Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been an ambitious person. Schwarzenegger began as an alien bodybuilder in the US. However, gradually he became one of the favorite celebrities of the people. Moreover, Arnold never jumped from one thing to another. He excelled in one thing and gradually began the process of the next.

Although he pursued his aims one by one, he had his ambitions with him from the beginning. According to his first girlfriend in the US, Barbara Outland, Arnold predicted being the governor of California in the early 70s, whereas he became the governor in 2003. But what was the impact of his sudden decision to run for governor’s re-election on his wife?

Arnold Schwarzenegger surprised his ex-wife with his decision in 2003

Arnold became a citizen of the US in 1983. Later, in 1986, he got married to Maria Shriver. Moreover, in the early 90s, Arnold got introduced into politics. However, he was associated with politics since the 90s, but Maria never had a clue that he will run for the governor’s election one day. Indeed, she was extremely surprised by his decision.

While talking to Oprah in an interview in 2008, Maria revealed what she felt during 2003. A year when she had to deal with many challenges in her life. Oprah asked Maria, “Were you surprised?”

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Maria replied, “I was surprised by the fact that he was even running. I was surprised that I was suddenly the First Lady of California. I was surprised that I lost my job. This all happened in 60 days.” 

2003 brought massive changes for Maria Shriver 

Change is the ultimate truth of life. But sometimes a bunch of changes come together at a time which completely derails one from their normal day-to-day life. 2003 was such a year for Maria Shriver. Her life took some massive changes. Maria said, “When Arnold decided to run in 2003, we were about to build a new house, and Terminator 3 was coming out, so Arnold was very involved in that.”

She continued, “Also, my brothers and I had been focusing on my father; we’d discovered he had Alzheimer’s.”

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It was all an enormous shock for Maria, as she never thought that Arnold will run for election when she married him. Similarly, she never imagined her father would be going through such a chronic disease. And lastly that she had to leave her job under the circumstances that her husband was running for elections.