Arnold Schwarzenegger was born into a strict Catholic family in Austria. He attended church regularly and went to Catholic school as a boy. Today, however, the actor-governor says he does not expect an afterlife, calling ideas like heaven “some fantasy”. This reflects a shift from his Catholic upbringing to a more secular outlook in later life.
Quick Profile: Arnold Schwarzenegger
| Full Name | Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger |
| Date of Birth | July 30, 1947 |
| Place of Birth | Thal, Styria, Austria |
| Nationality | Austrian and American (dual citizen) |
| Political Party | Republican |
| Offices Held | Chairman, President’s Council on Fitness (1990–93); 38th Governor of California (2003–2011) |
What religion is Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Arnold Schwarzenegger was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. In interviews he has said he “went to church” and learned the Bible while growing up. However, as an adult he has openly questioned traditional beliefs about the afterlife. In a 2022 conversation he said he expects “nothing” after death and described beliefs about heaven as “some fantasy”. Schwarzenegger has not publicly adopted another faith, reflecting that his views have become more agnostic than his childhood Catholicism.
Early Life
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947 in the small village of Thal, Austria. His parents, Gustav and Aurelia, ran the local police station and raised Arnold and his older brother in a strict household. He grew up speaking German and attended a local Catholic school and parish church. Money was often tight, and Arnold has recalled that buying small luxuries was a family highlight. He showed an early determination to succeed, at age 14 he abandoned his childhood dream of becoming a football (soccer) player and began intensive weight-training, setting a course toward bodybuilding greatness.
Schwarzenegger moved to the United States as a teenager to pursue opportunities. He earned a college degree (B.B.A.) from the University of Wisconsin–Superior. In 1983 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen, which allowed him to enter politics later on. By that time he had already won world titles as a bodybuilder and was on his way to Hollywood, blending his Austrian roots with an American identity.
Acting Career
After retiring from competitive bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger became one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars. His breakthrough was Conan the Barbarian (1982), a sword-and-sorcery hit. This was followed by the sci-fi classic The Terminator (1984), in which he played an unstoppable android soldier. He returned to that role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and in several sequels from 2003 onward. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he headlined many blockbusters, Predator (1987), Total Recall (1990), True Lies (1994) and others. His films have grossed billions worldwide.
Schwarzenegger also showed comedic timing in lighter fare. He co-starred with Danny DeVito in the comedy Twins (1988), and starred in family comedies like Kindergarten Cop (1990) and Jingle All the Way (1996). Later he even produced and starred in TV and streaming projects. For example, in 2023 he headlined the Netflix action-comedy series FUBAR. After leaving politics, he appeared in ensemble action films (The Expendables series, 2010–2014) and returned briefly to the Terminator franchise. Schwarzenegger has also written books about bodybuilding and fitness, and runs a production company.
Political Career
A lifelong Republican, Schwarzenegger first served in public office as Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. He leveraged his celebrity and moderate politics to enter electoral politics in California. In 2003 he won the special recall election and became the 38th Governor of California, receiving 48.6% of the vote. He won re-election in 2006 with a larger majority.
As governor (2003–2011) Schwarzenegger pushed for bipartisan reforms. He signed a landmark 2006 law to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and supported raising the minimum wage. He also restructured California’s budget and workers’ compensation system, and pushed infrastructure projects. He chaired California’s Council on Physical Fitness as governor and continued his support of athletic programs. Schwarzenegger was term-limited in 2011 and left office that January, after which he returned full-time to entertainment.
Personal Life
In 1986 Schwarzenegger married Maria Shriver, a journalist and member of the Kennedy family. Shriver’s mother had founded the Special Olympics, and the couple raised four children together (Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher). Schwarzenegger was active in youth and fitness charities during this time. However, after his governorship ended in 2011 Schwarzenegger admitted he had fathered a fifth child (Joseph Baena) from a decade-earlier affair with the family’s housekeeper. Maria Shriver filed for divorce later in 2011 after Schwarzenegger publicly apologized. The divorce was not finalized until December 2021, but Schwarzenegger and Shriver continue to co-parent their children and have described themselves as good friends.
Off-screen, Schwarzenegger is known for philanthropy related to health and youth. He co-founded the Inner City Games Foundation in the 1990s (which became the After-School All-Stars) to provide after-school programs for at-risk kids. He remains involved in Special Olympics through Shriver’s family foundation. Schwarzenegger is also an avid cyclist and reportedly trains daily, often biking on the beach. He is nicknamed “the Austrian Oak” from his bodybuilding days and “the Governator” from his time as governor, reflecting his unique crossover career.
Awards and Honors
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s awards reflect his bodybuilding and entertainment achievements. As a bodybuilder he won the Mr. Universe title four times and was the youngest-ever Mr. Universe at age 20. He also won the Mr. Olympia title seven times (1970–75, 1980). In film and TV, he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Acting Debut (Stay Hungry, 1977). He was nominated for other Golden Globes for Terminator 2, Junior, and True Lies. In 2014 he earned a Primetime Emmy as a producer of the climate-doc series Years of Living Dangerously.
He has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, for example, the International Sports Hall of Fame (2012) and the WWE Hall of Fame (2015). Hollywood honored him with a star on the Walk of Fame for his film career. Internationally, Austria awarded him the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold (1993) as a notable citizen, and France named him a Commander of the Legion of Honor (2017). His name also graces an academic institute in his honor at USC and even a ski run at Sun Valley.
Trivia
- Schwarzenegger famously popularized the catchphrase “I’ll be back” from The Terminator.
- He began weightlifting at age 14 and within five years was the youngest Mr. Universe.
- He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin–Superior (in addition to honorary doctorates).
- He has dyslexia, which he discovered in adulthood, and he advocates for youth education programs.
- He became governor despite being born outside the US; he was one of the highest-ranking naturalized citizens in US history.
- Schwarzenegger and his family frequently participate in celebrity charity events and sports competitions, often still competing in amateur bodybuilding contests for fun even in his 70s.
