluding his personal residences.

Dimensional Fund Advisors

In 1996, Arnold made a significant investment in Dimensional Fund Advisors, acquiring a 5% stake for an undisclosed sum. At that point, the firm managed assets worth approximately $12 billion. Today, however, the firm’s assets have swelled to nearly $700 billion, making Arnold’s stake estimated to be worth between $300-500 million before tax considerations.

Film Success

Arnold earned his first “Mr. Olympia” title in 1970, a distinction he would claim several more times throughout his career. Following his initial success in bodybuilding, he landed his first significant film role in “Hercules in New York.” Arnold’s popularity surged in 1977 with the release of the bodybuilding documentary “Pumping Iron.”

His stellar career continued with films like “Conan the Barbarian,” but it skyrocketed after starring in the 1984 blockbuster “The Terminator,” for which he received $75,000. The film grossed $80 million globally, propelling Arnold’s career to new heights. He followed this success with hits like “The Running Man,” “Red Heat,” and “The Predator,” even venturing into comedy with the 1988 film “Twins,” alongside Danny DeVito.

In the 1990s, Arnold reprised his role as the Terminator under the direction of his friend James Cameron. Their partnership led to further success with “True Lies.” Schwarzenegger concluded the decade with films such as “Last Action Hero,” “Eraser” in 1996, and “Batman and Robin.”

Largest Paycheck

Arnold has, until now, amassed at least $400 million from film salaries alone, before any taxes. Surprisingly, his largest single paycheck came from a film that might not immediately come to mind. Contrary to expectations, it wasn’t an action-packed blockbuster; instead, it was the 1988 film “Twins.”

In the case of “Twins,” Arnold, Danny Devito, and director Ivan Reitman reached an agreement to forgo their salaries from the studio in return for a 40% ownership stake in the film (13.33% for each). The film became a major success, grossing over $215 million worldwide at the box office. It also proved popular on VHS and cable networks. During a March 2014 interview, Arnold stated that he earned more from “Twins” than from any other film throughout his career. He suggested that the same was likely true for Reitman and Devito. Assuming Arnold, Danny, and Ivan each took home $35-40 million from the film in 1988, adjusting for inflation would make that equivalent to $70-$80 million. The trio later reunited for the movie “Junior.”

Other Notable Salaries

Previously, we noted that Arnold received $75,000 for “The Terminator.” He earned $2 million for “Commando,” $3.5 million for “Predator,” $11 million for “Total Recall,” and $12 million each for “Kindergarten Cop” and “Terminator 2.” In “Terminator 2,” Arnold only had 700 words of dialogue, resulting in a rate of $21,429 for each word spoken.

He was compensated $15 million for “True Lies,” “Junior,” and “Last Action Hero,” while he garnered $20 million for both “Eraser” and “Jingle All The Way.” Arnold’s salaries exceeded $25 million for “Batman & Robin,” “The 6th Day,” and “Collateral Damage.”

Terminator 3 Salary

With James Cameron’s approval to feature in a Terminator film independent of the franchise’s creator, Arnold embarked on negotiations for his role in what became “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” released in 2003. Ultimately, Arnold secured an upfront salary of $29.25 million along with a 20% share of gross profits exceeding $380 million for “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” The film achieved global earnings of $433 million, leading Arnold’s total payout to approximately $35 million. His contract arrangement was “pay or play,” ensuring payment regardless of whether the film was ultimately made. Additionally, his contract entitled him to $1.6 million for each filming day that exceeded the planned 19-week schedule. Furthermore, during production, Arnold received a $1.5 million budget for expenses such as private jet travel, a trailer converted into a gym, three hotel suites, bodyguards, and round-the-clock drivers.

Governor of California

A long-time member of the Republican Party, Schwarzenegger took the stage at the 2004 National Republican Convention to discuss his reasons for becoming a Republican. The nation was taken by surprise in 2003 when he declared his candidacy for the Governor of California during an appearance on “The Tonight Show.” Serving from 2003 until 2011, Arnold later claimed that his eight years in office cost him $200 million in potential movie income. Although entitled to an annual salary of $175,000 as Governor, he chose to forgo this payment.

Personal Life

From 1986 to 2017, Arnold was married to Maria Shriver, a television news personality and niece of President John F. Kennedy. Together, they have four children, including Katherine Schwarzenegger, who is married to actor Chris Pratt, and model/actor Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Their marriage came to an end in 2011 following reports that Arnold had fathered a son with the family’s housekeeper 14 years prior. The divorce process stretched over six years, reportedly costing Arnold $200 million. While he retained their long-time family residence in Brentwood, Maria used his financial resources to purchase a new home nearby.

Personal Real Estate

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s personal real estate portfolio is valued between $50-60 million. In 2002, Arnold and Maria purchased a 6-acre property in LA’s Brentwood area for $4.8 million. After their separation, Arnold continued to live in this home, which is situated within a gated community, also home to Dr. Dre. This 14,500-square-foot mansion, boasting ocean views, a tennis court, a pool, and significant privacy, is currently worth an estimated $20-30 million.

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