What Happened to Arnold Schwarzenegger at 78 – Try Not to CRY When You See This

At the age of seventy-eight, Arnold Schwarzenegger remains a figure shrouded in admiration, nostalgia, and an ever-intensifying curiosity.

On July 30, 2025, instead of surrendering to time’s inexorable pull, he greeted his birthday by powering through—riding a bicycle, pumping iron, indulging in good food, and publicly giving thanks for the flood of wishes that poured in on his Instagram feed.

Even as he brushed off turning 78 as less thrilling than milestone ages like seventy-five or eighty, the world saw a defiance in motion—a man refusing to yield to age.

Behind that grit, however, lies a saga of resilience.

Schwarzenegger has endured a lifelong struggle with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve, a condition that forced him to undergo multiple heart surgeries—from the initial pulmonary valve replacement to a dramatic open-heart operation in 2018, followed by another aortic valve replacement in 2020.

Just recently, doctors fitted him with a pacemaker to correct an irregular heartbeat caused by scarring from earlier interventions.

Yet mere days later, he was energetically attending environmental events, as though the surgery had never slowed him.

Even as fans worried after spotting him in a heavy Santa Claus costume—his steps slower, his beard and hair fully grey—Arnold was only preparing for his next challenge: starring in The Man with the Bag, a high-spirited holiday movie in which he plays Santa Claus.

He immersed himself in the role despite social media murmurs that the Terminator appeared to be moving with age-worn stiffness.

Meanwhile, Arnold’s commitment to motion has never wavered.

At a recent CNBC CEO Council Summit, he delivered his signature mantra: “If you stop movement, then this is the first step to death. If you rest, you rust.”

Standing as Chief Movement Officer for Zimmer Biomet, he champions the idea that body part replacements and exercise should never be avoided because of fear.

His message echoes beyond celebrity—it is a rallying cry for endurance in later life.

Staying active isn’t just a slogan; it defines his routine.

He bikes, swims, lifts weights, and keeps his mind sharp with chess.

He emphasizes movement of any kind.

If it’s tennis, skiing, soccer, or lifting weights, “do something” is his prescription.

At seventy-eight, he’s still working on film sets—from the second season of FUBAR to the upcoming holiday feature.

He unapologetically practices his craft and stays deeply engaged with his grandchildren, his animals, and various philanthropic causes.

Yet maybe the most dramatic twist in his recent life is a professional one.

Days after celebrating his birthday with gusto, Arnold faced the disappointment of FUBAR being canceled by Netflix after two seasons.

It was a blow to his television legacy, delivered swiftly amid his birthday celebrations.

On top of that, he recently reflected on old rivalries turned friendships.

In a candid recollection on SiriusXM, Arnold admitted to a fierce, “nasty” feud with Sylvester Stallone through the 1990s, where they tried to out-muscle and out-bang each other in films.

Their reconciliation came through a shared investment in Planet Hollywood that eventually paved the way to camaraderie, on-screen collaborations, and a true bond.

Even in his personal life, emotion has found its place.

He shared with Seth Meyers a charming wedding anecdote: as he and Maria Shriver were about to say “I do” in 1986, Andy Warhol and Grace Jones dramatically entered the church and took front-row seats—a moment he called “absolutely fantastic.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger at seventy-eight is no static statue of strength.

He is a man who continues to fight—through surgeries, cancellations, aging, and change—by simply refusing to stop.

At every turn, he chooses movement, healing, legacy, and connection.

Aging may have slowed him in moments, but it has also enriched his wisdom, deepened his reflection, and kindled a greater appreciation for each breath, each action, and each second spent pushing forward.