Arnold Schwarzenegger

Born

1947 · Thal, Austria

Roots

Austrian; post-war rural upbringing

Family

Working class

Modest rural household; police-chief father.

Education

Correspondence business courses; later a degree from U. of Wisconsin–Superior

Started with

A barbell

Training from 15 at a Graz gym; landed in America in 1968 with little beyond contest prize money.

Affiliations & societies

Bohemian GroveReported

Named in press reports as a guest at the Bohemian Club's summer encampment.

Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

1. 1962 · age 15
   Starts training

   Begins weight training at a gym in Graz.

2. 1967 · age 20
   Mr. Universe

   Youngest winner of the title at the time.

3. 1968 · age 21
   Emigrates to the US

   Moves to Los Angeles speaking little English.

4. 1974 · age 27
   First million from real estate$1M

   Runs a bricklaying business, then buys apartment buildings; reaches a seven-figure net worth before his film career.

5. 1975 · age 28
   Sixth Mr. Olympia title

   Wins six consecutive titles, then steps back from competition.

6. 1982 · age 35
   Conan the Barbarian

   First commercially successful lead role.

7. 1984 · age 37
   The Terminator
8. 2003 · age 56
   Governor of California

   Elected in the recall election.