Arnold Schwarzenegger Pledges to Donate $1 Million to L.A. Wildfire Relief: 'I'm Going to Lead the Way'

Mar. 15, 2025

Arnold Schwarzenegger on April 4, 2024.Photo:Ivan Apfel/Getty

Ivan Apfel/Getty

Arnold Schwarzeneggeris giving back to Los Angeles.The actor and former governor of California shared a post onInstagramTuesday, Jan. 21, in which he wrote that he is donating $1 million to three foundations to assist in relief efforts more than two weeks after a series ofdevastating wildfires broke out in L.A.“A lot of my fans have asked me how they can help LA. I’m going to lead the way. I’m sending a million dollars of my own money, split between @lafdfoundation, @cafirefound, and @habitatla. I don’t like when companies or rich people ask their fans to make their donations for them,” Schwarzenegger, 77, wrote in the caption to his post which features a t-shirt that bears his likeness and the phrase “L.A. Strong.““But I know you want to help. So I had my team design a shirt. 100% of the profits will go to those organizations,” theTerminatoractor wrote. “The shirt might look familiar - it’s based on an LA classic, the knock-off version of me they sell to tourists on the Venice boardwalk, except I can use my image. You can get it at the link in my bio.“Multiple wildfires in Los Angeles first broke out on Tuesday, Jan. 7 that have since sent tens of thousands of residents —including celebritieslike Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joshua Jackson, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake and Cary Elwes — displaced from their homes. Thousands of structures have been affected so far in what is considered the most destructive firestorm in the city’s history. As the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced on Thursday, Jan. 16, there have been at least 27 deaths.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.A new fire, known as the Hughes Fire, sparked around 10:53 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jan. 22; the fire has grown to 3,407 acres and is considered 0% contained, according toCal Fire. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire is 91% contained and the Palisades Fire is considered 68% contained.Arnold Schwarzenegger on April 4, 2024.Ivan Apfel/Getty ImagesSchwarzenegger is no stranger to acts of charity. Back in November, he shared a video of himself speaking to local news outlet Fox 11 as hevolunteered at a youth centerin east L.A. on Thanksgiving Day.“Giving back is, to me, everything,” he said in the news clip, which noted Schwarzenegger has been donating turkeys to the youth center for more than three decades.

Arnold Schwarzeneggeris giving back to Los Angeles.

The actor and former governor of California shared a post onInstagramTuesday, Jan. 21, in which he wrote that he is donating $1 million to three foundations to assist in relief efforts more than two weeks after a series ofdevastating wildfires broke out in L.A.

“A lot of my fans have asked me how they can help LA. I’m going to lead the way. I’m sending a million dollars of my own money, split between @lafdfoundation, @cafirefound, and @habitatla. I don’t like when companies or rich people ask their fans to make their donations for them,” Schwarzenegger, 77, wrote in the caption to his post which features a t-shirt that bears his likeness and the phrase “L.A. Strong.”

“But I know you want to help. So I had my team design a shirt. 100% of the profits will go to those organizations,” theTerminatoractor wrote. “The shirt might look familiar - it’s based on an LA classic, the knock-off version of me they sell to tourists on the Venice boardwalk, except I can use my image. You can get it at the link in my bio.”

Multiple wildfires in Los Angeles first broke out on Tuesday, Jan. 7 that have since sent tens of thousands of residents —including celebritieslike Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joshua Jackson, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake and Cary Elwes — displaced from their homes. Thousands of structures have been affected so far in what is considered the most destructive firestorm in the city’s history. As the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced on Thursday, Jan. 16, there have been at least 27 deaths.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A new fire, known as the Hughes Fire, sparked around 10:53 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jan. 22; the fire has grown to 3,407 acres and is considered 0% contained, according toCal Fire. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire is 91% contained and the Palisades Fire is considered 68% contained.

Arnold Schwarzenegger on April 4, 2024.Ivan Apfel/Getty Images

Ivan Apfel/Getty Images

Schwarzenegger is no stranger to acts of charity. Back in November, he shared a video of himself speaking to local news outlet Fox 11 as hevolunteered at a youth centerin east L.A. on Thanksgiving Day.

“Giving back is, to me, everything,” he said in the news clip, which noted Schwarzenegger has been donating turkeys to the youth center for more than three decades.

source: people.com