A blend of discipline, well-planned workout schedules, and a dose of nice genetics gave Arnie the Austrian Oak his impressive physique.
Some people choose to appreciate his symmetry, vascularity, or strength. Others focus on his height, and this causes a lot of debate.
How tall is Arnold Schwarzenegger? IMDB, Wikipedia, and the man himself say 6’2”.
Is this an accurate estimate? Maybe.
The Case for the 6+ Foot Schwarzenegger
Let’s get started with five reasons to believe Schwarzenegger’s height estimations.
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1. His Bodybuilding Profile Says So
Schwarzenegger’s measurements are as follows: 22” for the arms, 57” for the chest, a 34” waist, 20” calves, 28.5” thighs, and a height of (you guessed it) 6’2”.
And if the bodybuilding experts say so, maybe they’re right.
2. Why Would He Even Lie?
This isn’t exactly solid proof but think about it.
Image source: Google
Does Arnie look like he’d be insecure about his physique enough to lie about his height? I think not. The guy is a seven-time Mr. Omlypia winner, after all.
Side Note: He might have been dissatisfied a bit with his body. However, this was probably the type of dissatisfaction that drove him to work harder, not lie.
3. We Have Pics of Him Barefoot
People may accuse the Terminator star of using lifts. If he was just any celebrity, this accusation would have been hard to dismiss.
However, he’s a bodybuilder. There are numerous photos of him posing barefoot next to other competitors. Just look at pics of him with Sergio Oliva (5’10”), Ronnie Coleman (5’11”), or Frank Zane (5’9”), and you’ll see that he isn’t a short guy by any means.
4. He’s Not Much Shorter Than ‘The Rock’
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I know this is a controversial one.
But if you believe Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is 6’5” (some fans don’t), this picture that Schwarzenegger posted on Instagram should tell you that he’s likely over 6 feet.
5. His Kids Got Good Genes
Two of the Austrian Oak’s kids are above 6’. Patrick Schwarzenegger is estimated to be 6’½”, while Joseph Baena is around 6’2”.
So, maybe the apples didn’t fall far from the Schwarzenegger tree?
Image source: Google
The Counter-Argument: He Might Be Under 6-Foot Tall
We’ve seen some points that support the legendary bodybuilder’s claims. Let’s look at the other side now.
1. Everyone and Their Mother Say He Isn’t That Tall
From the Washington Post to the Chicago Reader to Reddit threads—if you want to find someone who says Schwarzenegger is lying about his height, you’ll find one.
They’ll say he’s 5’10” because famous men are likely to lie about their height. Others say they’ve met the man himself and think he’s only 5’4” or 5’6”.
2. He (Allegedly) Refused to Get Measured
The Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson once poked fun at the height argument by pulling out a tape measure when he met the bodybuilding legend/governor-elect. Apparently, he wanted to measure him then and there to settle this debate.
Image source: Google
According to Wesson, Arnie declined his request.
3. People Shrink
As we age, we could lose an inch or two. Maybe Schwarzenegger did. I mean, he’s already over 70 years old.
So, even if he stood at 6’2” during his prime, he likely isn’t anymore.
Final Thoughts
Long story short, no one can say for sure how tall the Austrian Oak is. But personally, I believe he’s 6’2”—or at least was 6’2” at some point. Maybe he’s around 6’½” now?
Featured image source: Google
