I think it is kinda possible to be both an a-hole and a good guy..depends on the situation..Arnold was good at being different things to different people....We ALL wish we were as lucky
There you go, in life it's often a mix rather than black and white, one or the other.
Maybe alot of people would like that success, but alot of people wouldn't do it if it required that personality to be honest. And i don't think for a minute it's entirely necessary to be a shit to achieve goals.
Also bear in mind that like a lot of successful people, Schwarzenegger from day one in America had opportunity thrust at him, that required no effort on his part and that had nothing to do with needing a certain type of personality.
Bottom line: protegees in many fields from classic music to football to BB to high tech often begin with opportunities most don't get. Schwarzenegger was one. He had leverage over Weider right away that others didn't, and was afforded opportunities right off the boat due to them. Same thing with real estate-a big part of the equation was having the luxury of advisement from various US and European businessmen, including Joe Gold and Weider, telling him to acquire real estate. Not just about his smarts or persona, which were part of it for sure.
A large part of Schwarzenegger's persona in reality very much mirrors that of the orginal Terminator, before it become "good"-
there wasn't a hell of a lot of acting required.