People often wonder about the perks and quirks of being an actor turned politician. But if you’re Arnold Schwarzenegger, you know what it feels like to be on both ends of the spectrum. Once a bodybuilder, Arnold made a name for himself by winning multiple Mr. Olympia titles. He went on to become one of the most recognizable action heroes of the ’80s and ’90s.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
After a successful acting career, Arnie tried his hand at politics and achieved success again. But he had a huge price to pay while acting as the Governor of California for nearly 8 years.
Governancy cost Arnold Schwarzenegger almost $200million
Let’s be honest, when you’re an actor and a famous one at that, you’ll earn a lot of money. And Arnold earned a tonne of it! The iconic actor’s net worth stands at an estimated $450million in 2022. But when he stepped away from the glamour of the films, he stepped away from a lot of money too.
Adding the expenses and fees income lost from not doing any movies, Arnie lost nearly $200million. The actor, whose net worth rests mostly on smart investments made from the movie earnings, lost big! But it did not bother the Austrian because he feels the ‘sacrifice’ was worth it.
What did bother him was the time away from his family. Arnold said his family hated his tenure as Governor. They hated it because Arnold would leave for his office on Monday mornings and wouldn’t be back home until the end of the week.
READ MORE: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Biggest Rival Wanted to “Strangle Him” After His Legendary Accomplishments
A family as closely knit as the Schwarzeneggers is bound to be bothered by such a disruptive schedule. It was heartbreaking for every member of the family, each time Arnold would leave for office.
Arnold doesn’t like being called self-made
Achieving splendid success in life requires a lot of dedication and hard work. While many people love being called ‘self-made’ after their success, Arnie urges people not to call him that. He always tells people they can call him by any nickname they want, but not this.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Arnold believes accepting this title would mean discrediting every single person who has helped him on his journey. The ones who gave him advice, people who helped him get back up when he was down, and those who never gave up on him would all be robbed of their contributions. He also believes that the whole concept of a self-made man or woman is a myth.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
DIVE DEEPER: Arnold Schwarzenegger Teaches Alphabet With Hilarious Fan-Made Compilation of His Dialogues
Had Arnold not become a politician and continued with his acting career may very well have been over $500million.