Today, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a multimillionaire. From luxury cars, and watch collections to expensive cigars, the former Mr. Olympia has amassed a lot of wealth. However, the former governor, has seen some very hard times. After being born to a poor family in a small Austrian village, Arnold faced hardships every day. Even some necessities were absent from Arnold’s life.

The bodybuilding legend opened up about one such thing on social media a few years ago. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger was very poor growing up

Arnold was born in Thal, Austria. A small village where his father was the police chief. Growing up, Arnold didn’t know any luxury. In fact, his family was very poor. In 2019, the Austrian Oak, gave everyone an idea of the hardships he had to face in childhood via a few tweets. He wrote, “This basin and a washcloth was how we bathed.” The bodybuilding legend recalled, “My brother and I would schlep the water from the well to the house, and then we would all clean ourselves.”

Arnold also wrote that they bathed in a particular order. First his mother, then his father, then his brother, and finally him. “The water was dirty by the time it was our turn, but my brother and I weren’t going to schlep back to the well,” said the seven-time Mr. Olympia.

The Hollywood star also wrote that he didn’t even know what a shower was, until he joined the gym at 15. Adversity was part of every aspect of Arnold’s life. Schwarzenegger’s parents were very strict and even the slightest disobedience resulted in harsh punishment.

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While his father was a police chief, money was always a problem for them. Arnold once said that a highlight of his childhood was when their family could afford a refrigerator.

Arnold’s father’s negativity fueled his hunger

Arnold Schwarzenegger came to America to live the American dream, in 1968. By 1978, he was a seven-time Mr. Olympia, and had acted in multiple movies. Arnold credited his father for his hunger to improve. His father, Gustav’s treatment made Arnold to think about building a better future outside of Austria.

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Today, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a massive star with fans all around the world. He was the biggest action star of the 90s and many say that the “Austrian Oak,” made bodybuilding, what it is today. However, the bodybuilding legend has always remained humble and even today, remembers how far he has come.