By the mid-to-late 1970s, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the biggest name in the bodybuilding world. Soon after he quit professional bodybuilding, he became an even bigger star in Hollywood. By the onset of the 21st century, his fame, fandom, wealth, and fortune saw no other parallels. He was next to none. And yet, after everything he has achieved, the man who came from Austria with humble beginnings still finds himself to be rooted to the ground. He didn’t let his immense wealth get him carried away.
As he went from one superhit movie to another, like The Terminator to Commando to Predator to True Lies, etc, his salary went up incrementally. Today, at 75 years old, he is worth $450 million, and yet he admits to never feeling like the huge superstar that he is. Schwarzenegger opens up on this and much more in a recent interview.
Schwarzenegger’s humility amidst success
Even after winning 7 Mr. Olympia titles, and being introduced to movies, self-obsession, and excessive pride never seeped in on him. Now, he is prepping for the release of his new Netflix series FUBAR. In its context, he recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for an interview about his career in movies, and his past fortunes and misfortun
You were the biggest box office star for a stretch in the ’80s and ’90s. It’s a level of stardom only a few actors reach. What did that time feel like?” Schwarzenegger had an honest and humble response. He replied, “I never felt like a star. I felt that I’m lucky I’m one of the few to be happy in his professional life and personal life. But I never felt like I was on top of the world…”
He initially struggled to make it big in the industry since he was from Europe and had a heavy accent. However, it was the 1982 John Milius film that began his rise to stardom.
In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger took on the starring role in Conan the Barbarian, showcasing his hunky physique fresh out of professional bodybuilding. He subsequently headlined a series of blockbuster movies, including The Terminator, Commando, Predator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, and more.
As his fame rose, so did his fandom. By the end of the 20th century, he was one of the highest-paid actors in the industry. Today, at 75 years of age, he has amassed a multi-million dollar fortune, and yet he humbly navigates through his daily life without carrying that chip on his shoulder.
Always embodying the role of an action hero, Schwarzenegger will once again be showcasing his action prowess in FUBAR. As the teaser trailer dropped a month ago, several of his fans, bodybuilding star, and fellow celebrities chimed in to wish him luck with his new project. With every passing day, Schwarzenegger continues to contribute and expand his already immense legacy.