July 30, 2026, 6:00 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Bench press, deadlift, squat: These three classic exercises are at the heart of countless challenges in gyms worldwide. Who can do more reps? Who can lift more weight? How much can one actually achieve? The numbers Arnold Schwarzenegger put up in his prime illustrate what’s possible: Here are Arnie’s personal records!
Few have ever had a physique like Arnold Schwarzenegger during his prime in the ’70s and ’80s. The seven-time Mr. Olympia and five-time Mr. Universe is still considered an icon and role model for millions in the bodybuilding and fitness scene. Naturally, the Hollywood legend was diligent in lifting weights. The “Big 3” were fundamental exercises for him in the gym. In a talk on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed the secrets of his personal records.
Bench Press, Deadlift, and Squat
We must, of course, start with the classic—the bench press. “My best bench press was 525 pounds,” the former California governor revealed. That’s about 238 kilograms.
The same goes for the other two exercises. “My best deadlift was 710 pounds (about 322 kg), and my best squat was 610 pounds (about 277 kg),” Arnie told show host McAfee.
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A Different Standard
Higher, faster, further, more! This now applies to strength sports as well. “Time moves on. People are getting better, their muscles more and more defined,” Arnie says. “It’s a different time,” the cult actor noted. This is also reflected in the weights being lifted today. Schwarzenegger says, “I have to say that compared to what some bodybuilders and lifters achieve today, my weights were not great at all.” Today, there are guys doing squats with 700 or 800 pounds, roughly 317 to 363 kilograms.
Moreover, for Schwarzenegger, it was never just about the amount of weight. Symmetry and stage presence win bodybuilding competitions, not lifting records. For comparison: At the “IPF Men’s World Powerlifting Championships” in 1977, during Schwarzenegger’s prime, the winner lifted a total of 935 kg in the “Big 3.”1 Arnie’s total in the “Big 3” was 837 kg, just about 100 kilograms less than the world champion. At the 2025 “IPF World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championships,” Viktor Golinei lifted a comparable 1207.5 kg in the “Big 3.”2
By the standards of the time, however, Arnie’s achievements were certainly extraordinary. “I was very satisfied with my lifts back then. And it made me grow quickly.”
“A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss!”
Even today, at the age of 79, Schwarzenegger remains active. While he no longer lifts as much weight as he used to, Arnie still spends a lot of time in the gym.
“I go to the gym every day, ride my bike, go to Gold’s Gym, work out for 45 minutes, and then bike back,” he outlined. “Remember: ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss!’ It’s that simple.” And there’s no question: Even at an older age, his body is still impressive.