Editing Arnold Schwarzenegger (section)

== Early life and education ==
[[File:Thal - Geburtshaus Arnold Schwarzenegger1.jpg|thumb|right|Schwarzenegger's birthplace]]

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born in [[Thal, Styria|Thal]] on July 30, 1947,<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com">{{Cite news |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger: Biography |url=http://schwarzenegger.com/bio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231002431/http://schwarzenegger.com/bio |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |work=Schwarzenegger.com}}</ref> the second son of [[Gustav Schwarzenegger]] and his wife Aurelia (née Jadrny; 1922–1998). Gustav was the local chief of police, and after the [[Anschluss]] in 1938 joined the [[Nazi Party]] and in 1939 the [[Sturmabteilung]] (SA). In [[World War II]], Gustav served as a military policeman in the invasions of Poland, France and the Soviet Union, including the [[siege of Leningrad]], rising to the title of ''[[Hauptfeldwebel]]''.<ref name="Matt Lait-2003">{{Cite web |last1=Tracy Wilkinson |last2=Matt Lait |date=August 14, 2003 |title=Austrian Archives Reveal Nazi Military Role of Actor's Father |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115034659/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="The Scotsman-2004">{{Cite news |date=August 4, 2004 |title=Arnie: 'I was abused as child' |url=http://news.scotsman.com/arnoldschwarzenegger/Arnie-I-was-abused-as.2551492.jp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818225021/http://news.scotsman.com/arnoldschwarzenegger/Arnie-I-was-abused-as.2551492.jp |archive-date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh}}</ref> He was wounded in the [[Battle of Stalingrad]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2018 |title=Surprised by Russia: 5 things that charmed Arnold Schwarzenegger in Moscow |url=https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/327632-surprised-by-russia-schwarzenegger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718030522/https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/327632-surprised-by-russia-schwarzenegger |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |work=Russia Beyond}}</ref> and was discharged in 1943 following a bout of [[malaria]]. According to Holocaust scholar [[Michael Berenbaum]], Gustav Schwarzenegger served "in theaters of the war where atrocities were committed. But there is no way to know from the documents whether he played a role."<ref name="Matt Lait-2003" /> Gustav's background received wide press attention during the [[2003 California gubernatorial recall election]] in which Schwarzenegger was elected.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 24, 2003 |title=Records: Arnold's father was member of Nazi storm troops |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-08-24-arnold-father_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522170405/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-08-24-arnold-father_x.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2017 |work=USA Today}}</ref>

Gustav married Aurelia on October 20, 1945; he was 38 and she was 23. According to Schwarzenegger, his parents were very strict: "Back then in Austria it was a very different world ... if we did something bad or we disobeyed our parents, the rod was not spared."<ref name="Ask Arnold-2000" /> He grew up in a Catholic family.<ref name="Andrews-2003">{{Cite book |last=Andrews |first=Nigel |url=https://archive.org/details/truemythslifetim0000andr |title=True Myths of Arnold Schwarzenegger |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-58234-465-2}}</ref> Gustav preferred his elder son, Meinhard, over Arnold.<ref name="Brooks-2003">{{Cite news |last=Brooks |first=Xan |date=August 8, 2003 |title=The Governator |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/aug/08/usa.politicsandthearts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827055648/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/aug/08/usa.politicsandthearts |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2007 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> His favoritism was "strong and blatant", which stemmed from unfounded suspicion that Arnold was not his biological child.<ref name="Leigh-1990">{{Cite book |last=Leigh |first=Wendy |title=Arnold: An Unauthorized Biography |publisher=Pelham |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-7207-1997-0}}</ref> Schwarzenegger says that his earliest childhood memory is of climbing into his parents' bed during a bad thunder-and-lightning storm and cuddling between his mother and father.<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66mhdALYtM/ Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes The Colbert Questionert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227092035/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66mhdALYtM/ |date=February 27, 2024 }}"; segment on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]];'' aired February 26, 2024</ref> He has said, however, that his father had "no patience for listening or understanding your problems".<ref name="Andrews-2003" /> He had a good relationship with his mother, with whom he kept in touch until her death.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger: Mr. Olympia&nbsp;– 1970–1975, 1980 |url=http://www.bodybuildbid.com/articles/mrolympia/arnold-schwarzenegger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421231324/http://www.bodybuildbid.com/articles/mrolympia/arnold-schwarzenegger.html |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BodyBuild.com}}</ref>

In an interview with ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' in 2004, Schwarzenegger told how he suffered what "would now be called [[child abuse]]" at the hands of his father: "My hair was pulled. I was hit with belts. So was the kid next door. It was just the way it was. Many of the children I've seen were broken by their parents, which was the German-Austrian mentality. They didn't want to create an individual. It was all about conforming. I was one who did not conform, and whose will could not be broken. Therefore, I became a rebel. Every time I got hit, and every time someone said, 'You can't do this,' I said, 'This is not going to be for much longer because I'm going to move out of here. I want to be rich. I want to be somebody.{{'"}}<ref name="The Scotsman-2004" />

At school, Schwarzenegger was reportedly academically average but stood out for his "cheerful, good-humored, and exuberant" character.<ref name="Andrews-2003" /> He struggled with reading and was later diagnosed as being [[Dyslexia|dyslexic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=I could tell you I am fantastic at... - Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.facebook.com/arnold/posts/i-could-tell-you-i-am-fantastic-at-everything-but-id-be-lyingi-just-finished-rec/841497540670647/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812132526/https://www.facebook.com/arnold/posts/i-could-tell-you-i-am-fantastic-at-everything-but-id-be-lyingi-just-finished-rec/841497540670647/ |archive-date=August 12, 2023 |access-date=August 12, 2023 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares How He Manages His Dyslexia |url=https://www.menshealth.com/health/a44752011/arnold-schwarzenegger-dyslexia-advice/ |access-date=June 26, 2024 |website=Men's Health |language=en-US}}</ref> Money was a problem in their household; Schwarzenegger recalled that one of the highlights of his youth was when the family bought a refrigerator.<ref name="Leigh-1990" /> His father Gustav was an athlete, and wished for his sons to become champions in [[Bavarian curling]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 14, 2003 |title=Austrian Archives Reveal Nazi Military Role of Actor's Father |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115034659/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-14-me-father14-story.html |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Influenced by his father, Schwarzenegger played several sports as a boy.<ref name="Andrews-2003" />

Schwarzenegger began [[Strength training|weight training]] in 1960 when his [[Association football|football]] coach took his team to a local gym.<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /> At age 14, he chose [[bodybuilding]] over football as a career.<ref name="Katz-2006">{{Cite book |last=Katz |first=Ephraim |title=Film Encyclopedia |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-06-074214-0}}</ref><ref name="Profile-2004">{{Cite news |date=August 31, 2004 |title=Profile: Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3131155.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101220131/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3131155.stm |archive-date=November 1, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> He later said, "I actually started weight training when I was 15, but I'd been participating in sports, like soccer, for years, so I felt that although I was slim, I was well-developed, at least enough so that I could start going to the gym and start [[Olympic weightlifting|Olympic lifting]]."<ref name="Ask Arnold-2000" /> However, his official website biography claims that "at 14, he started an intensive training program with Dan Farmer, studied psychology at 15 (to learn more about the power of mind over body) and at 17, officially started his competitive career."<ref name="Mr Everything">{{Cite news |title=Mr. Everything |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/athlete/mreverything/index.asp?sec=athlete&subsec=mreverything |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416234020/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/athlete/mreverything/index.asp?sec=athlete&subsec=mreverything |archive-date=April 16, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}}</ref> During a speech in 2001, he said, "My own plan formed when I was 14 years old. My father had wanted me to be a police officer like he was. My mother wanted me to go to trade school."<ref name="Schwarzenegger-2001">{{Cite news |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |date=October 3, 2001 |title=Arnold's "Perspectives" |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/hiswords/words_en_sac_perspectives.asp?sec=life&subsec=hiswords |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523204808/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/hiswords/words_en_sac_perspectives.asp%3Fsec%3Dlife%26subsec%3Dhiswords |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}}</ref>

[[File:Arnold Schwarzenegger 1971.jpg|thumb|Schwarzenegger in 1971]]

Schwarzenegger took to visiting a gym in [[Graz]], where he also frequented the local movie theaters to see films with bodybuilding idols such as [[Reg Park]], [[Steve Reeves]] and [[Johnny Weissmuller]].<ref name="Ask Arnold-2000" /> When Reeves died in 2000, Schwarzenegger fondly remembered him: "As a teenager, I grew up with Steve Reeves. His remarkable accomplishments allowed me a sense of what was possible when others around me didn't always understand my dreams. Steve Reeves has been part of everything I've ever been fortunate enough to achieve." In 1961, Schwarzenegger met former Mr. Austria Kurt Marnul, who invited him to train at the gym in Graz.<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /> He was so dedicated as a youngster that he broke into the local gym on weekends to train even when it was closed. "It would make me sick to miss a workout... I knew I couldn't look at myself in the mirror the next morning if I didn't do it." When asked about his first cinema experience as a boy, he replied: "I was very young, but I remember my father taking me to the Austrian theaters and seeing some [[newsreels]]. The first real movie I saw, that I distinctly remember, was a [[John Wayne]] movie."<ref name="Ask Arnold-2000">{{Cite news |year=2000 |title=Ask Arnold |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/askarnold/news_askarnold_eng_legacy_444.asp?sec=news&subsec=askarnold |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523203926/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/news/askarnold/news_askarnold_eng_legacy_444.asp?sec=news&subsec=askarnold |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}}</ref> In Graz, he was mentored by Alfred Gerstl, who had Jewish ancestry and later became [[List of presidents of the Federal Council (Austria)|president of the Federal Council]], and befriended his son Karl.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tracy Wilkinson |date=September 10, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger Is Still Their Hometown Hero |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-10-me-austria10-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017195100/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-10-me-austria10-story.html |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seth Rogovoy |date=July 30, 2020 |title=On his 73rd birthday, Arnold Schwarzenegger's secret Jewish history |url=https://forward.com/culture/451703/on-his-73rd-birthday-arnold-schwarzeneggers-secret-jewish-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020151109/https://forward.com/culture/451703/on-his-73rd-birthday-arnold-schwarzeneggers-secret-jewish-history/ |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |website=Forward}}</ref>

Schwarzenegger's brother, Meinhard, died in a car crash on May 20, 1971.<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /> He was [[drunk driving|driving drunk]] and died instantly. Schwarzenegger did not attend his funeral. Meinhard was engaged to Erika Knapp, and they had a three-year-old son named [[Patrick M. Knapp Schwarzenegger|Patrick]]. Schwarzenegger paid for Patrick's education and helped him to move to the U.S.<ref name="Leigh-1990" /> Schwarzenegger's father, Gustav, died of a stroke on December 13, 1972.<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /> In ''[[Pumping Iron]]'', Schwarzenegger claimed that he did not attend his father's funeral because he was training for a bodybuilding contest. Later, he and the film's producer said this story was taken from another bodybuilder to show the extremes some would go to for their sport and to make Schwarzenegger's image colder to create controversy for the film.<ref>Interview in ''Pumping Iron&nbsp;– 25th Anniversary Edition'' DVD extras</ref> However, Barbara Baker, his first serious girlfriend, recalled that he informed her of his father's death without emotion and that he never spoke of his brother.<ref name="Poole-2003">{{Cite news |last=Poole |first=Oliver |date=October 6, 2003 |title=The girl who can't escape Arnie |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3603696/The-girl-who-cant-escape-Arnie.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410221914/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2003%2F10%2F02%2Fbfarni02.xml&page=1 |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref> Over time, he has given at least three versions of why he was absent from his father's funeral.<ref name="Leigh-1990" />

Schwarzenegger served in the [[Austrian Armed Forces|Austrian Army]] in 1965 to fulfill the [[Austrian Armed Forces#Conscription, training and reserves|one year of service required]] at the time of all 18-year-old Austrian males.<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /><ref name="Mr Everything" /> During his army service, he won the Junior Mr. Europe contest.<ref name="Profile-2004" /> He went [[AWOL]] during basic training so he could take part in the competition and then spent a week in military prison: "Participating in the competition meant so much to me that I didn't carefully think through the consequences." He entered another bodybuilding contest in Graz, at Steirerhof Hotel, where he placed second. He was voted "best-built man of Europe", which made him famous in bodybuilding circles. "The [[Universe Championships|Mr. Universe]] title was my ticket to America—the land of opportunity, where I could become a star and get rich."<ref name="Schwarzenegger-2001" /> Schwarzenegger made his first plane trip in 1966, attending the [[Universe Championships#History|NABBA Mr. Universe]] competition in London.<ref name="Mr Everything" /> He placed second in the Mr. Universe competition, not having the muscle definition of American winner [[Chester Yorton]].<ref name="Mr Everything" />

Charles "Wag" Bennett, one of the judges at the 1966 competition, was impressed with Schwarzenegger and offered to coach him. As Schwarzenegger had little money, Bennett invited him to stay in his crowded family home above one of his two gyms in [[Forest Gate]], London. Yorton's leg definition had been judged superior, and Schwarzenegger, under a training program devised by Bennett, concentrated on improving his. Staying in the [[East End of London]] helped Schwarzenegger improve his rudimentary English.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McIntosh |first=Lindsay |date=October 2, 2008 |title=Wag Bennett bodybuilder who helped Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4862637.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525033754/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4862637.ece |archive-date=May 25, 2010 |access-date=October 3, 2008 |work=The Times |location=London}}</ref><ref>Staff, [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/777625?view=synopsis Arnold Schwarzenegger: Made in Britain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817080410/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/777625?view=synopsis |date=August 17, 2010 }}, [[British Film Institute]]. Retrieved October 3, 2008. "Wag and Dianne Bennett, an East End couple who gave Arnie a home for three years,"</ref> Living with the Bennetts also changed him as a person: "Being with them made me so much more sophisticated. When you're the age I was then, you're always looking for approval, for love, for attention and also for guidance. At the time, I wasn't really aware of that. But now, looking back, I see that the Bennett family fulfilled all those needs. Especially my need to be the best in the world. To be recognized and to feel unique and special. They saw that I needed that care and attention and love."<ref name="The Telegraph-2017">{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2017 |title=An Austrian hick in London: Arnie's early years |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/terminator-genisys/arnold-schwarzenegger-early-life-bodybuilding/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413024734/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/terminator-genisys/arnold-schwarzenegger-early-life-bodybuilding/ |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref>

Also in 1966, at Bennett's home, Schwarzenegger had the opportunity to meet childhood idol [[Reg Park]], who became his friend and mentor.<ref name="The Telegraph-2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=A tribute by Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://www.regpark.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514083332/http://www.regpark.net/ |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=April 3, 2011 |publisher=Regpark.net}}</ref> The training paid off and, in 1967, Schwarzenegger won the title for the first time, becoming the youngest ever Mr. Universe at age 20.<ref name="Mr Everything" /> He would go on to win the title another three times.<ref name="Profile-2004" /> He then returned to [[Munich]], where he attended business school and worked at Rolf Putziger's gym, where he worked and trained from 1966 to 1968 before returning to London in 1968 to win his next Mr. Universe title.<ref name="Mr Everything" /> He frequently told [[Roger C. Field]], his English coach and friend in Munich at the time, "I'm going to become the greatest actor!"<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 8, 2007 |title=Summer of '68: Mit Schwarzenegger durch Schwabing |url=http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/authoralbumbackground/371/mit_schwarzenegger_durch_schwabing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062217/http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/authoralbumbackground/371/mit_schwarzenegger_durch_schwabing.html |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |access-date=May 4, 2013 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de}}</ref>

Schwarzenegger, who dreamed of moving to the US since age ten, and saw bodybuilding as his avenue of opportunity,<ref name="Bradley-2002">{{Cite news |last=Bradley |first=Bill |date=November 20, 2002 |title=Mr. California |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2002-11-28/news/mr-california/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816085006/http://www.laweekly.com/2002-11-28/news/mr-california/ |archive-date=August 16, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=LA Weekly}}</ref> realized his dream by moving to the US in October 1968 at age 21, speaking little English.<ref name="Profile-2004" /><ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /> There he trained at [[Gold's Gym]] in [[Venice, Los Angeles]], California, under [[Joe Weider]]'s supervision. From 1970 to 1974, one of Schwarzenegger's weight training partners was [[Ric Drasin]], a [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] who designed the original Gold's Gym logo in 1973.<ref>Jennings, Randy (October 21, 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20031225065902/http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/archives/2003/october/617.htm "Ric Drasin: Arnold's lifting partner!"] The Arnold Fans Website. Retrieved December 16, 2009.</ref> Schwarzenegger also became good friends with professional wrestler [[Superstar Billy Graham]]. In 1970, at age 23, Schwarzenegger captured his first [[Mr. Olympia]] title in New York, and would go on to win the title seven times.<ref name="Mr Everything" />

The immigration law firm Siskind & Susser has stated that Schwarzenegger may have been an [[illegal immigrant]] at some point in the late 1960s or early 1970s because of violations in the terms of his [[visa (document)|visa]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bland |first=Siskind |date=September 4, 2007 |title=Schwarzenegger May Have Violated Terms Of Non-Immigrant Visa |url=http://www.visalaw.com/03sep4/15sep403.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220094159/http://www.visalaw.com/03sep4/15sep403.html |archive-date=February 20, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=VISALAW.COM}}</ref> ''[[LA Weekly]]'' said in 2002 that Schwarzenegger was "the most famous US immigrant", who "overcame a thick Austrian accent and transcended the unlikely background of bodybuilding to become the biggest movie star in the world in the 1990s".<ref name="Bradley-2002" />

In 1977, Schwarzenegger's autobiography and weight-training guide, ''Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder,'' was a huge success.<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /> In 1977, he posed for the gay magazine ''[[After Dark (magazine)|After Dark]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger A name to be reckoned with |url=http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/arnold-schwarzenegger/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219083706/http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/arnold-schwarzenegger/ |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |website=Rotten.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Paslay |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6rU59neX34C&q=schwarzenegger%2B%2522after%2Bdark%2522&pg=PA146 |title=The Village Proposal: Education as a Shared Responsibility |date=September 1, 2011 |publisher=R&L Education |isbn=978-1-61048-061-1 |page=146 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221220848/https://books.google.com/books?id=g6rU59neX34C&q=schwarzenegger+%22after+dark%22&pg=PA146 |archive-date=December 21, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> After taking an assortment of courses at [[Santa Monica College]] in California (including English classes), as well as further upper division classes at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] as part of UCLA's extension program, he accumulated enough credits to be "within striking distance" of graduation. In 1979, he enrolled in the [[University of Wisconsin–Superior]] as a distance education student, completing most of his coursework by correspondence and flying out to Superior to meet professors and take final exams. In May 1980, he formally graduated and earned his [[Bachelor of Business Administration|bachelor's degree]] in business administration and marketing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finkelmeyer |first=Todd |date=November 11, 2009 |title=Campus Connection: Superior list of famous alumni? |url=https://captimes.com/news/local/education/campus_connection/campus-connection-superior-list-of-famous-alumni/article_13051f01-a8e0-5ab6-9af5-9b9ae15988be.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125014713/https://captimes.com/news/local/education/campus_connection/campus-connection-superior-list-of-famous-alumni/article_13051f01-a8e0-5ab6-9af5-9b9ae15988be.html |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=The Cap Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Leeds |first1=Jeff |last2=Bates |first2=James |date=August 22, 2003 |title=A degree of fame for each |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-22-et-bates22-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125015457/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-22-et-bates22-story.html |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He received his [[Citizenship of the United States|United States citizenship]] in 1983.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 11, 2009 |title=Campus Connection: Superior list of famous alumni? |url=http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/campus_connection/article_d8646d66-ce45-11de-ba14-001cc4c03286.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907024535/http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/campus_connection/article_d8646d66-ce45-11de-ba14-001cc4c03286.html |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |access-date=April 11, 2012 |work=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]}}</ref> He received an [[honorary degree]] from [[Stockton University]] in 2023.<ref>{{Citation |title=BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING |url=https://stockton.edu/board-of-trustees/documents/BOT-OS-02-22-23.pdf |access-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306175206/https://stockton.edu/board-of-trustees/documents/BOT-OS-02-22-23.pdf |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |url-status=live |publisher=Stockton University}}</ref>