
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, former professional bodybuilder, film producer, screenwriter, director, businessman, and politician. Born in Thal, Austria, in 1947, Schwarzenegger moved to the US in 1968, aged 21, and gained US citizenship in 1983. Despite his long-term residence in the US, Schwarzenegger has retained his thick Austrian accent, which has become his trademark. Although Schwarzenegger has been involved in US politics, serving two terms as governor of California, he is barred from becoming the US president because he is not a natural-born citizen of the country. When asked about his interest in Austrian politics, Schwarzenegger has stated that he has no desire to enter that arena, preferring to live in America and live in California instead.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Thal, Styria, Austria |
| Year of Birth | 1947 |
| Age | 75 |
| Political Affiliation | Republican |
| Citizenship | Dual Austrian and United States citizen |
| Political Career | Governor of California |
| Political Aspirations | Has expressed interest in running for President of the United States if the Constitution allowed it |
| Connection to Austria | Visits Austria every year, has set up initiatives such as the Austrian World Summit and the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative |
| Views on Austrian Politics | Has stated that he has no desire to enter Austrian politics, preferring to live in America and California |
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What You'll Learn

Schwarzenegger's Austrian citizenship
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, a village in Styria, Austria, in 1947. He lived in the country until 1968 when he moved to the US, gaining US citizenship in 1983. Despite his long-term residence in the US, Schwarzenegger has retained his thick Austrian accent. He has also returned to Austria on several occasions, including to open the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum in his hometown of Thal in 2011. The museum is located in the house where he was born and features memorabilia from his career.
Austria does not usually allow dual citizenship, but Schwarzenegger was granted an exception and was allowed to keep his Austrian citizenship when he became a US citizen in 1983. He is, therefore, a dual citizen of Austria and the United States.
Schwarzenegger has expressed his love for his motherland and visits Austria every year. He has set up multiple initiatives in the country, including the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative and the Austrian World Summit, an annual climate protection conference that has been held since 2017. Despite his strong connection to Austria, Schwarzenegger has stated that he has no desire to go into Austrian politics, preferring to "live in America" and "live in California" instead. When asked if he would consider becoming the Chancellor of Austria, he replied, "I think they have a good Chancellor... I don't want to go back to Austria and be a politician."
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His US residence and citizenship
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a dual citizen of Austria and the United States. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1983, but before that, he asked the Austrian authorities to retain his Austrian citizenship, as Austria does not usually allow dual citizenship.
Schwarzenegger has said that he has no intention of leaving the United States, despite online rumours to the contrary. In response to these rumours, he stated, "I was born in Austria, but I was made in America, and I'd never leave." Schwarzenegger currently lives in a 14,000-square-foot Brentwood estate that he purchased in 2002 for $4.8 million. He previously lived in Pacific Palisades with his ex-wife, Maria Shriver, from 1986 to 2003.
Although Schwarzenegger has expressed interest in politics and has served as the Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, he cannot run for US President as he is not a natural-born citizen of the United States. Article II, Section I, Clause V of the US Constitution prevents individuals who are not natural-born citizens from assuming the office. In 2003, the "Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment" was introduced, widely accredited as the "Amend for Arnold" bill, which would have added an amendment to the Constitution allowing him to run. In 2004, the "Amend for Arnold" campaign was launched, featuring a website and TV advertising promotion.
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His political beliefs and aspirations
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a well-known Austrian-American actor, filmmaker, and former professional bodybuilder. He was born in Thal, Austria, in 1947 and lived there until 1966 before moving to the United States, becoming a US citizen in 1983. Despite his long-term residence in the US, Schwarzenegger has retained his distinct Austrian accent, which has become a defining part of his public image.
Schwarzenegger has expressed his love for his motherland, Austria, and visits the country annually. He has also set up multiple initiatives there, including the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative and the Austrian World Summit, an annual climate protection conference founded by him and held since 2017. The summit, organised under the patronage of Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, aims to bring together stakeholders from politics, civil society, and business to create a broad alliance for climate action.
While Schwarzenegger has been involved in politics, serving as the Governor of California for two terms, his aspirations to run for US president are blocked by a constitutional hurdle. Article II, Section I, Clause V of the US Constitution prevents individuals who are not natural-born citizens of the country from assuming the office. Despite this, Schwarzenegger has stated that he would run for US president if the Constitution allowed it, expressing confidence in his ability to win.
However, Schwarzenegger has rejected the idea of returning to Austrian politics. When asked about becoming the Chancellor of Austria, he replied, "I think they have a good Chancellor... I don't want to go back to Austria and be a politician." Schwarzenegger prefers to "live in America" and "live in California."
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The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, filmmaker, politician, and activist. He has been vocal about his passion for climate protection and has founded the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, which is based in Vienna. The Initiative's vision is to create a planet where pollution is terminated and a healthy life is possible for everyone.
The Austrian World Summit is an annual conference that brings together stakeholders from politics, civil society, and business to create a broad alliance for climate protection. It is not a diplomatic conference but instead showcases concrete examples and possible actions for a sustainable future. The Summit has become one of the most prominent climate conferences worldwide, with Schwarzenegger himself hosting and participating in discussions.
Schwarzenegger has expressed his belief that the conversation around climate change needs to be reframed to focus on pollution, as it is a more tangible issue that directly impacts people's lives. He has said, "As long as they keep talking about global climate change, they are not gonna go anywhere. 'Cause no one gives a s--- about that... We're talking about pollution. Pollution creates climate change, and pollution kills."
Despite his Austrian roots and political aspirations, Schwarzenegger has stated that he has no desire to enter Austrian politics, preferring to live in America, specifically California. He is ineligible to run for US President due to his citizenship status, but he has served as the Governor of California and remains an influential figure in American politics and environmental advocacy.
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His popularity in Austria
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, businessman, former professional bodybuilder, and politician. Born in Thal, Austria, in 1947, Schwarzenegger moved to the US in 1968, aged 21, and gained US citizenship in 1983. He is one of Austria's greatest celebrities.
Schwarzenegger's childhood home in Thal has been converted into the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum. The museum, which opened in 2011, showcases his journey from a local Austrian boy to an international superstar and politician. Visitors can explore exhibition rooms featuring memorabilia from his careers in bodybuilding, film, and politics.
Schwarzenegger has expressed his love for his motherland and visits Austria every year. He has set up multiple initiatives in the country, including the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative and the Austrian World Summit, an annual climate protection conference founded by Schwarzenegger and held annually since 2017. The summit takes place under the patronage of Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and aims to connect stakeholders from politics, civil society, and business to create a broad alliance for climate protection.
Despite his strong association with the United States, Schwarzenegger still feels a connection to his homeland. However, he has stated that he has no desire to go into Austrian politics, preferring to "live in America" and "live in California" instead. When asked if he would ever consider becoming the Chancellor of Austria, Schwarzenegger replied, "I think they have a good Chancellor... I don't want to go back to Austria and be a politician."
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Frequently asked questions
No, Arnold Schwarzenegger has stated that he has no desire to go into Austrian politics. He has expressed his love for his motherland and visits Austria every year, but prefers to "live in America" and "live in California".
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, Austria, in 1947. He lived in the country until 1968, when he moved to the US. Thal is a small community with around 2,300 to 2,400 inhabitants. Schwarzenegger's father, Gustav, worked as a police officer in the village.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Republican who served two terms as Governor of California. He has also been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump.





























