Schwarzenegger says governorship cost him $200 million, ‘more than worth it’

When asked about expenses and lost income acting in from Hollywood films, the bodybuilding star turned actor and politician told native Austrian newspaper Krone that “it was more than worth it.”

“In all it is probably more than $200 million," he siaid "But I'm not sorry. It was more than worth it."

"What was much worse was the damage my time as governor did to the family. There is a lot there that needs to be repaired," he said, recalling frequent Sunday evenings when his wife, Maria, and children broke out in tears at his heavy work schedule.

"We hate your job," Schwarzenegger’s family members would remark, he said, during his early years as governor. At the time, he would often leave his Los Angeles home every Monday morning for the capital, Sacramento, and not return until the end of the week.

"It was heartbreaking every time," said Schwarzenegger, a Republican who served as governor from 2003 until early this month. "In my second term of office, I did better. I tried to fly home every evening."