Arnold Schwarzenegger Faces €35,000 Fine Over Luxury Watch Customs Issue
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic actor and former California Governor, has found himself in hot water after being detained at Munich Airport over a customs dispute involving a valuable unregistered luxury watch he intended to auction for charity. The Terminator star, who holds dual Austrian and US citizenship, faced a €35,000 fine and an unexpected detour to a bank to pay half of the customs fees in cash.
Arnold, 76, was accompanied by his 49-year-old girlfriend, Heather Milligan, and a friend on a flight from Los Angeles to Munich. However, when the customs issue arose, only Arnold was permitted to enter the bank to withdraw the substantial sum of money, leaving his companions behind.
German tabloid BILD reported that the actor had to wait for three hours with customs officials before ultimately being released. Prior to his release, a customs officer commented that ‘the watch will probably have to stay.’
The watch in question is said to be a valuable timepiece custom-made for the Commando star by Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet. The actor had reportedly told BILD that he planned to auction the watch at a charity event in Kitzbühel, Austria, aimed at raising funds for environmental causes.
The Munich Main Customs Office spokesperson, Thomas Meister, explained that tax should have been paid on the watch because the actor intended to sell it within the European Union. He emphasized that customs regulations apply to everyone, regardless of their name or status.
Arnold, known for his love of flashy watches, has a substantial collection, including limited edition models like the Royal Oak Offshore ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy,’ produced by Audemars Piguet in 1999. Only 1,500 of these timepieces were ever made and they retail for over £30,000. His collection reportedly includes watches from Rolex and other luxury brands.
The actor-turned-politician’s unexpected customs delay occurred as he was en route to watch the Hahnenkamm Race, a significant event in the Alpine ski calendar. He also heads the Vienna-based charity, The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, which raises funds for environmental causes during prestigious events like race week.
