Arnold the Influencer

He's outmuscled and outsmarted his way to the tippity-top of bodybuilding, Hollywood, and politics. But can Arnold Schwarzenegger master the art of online influence?

- By Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S. Photographs by Michael Muller

Arnold Schwarzenegger is staring past the row of weight machines, past the chain-link fence that outlines Gold's Gym in Venice, California. IIe's been taking me through his five-round morning shoulder circuit, and we're supposed to be starting the fourth round, moving from exercise to exercise with no rest.

No matter. Two women beyond the fence just snapped iPhone pictures of himand Arnold noticed. Hello! How are you doing? he says. They ask if they can take pictures. Of course, he says. You're in a public place. It's a sidewalk. You can do whatever you want.

Schwarzenegger pauses. Did you take the picture? How did I look? The reply: Awesome. You just made my day, he says. The women smile. Arnold wedges himself into a shoulder-press machine and pounds out 11 reps.

Immediately after that, he beckons actor friend Douglas Farrell to flex for the cameras. When Farrell tightens his biceps, Arnold shakes his head. Now flex. Farrell flexes his chest instead. Arnold nods. And when a powerlifter from Ohio, Cory Gregory (better known as @corygfitness on Instagram, with 197,000 followers), stops him, they shake hands. Minutes later, during his finishing arm circuit, Arnold stops doing dips so he can stand behind me during my preacher curls, hands on my biceps. Think biceps, he says loudly. Then he leans in closer. Make this, he whispers, your best set ever.

I crush 12 reps, and here Arnold says, Perfect. I freeze for a moment. Did he say that about me?