The life and career of Arnold Schwarzenegger, from a young bodybuilder in Austria to a Hollywood sensation, has been nothing short of incredible.
However, with his fame and success comes scandal and drama, including his affair with Brigitte Nielsen, Sylvester Stallone’s ex-wife.
Nielsen, who debuted in Hollywood with films like Red Sonja, Rocky IV, and Cobra, was paired with Schwarzenegger in Red Sonja.
The pair hit it off instantly and had a highly publicized affair, as Nielsen revealed in her tell-all book, You Only Get One Life.
“We wanted to try everything and so we did. There were no restrictions, no promises, nothing, and it was a great time in my life,” she wrote.
Their on-screen chemistry did not last, however, as Schwarzenegger began dating Maria Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family, and eventually married her in 1986.
Nielsen found romance with Stallone on the set of Rocky IV, which made for a messy love triangle between the three Hollywood stars.
Schwarzenegger details the numerous affairs he had during his relationship with Shriver in his memoir, Total Recall.
Nielsen was one of his affairs, and although the book received criticism for not going into enough depth, Nielsen did not hold back in her own book about her affair with Schwarzenegger.
During an appearance on 60 Minutes to promote his memoir, Schwarzenegger admitted that Shriver was aware of his affairs during their relationship.
This admission caused backlash for painting Shriver as a passive partner and throwing her under the bus.
Nielsen’s book, however, is highly explicit and detailed, giving readers a firsthand account of her affair with Schwarzenegger.
The book describes the affair as “raunchy,” and Nielsen reveals that she and Schwarzenegger “had s– in his office at the studio and in his apartment.”
Despite the affair, Schwarzenegger and Stallone maintained a bitter rivalry on and off the big screen for over 20 years.
The two actors were constantly compared to one another and competed for roles, leading to tension between them.
In 2011, Nielsen also revealed that she had a child with Stallone during their relationship, a fact that Stallone denied for years.
The truth finally came out when the child, a daughter named Scarlett, was spotted with Stallone at various events.
Nielsen’s affair with Schwarzenegger may have been scandalous, but it was just one chapter in the Hollywood star’s tumultuous personal life.
Schwarzenegger’s marriage to Shriver ended in 2011 when it was revealed that he had fathered a child with their housekeeper.
Shriver filed for divorce, and the couple’s split was highly publicized.
