Arnold Schwarzenegger has come a long way from his modest childhood home in Austria. With an impressive career spanning over 30 years under his belt, the actor, politician and former bodybuilder has spent his money wisely, investing in a commercial property portfolio now worth a reported $100 million (£72m). However, as well as his savvy investments, he's also lived in some impressive houses over the years too, alongside his beloved pet donkey and miniature pony. Click or scroll on to see inside his amazing houses...

Boasting an estimated net worth of $400 million (£288m), Arnold Schwarzenegger currently resides in his sprawling mansion in the prestigious Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, after moving out of his former marital home in Pacific Palisades, another affluent enclave on the outskirts of the city. However, the former governor of California wasn't born into such luxurious surroundings...

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born on 30 July 1947 in the village of Thal in south-east Austria. Born to Aurelia and Gustav Schwarzenegger, the star's father was a local police chief and Arnold and his older brother, Meinhard, were raised in a strict, military household.

Throughout Arnold's formative years, the family lived above the police station where Gustav worked. A humble childhood home, the modest property didn't have indoor plumbing or running water until the star was 15 years old, meaning Arnold had to collect vats of water from a well 200 yards from the house, according to a piece he wrote for The Hollywood Reporter.

Today, the modest residence has been converted into a museum so that fans can tour Arnie's childhood bedroom and view memorabilia from his early life. The home is the place where The Terminator actor discovered his love of sports, with his father encouraging him to follow a rigorous exercise routine. In 1967, the star's parents upped sticks to the small town of Weiz in the west of the Austrian state of Styria, but Arnie had other ideas...

After graduating from high school in 1965, Schwarzenegger joined the Austrian army to serve his compulsory year of national service (pictured). Just one month later he won his first bodybuilding title, Junior Mr. Europe. Schwarzenegger had to leave his army base without permission for the competition, which was held in Germany. As a result, he spent a few days in the army jail, but after his release continued his training with vigour. 

His gruelling workouts paid off in 1967, when at the age of 20, he won his first Mr. Universe amateur title in London, UK. The youngest person to ever win the competition, Schwarzenegger was confident that he would keep his title the following year, which would also see his dream come true of visiting the United States, where the competition would be held. 

In 1968, Arnie's dream was realised when he was spotted by fitness pioneer Joe Weider at the Mr. Universe competition. He invited the promising bodybuilder to stay in the United States and live and train with him in Los Angeles, California. Schwarzenegger jumped at the chance and devoted himself to training for the next seven years – he even went on to feature in a 1977 documentary about bodybuilding competitions called Pumping Iron.

When he arrived on US soil, Schwarzenegger had $27,000 (£19.5k) to his name, his winnings accumulated from competitions. In the early 1970s, he started to make small investments in real estate and soon began to see the benefits. Remarkably, by the time he was 25, he was a millionaire.  

Seen here in his apartment in 1977, the bodybuilder focused his property purchases in the Santa Monica area of Los Angeles, as he spent his time training in Venice Beach. “Buildings that I would buy for $500K within the year were $800K and I put only maybe $100K down, so you made 300% on your money", he explained to Tim Ferriss in Tools of Titans. 

Fast forward all the way to 1986 and with his career picking up pace after his starring role in the 1982 movie Conan the Barbarian, the star snapped up his first mega-luxury home with his new wife, journalist Maria Shriver, the niece of John F. Kennedy, whom he married that same year. Designed in a Mediterranean style, the 10,000-square-foot villa is located at the end of a long gated driveway in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles – the perfect private retreat for the newlyweds. 

Built in 1982, the home has since been remodelled and boasts a spacious hallway with a sweeping staircase that leads through to the living room. Offering nine bedrooms and nine-and-a-half bathrooms, the home is decorated with airy white walls and marble floors.

In the spacious kitchen, a long marble breakfast bar sits alongside a huge range cooker and stainless steel appliances. The formal dining room sits just behind the island and features sliding glass doors that lead outside to the backyard.

The ultimate in luxury, the master bedroom is decked out with beige walls, dark wooden floors and a large four-poster bed surrounded by a canopy. It comes complete with a private terrace, a built-in TV and comfortable white armchairs. 

The extensive grounds span over two-and-a-half acres and include expansive lawns, landscaped gardens and a duck pond. There are also two attached guest suites and a separate guesthouse. However, in 2003 the couple moved on from the home, but it wasn't put on the market until 2011 when they separated after reports surfaced of Schwarzenegger's affair with the couple's housekeeper. In 2013, it was finally sold for $12.9 million (£9.3m).

For over 20 years, Arnie has used Ketchum in Idaho as his chosen holiday destination. The Terminator star built his longtime holiday home, which is located in Sun Valley, back in 1994 and has never looked back. A celebrity hotspot, the area is also frequented by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Tom Hanks and Bill Gates. 

While we're yet to get a glimpse inside the mysterious property, the rustic retreat is reportedly spread over 18,000 square feet and boasts a wood and stone interior featuring stunning views over the mountains. We can't think of a more idyllic spot for the action star to enjoy some downtime, especially given his no doubt stressful stint as the governor of California from 2003 to 2011.

In 2002, Arnie and his former wife Maria reportedly snapped up this mansion in the celebrity hotspot of Brentwood in Los Angeles, after moving out of their long-time home in Pacific Palisades. It's not known how much the couple paid for the lavish pad, but it was built in 2001, just before they moved in. Maria departed the home following their split in 2011.

Details of the property are scarce but an old listing shows that the home has seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, spread over a sprawling 14,500 square feet of interior space. Aerial shots show just how lavish the mansion's design is, with the grand estate featuring an impressive backyard with a tennis court and swimming pool.

Last year during the pandemic, the star took to Instagram to encourage his fans to self-isolate during lockdown, giving us a sneak peek into his home life. It turns out the actor is sharing his mansion with two rather unusual family members, a miniature horse named Whisky and a donkey called Lulu.

Offering a window into his lavish living spaces, the star's home office space is shown here. Featuring colourful artwork, memorabilia and family photos arranged on a wooden sideboard, it's the perfect place to knuckle down for a day of hard work.

The acclaimed action star can be seen here having fun in his stylish kitchen, which boasts a long centre island with marble countertops, pendant lighting, large windows and plenty of cabinets. We can even spy a tea set and what looks like some sweet delicacies on the side...

Heading into the dining room, which is just through from the kitchen, Arnie is shown here with his pet donkey Lulu, miniature pony Whiskey, and new dog Dutch. It seems the star is a fan of ornaments, as the bureau behind him is full to the brim with photos, sculptures and decorative crockery. 

True to form, the 73-year-old still spends his days keeping up his fitness levels. Here he's pictured in his home gym area, which is fitted out with the latest equipment. It's also the home of his beloved chess set, which got plenty of use when the star was hunkering down last year in the pandemic.

These days, the star spends his leisure time relaxing in the mansion's extensive grounds, which include rolling lawns, alfresco terraces and a hot tub. From his childhood home without running water in Austria to his lavish Los Angeles mansion and his array of successful property investments, we can't wait to see what Arnold Schwarzenegger buys next! 

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