Seven times Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger is the richest bodybuilder in the world. Despite his retirement from the sport decades ago, Schwarzenegger has still managed to stay in the headlines, thanks to his business mind, and countless business ventures. While he started creating a legacy for himself after achieving success in the realm of bodybuilding, what helped him seal the deal was his Hollywood as well as political ventures. With a whopping net worth of $400 million, Schwarzenegger admits that he is one of the most business-minded athletes.
As he recently released his new book, ‘Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life,’ he sat for countless interviews and podcasts in the past couple of weeks. During one such podcast that he attended, which was hosted by Ryan Holiday, Schwarzenegger revealed the colleges that he attended while taking business classes.
Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about the colleges that he went to
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Being from a small village in Austria, Schwarzenegger always dreamt of moving out of the place. His only dream was to settle in America somehow. The only thing that he believed could help him get into America was bodybuilding. He started competing at the age of 18 years only. However, he did have a keen interest in business studies as well. However, as he was planning to get a work permit in America and not a student visa, he was only allowed to take two classes in one place.
Talking about the same in the ‘Daily Stoic’ podcast, Schwarzenegger stated, “I was in the middle of my bodybuilding career winning one Mr. Olympia competition after the next and being known as the bodybuilder with the business brain.” Disclosing the reason behind this, Arnold said, “I was going to Santa Monica City College, taking classes there. I was going to West Los Angeles College to take classes, business classes there. I was going to UCLA Extension courses because I couldn’t go to one university because I was applying for the working permit and not for student visa.”
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It was a dream come true for Schwarzenegger to step on American soil. However, his happiness soon converted into disappointment as he realized that the reality was a lot different from his expectations.
‘The Austrian Oak’s disappointment when he first landed in America
Being deep into fitness and bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger had this embedded in his mind that bodybuilding is an American sport. He was expecting the bodybuilders to be surrounded by sports cars and bikini models as it is in movies and magazines. However, this was from the truth, which came as a shock to ‘Arnie.’
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Schwarzenegger revealed during an event at the Academy Museum, “What I read in the magazines that it’s huge, guys getting into movies with bodybuilding, become businessman, successful, and making millions of dollars, none of it was really true.”
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It was Schwarzenegger’s hard work and willingness to try different things that helped him become the richest bodybuilder. There is no doubt that he is one of the best businessmen currently. What are your views on this? Let us know in the comments.