Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals His Highest-Paying Movie—And It’s Not What You’d Expect

Arnold Schwarzenegger recently shared which film earned him the biggest paycheck of his career—and surprisingly, it wasn’t Terminator.

“It was Twins,” the 77-year-old actor told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live (June 23). Instead of a traditional salary, Arnold and co-star Danny DeVito negotiated backend profits, a gamble that paid off massively. “We got no money upfront, but with ownership, we got a piece of the backend. And it was fantastic—we went all the way to the bank with that one.”

The 1988 comedy, in which Arnold and Danny played genetically engineered twins reunited as adults, reportedly earned Schwarzenegger over $40 million—more than any other film in his career. While he avoided giving an exact figure, he teased, “Let’s just say it was more than any movie I’ve ever made.”

The Twins Sequel That Almost Happened

The duo even planned a follow-up titled Triplets, with Eddie Murphy joining as the long-lost third sibling. Unfortunately, the project stalled after director Ivan Reitman’s passing in 2022. “We were about to start shooting when Ivan died,” Arnold explained.

Despite the setback, both actors remain eager to collaborate again. “We want to do another movie together,” Danny told Entertainment Tonight in 2024. “Whether it’s a sequel or something new, it just has to be good, funny, and something fans will love.”

Arnold echoed the sentiment, praising their on-screen chemistry: “You can’t fake that kind of connection. Danny and I just click—it’s a match made in heaven.”