In a turn of events that could easily have come from one of his lighter roles on screen,Arnold Schwarzeneggerfound himself being detained on Wednesday while traveling through Munich Airport in Germany because of a luxury watch he was wearing. While the former Governor of California may be used to being on the right side of the law, it seems that he isn’t quite as well-read when it comes to the declaration of high-priced items when passing through international customs channels.
According toBild, Schwarzenegger was detained for three hours after being stopped for not declaring the custom-made Audemars Piguet watch, which the action star was planning on auctioning to raise money for the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, one of the many charities that he has a hand in. However, he did not declare the watch when entering the country, which, due to its hefty price tag, was required, and instead believed that, as he was wearing it visibly for everyone to see that there was no declaration to be made. A Munich customs spokesperson said:
“We have initiated criminal tax proceedings. The watch should have been registered because it is an import. If the goods remain in the EU, you have to pay tax and duty on them. That applies to everyone."
In a comical turn of events, the situation became more complicated when attempts to pay the required taxes were hindered by a malfunctioning credit card machine. This led to a series of events, including Schwarzenegger being escorted to an ATM, which had a withdrawal limit too low for the amount needed, and a visit to a bank that was closed. Eventually, a working credit card machine was brought in, allowing the issue to be resolved.
The value of the watch will be determined after the auction held by the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, where it is likely to see its original value increase significantly because of it having been on the wrist of theTerminatorstar, which makes its actual import value so much harder to determine. All in all, it’s a minor slip that would have sat well as a scene inthe now defunctTwinssequel.
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What Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Been Doing Other Than Being Detained in Airports?
Away from the customs drama, Schwarzenegger has been keeping a relatively low profile in the film industry since his appearance in 2019’sTerminator: Dark Fate. However, he has not been entirely absent from the screen. Schwarzenegger stars in the Netflix action-comedy seriesFUBAR, which premiered its first season in 2023 and hasbeen renewed for a second season, expected to release in late 2024 or 2025. The series marks his first lead in a scripted live-action television show, and as Luke Brunner, a seasoned CIA operative, the Austrian Oak has found thathis brand of over-the-top action-comedyworks just as well on the small screen as it ever did in cinematic blockbusters. .
Additionally, Schwarzenegger has been involved in several upcoming projects. He is set to appear inKung Fury 2, a martial arts comedy film expected to release this year in which he takes a step back into politics as the President. Another project in the pipeline isBreakout, an action thriller directed by Scott Waugh, where Schwarzenegger will portray Terry Reynolds, a character embarking on a rescue mission for his wrongfully imprisoned stepson.
For those wanting to know more about the man behind the action star, his biographical documentary, Arnold, is available to stream on Netflix along with the first season ofFUBAR.
