While bodybuilder turned Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger clinched the greatest fame in his professional life, he did not share a close-knit bond with his family. He had moved out of his homeland to pursue his dreams in America. Although he was close to his only brother, Meinhard Schwarzenegger, as a child, they grew apart while growing up, which intensified up until Arnold missed out on his brother’s funeral.

Discussing Meinhard’s interesting lifestyle in his autobiography, Arnie once recalled the minute details of his brother’s life before he, unfortunately, passed away at 25. The athlete spoke highly of him and expressed his regret for his death when he was just settling down with a family of his own.

The ups and downs of the Schwarzenegger brother bond

According to the book, the 76-year-old athlete was busy building his own life in America and had drifted apart from his brother Meinhard over time. Although they did not keep in touch as much, Arnie did not fail to point out every little detail from different timelines of his brother’s life. Having shared their entire childhood together, the actor could not deny his affection for him.

Thus, in his autobiography, Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Lifestory, Arnold wrote, “Meinhard and I hardly kept in touch. Like me, he’d finished trade school and served a year in the army. Then he’d gone to work for an electronics company, first in Graz and later in Munich, while I was living there. But our paths rarely crossed.” Moreover, the IFBB legend noted that his brother was an “elegant dresser” and his great charm bolstered his luck with girls, or, in Arnie’s words, “had a wild life with girls.” 

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Soon after, Meinhard was transferred to Innsbruck, Austria, where he got engaged to his lover, Erika Knapp, and had a 3-year-old son, Patrick. Arnie had presumed that his elder brother was finally settling down happily with his small family. However, shortly after Arnold won his second Mr. Olympia title in 1971, little did he know that he’d never see his brother again. Shockingly, the athlete did not even visit his brother’s funeral.

Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to move on

Arnold learned about it three days after his brother’s demise. Speaking in an interview, Arnold revealed that when his mother asked him if he’d come home, he replied, “No, it’s too late. He’s dead, and nothing can be done.” He was shattered by the news but wanted to move on with his career, not look back on the past.

Arnold came to know about it three days after his brother’s demise. Speaking in an interview, Arnold revealed that when his mother asked him if he’d come home. He replied, “No, it’s too late. He’s dead and nothing can be done.” He was shattered by the news but wanted to move on with his career, not looking back on the past. 

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The Austrian Oak has openly addressed his broken relationship with his family. The athlete also skipped his father’s funeral since he wanted to leave behind the gory experiences he’d had with his father’s abusive parenting.