Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, businessman and politician. Arnold is considered one of Hollywood's most famous action film icons. He served as the 38th Governor of the state of California and was among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2004 and 2007.
Schwarzenegger was nicknamed "The Austrian Oak" and "The Styrian Oak" in his bodybuilding days, "Arnold Strong" and "Arnie" during his acting career, and more recently "The Governator" (A portmanteau word of Governor and Terminator, one of his film roles). As a Republican, he was first elected on October 7, 2003, in a special recall election to replace then-Governor Gray Davis.
His autobiography Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life released in November 2023 and became as a #1 New York Times bestseller. Schwarzenegger distills seven rules derived from his remarkable journey of ceaseless reinvention and extraordinary achievements, providing a roadmap for anyone seeking their true purpose in life.
From his iconic status as the world's greatest bodybuilder to becoming the highest-paid movie star and a leader in the sixth-largest economy, Schwarzenegger attributes his success to a deliberate process guided by principles such as clear vision, big thinking, hard work, direct communication, resilient problem-solving, open-minded curiosity, and a commitment to giving back.
Rooted in his father's guiding lesson—be useful—Arnold Schwarzenegger shares his unique insights with a blunt and powerful voice, offering readers an inspirational tour through his toolkit for a meaningful life. Through personal stories of successes and failures, some revealed for the first time, Schwarzenegger encourages readers to disconnect from self-pity and connect to their purpose.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was married to to author and journalist, Maria Shriver, and has 5 children. He resides in Brentwood, California.
Photo credit: FB @arnold
