It is the kind of question that has fueled message board wars for decades. If you walk into any old-school bodybuilding gym or scroll through a cinema history forum, someone is eventually going to bring up the "Austrian Oak" and his vertical stats. We all know the physique—the massive chest, the peaked biceps, and that "larger than life" screen presence. But how tall was Arnold Schwarzenegger, really?
The official story has always been 6'2". That’s the number you’ll see on Wikipedia, in his old bodybuilding programs, and on his movie posters.
But if you ask a cynical journalist or a fan who met him at a 1980s seminar, you might hear a totally different story. Some people swear he’s barely 5'10". Others think he’s been wearing "lifts" since the Nixon administration. Honestly, the mystery is almost as big as his lats.
The Bodybuilding Days: The 6'2" Standard
Back in the late 1960s, Arnold was a literal giant in the world of bodybuilding. You have to remember that many of his peers were relatively short. Franco Columbu, his best friend and training partner, was roughly 5'5". When Arnold stood next to him, he looked like a skyscraper.
During the 1967 season, measurements published in physical culture journals listed Arnold at a precise 6'1.5". By the time he was winning Mr. Olympia titles in the early 70s, the "official" stat settled on 6'2".
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Does it hold up to scrutiny?
If you look at photos of Arnold standing next to Dave Draper, who was a solid 6'0", Arnold is clearly the taller man. He also held his own next to Reg Park, his idol, who was often cited as 6'1" or 6'2". However, things got tricky when Lou Ferrigno showed up. Lou was a legit 6'5", and the height gap between them in Pumping Iron made some people wonder if Arnold was actually closer to 6'1" flat.
Vince Basille, a former competitive bodybuilder, claimed he personally measured Arnold in 1969. His result? Exactly 6 feet and 1.5 inches. It’s a specific number that feels a lot more "human" than a rounded-up marketing figure.
Hollywood Smoke and Mirrors
When Arnold moved to Hollywood, his height became part of the brand. Action stars need to be imposing.
There's a famous story involving the late film critic Roger Ebert. When a reader asked him about Schwarzenegger’s height, Ebert famously replied that there was "no way" he was 6'2", guessing he was closer to 5'10" or 5'11". This ignited a firestorm of "short Arnold" rumors.
People started looking for clues in his movies. In Conan the Destroyer, actress Sarah Douglas (who is 5'10") mentioned in a DVD commentary that she actually felt taller than him on set.
"He's not taller than me in real life," she said, noting that she wore high heels and was surprised he allowed her to look taller in certain scenes.
Then there are the shoes. Arnold has often been spotted in "power-heeled" boots—those heavy-soled Western or motorcycle boots that can easily add two inches of height. Political activists in California, like Bob Mulholland, even accused him of wearing hidden risers during his time as Governor.
The Science of Shrinking: Arnold at 78
The reality is that nobody stays the same height forever. Arnold is currently 78 years old. Gravity is a beast, and it wins every time.
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Arnold himself has been surprisingly candid about this recently. In an interview with Phil Bronstein, he admitted that his kids now measure him against a wall in his closet—the same wall where he tracked their growth for years.
"I used to be 6'1" and three quarters," Arnold said. "And I think now I'm 6'1". I shrank."
This makes total sense from a medical perspective. As we age, the discs between our vertebrae lose fluid and compress. Our arches can flatten. For someone who spent decades squatting 400+ pounds and putting immense "axial loading" on his spine, a loss of an inch or two is basically guaranteed.
Comparing the Oak to Other Icons
To get a real sense of where he stands, you have to look at the "lineups" with other celebrities.
- Sylvester Stallone: Stallone is roughly 5'9" or 5'10". In most photos where they are both in casual shoes, Arnold towers over him by several inches.
- George W. Bush: Bush is 6'0". Photos of the two during Arnold’s governorship show Arnold with a clear 1-2 inch advantage.
- Joe Manganiello: At a true 6'5", Manganiello makes Arnold look significantly shorter, which supports the idea that Arnold was never quite the "6'3" some fans claimed.
Basically, the "short" rumors are mostly hyperbole. If Arnold were actually 5'10", he would look tiny next to the people he usually out-measures. He was likely a strong 6'1" or a "weak" 6'2" in his prime.
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Actionable Insights: Why Your Height Changes
Whether you're a world-class bodybuilder or just a regular person, your height is dynamic. Here is what we can learn from the "Austrian Oak" about maintaining stature:
- Gravity always wins: Expect to lose 1 to 2 inches of height between the ages of 30 and 70 due to spinal compression.
- Axial Loading matters: If you lift heavy, you may experience temporary compression. This is why many people are actually taller in the morning than they are at night.
- Posture is the "hidden" inch: Arnold noted that when his daughters measured him, he had to "straighten his back" and "stretch his neck" to hit 6'1". Most "lost" height is actually just poor posture and a weakening core.
- Footwear is a tool: Don't be surprised when Hollywood stars look taller in boots. Lifts and thick soles are standard industry practice for a reason.
While the debate over whether he was 6'1" or 6'2" will probably never die, it doesn't really change the legacy. Height is a measurement, but "presence" is something else entirely. Arnold had plenty of both.
If you are concerned about your own height loss as you age, focus on core strength and flexibility. Keeping the muscles around your spine strong can't stop disc compression entirely, but it can keep you standing as tall as possible for as long as possible.