In an unexpected situation at the Munich Airport, Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger found himself detained for hours, in an incident involving his $55,000 Audemars Piguet watch. The seven-time Mr. Olympia winner’s spokesperson described the entire situation as a scene straight out of a humorous police film.
Upon his arrival in Munich, Schwarzenegger faced a customs snag when officials spotted the pricey limited edition watch, one of only 20 ever made. This collector’s item is set to be auctioned for a starting price of 50,000 euros as part of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative for environmental protection. But as Schwarzenegger had not declared the tax for the watch, he was detained. But what unfolded at the airport for it to become as funny as it is deemed now?
The “comedy of errors” at the Airport
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The customs delay, resulting in a several-thousand-euro fee, did not dampen Schwarzenegger’s spirits, and he cooperated with the investigating officers. However, the incident according to his spokesperson, had the potential to be the plot of a comedy film. Highlighting the incompetence of the investigation, she called it a “total comedy full of errors.”
As reported by the German newspaper Bild, his spokesperson said, “He cooperated at all times, even though it was an incompetent investigation, a total comedy full of errors, but which would make a very funny police film.” Throughout the three-hour ordeal, the action star remained cooperative and even took the watch with him to Kitzbühel, where it will be auctioned for a good cause.
The incident, however, boosted the watch’s popularity, drawing inquiries from numerous collectors. Despite the absurdity of customs officials struggling with a credit card machine and a series of mishaps involving ATMs and closed banks, Schwarzenegger paid the customs duty on his watch with a good-natured demeanor.
This is not the only expensive watch that Arnie owns. The Governator is known for his custom-made expensive watch collection.
Arnie’s fascination with watches
Schwarzenegger’s watch collection is like a powerful show of strength, featuring rare gems such as the oversized Panerai Pre Vendome Luminor and a classic Audemars Piguet. His watch collection began in the 1990s, reviving the trend of massive military watches alongside Sylvester Stallone.
The 76-year-old also teamed up with Audemars Piguet, becoming the face of a limited edition Royal Oak Offshore featured in the movie End of Days- a significant brand partnership. Despite starting with smaller watches due to limited options, Arnie’s collection now boasts impressive timepieces, including a gold Rolex GMT Ref.
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However, Schwarzenegger is determined to auction his recent “Arnold Classic” timepiece for a noble cause. But would you like to see this incident turned into a comedy film, as his spokesperson suggested?
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