Arnold Schwarzenegger is a well-known personality in Hollywood due to his successful projects in the acting industry. In addition to his acting portfolio, he also ventured into several fields but it is just a scratch beneath the surface. Having been known for such a formidable personality, many fans might be unaware of his past, especially the traumatic upbringing that impacted his life.
He also opened up about the tragic demise of his brother who was majorly affected by the treatment the duo received during their childhood.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Shared About His Traumatic Past
The 75-year-old actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger had a troubled childhood as his family struggled financially. Not just that, but he also had to face physical abuse from his late father, Gustav Schwarzenegger who was a former Nazi police chief.
His father treated his own son badly which is what he would not do. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor shared,
“I don’t need to do the same things my dad did. I don’t need to be prejudiced. I don’t need to be an alcoholic. I don’t need to beat my kids. I can make a break.”
However, his father’s abuse had a major impact on his late brother, Meinhard Schwarzenegger who lost his life after dealing with bad treatment.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Father’s Treatment Affected His Brother
While the actor dealt with his father’s abuse by bodybuilding, he also faced the “negative impact” of the same after losing his brother.
In the interview, he shared how his brother also received the same treatment as him during his childhood which ultimately turned him into an alcoholic. His addiction eventually became the reason for his demise as it tore him down.
He stated,
“Well, look at my brother [Meinhard]. We were opposites. He was more fragile. He got the same treatment and became an alcoholic and died drunk driving. What tore him down built me up. It goes back to Nietzsche: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger — and he got killed.”
The actor left his home after reaching 18 and opened up about never reconnecting with his family except for his mother after getting successful. It was his father’s harsh treatment that crumbled their relationship.
He also distanced himself from his brother as he did not attend both of their funerals. However, their losses ultimately left a void in him which is how he decided to focus on making a good bond with his mother.
He also decided to take responsibility for the education of his nephew, Patrick who give his best to ensure that his nephew would get access to the best education possible. He also helped him settle in America. Given that he went through a lot, he believes in looking at the positive aspect of experiences rather than being negative about the past.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
