Arnold is a very gifted individual on many corners
Be it iq in academic sense, eq, situational awareness, psychology mindedness that let's him understand his motives and personel shortcomings, list can go on.
He was extremely popular from age 17, when you listen people that know him, all say they were struck with his charm and smarts even when he was in his teens, and these guys were popular alpha type guys that ruled the gym that he frequented (Kurt Marnul, that intellectual doctor etc)
There are not many village boys that can be friends with champions or the most educated man of an area when they are 16 or 17)
And I have never heard or read anybody said Arnold left an upleasent memory and used them the way to the top.
Many say he was always very positive, brought energy and enthusiasm where ever he went.
Yes he is a narcissist and very very competitive,and he could go sour if he wouldn't be as successful as he liked, but lucky for him he was truly gifted in mind and body, and maniacaly hard working, he turned out to be a pleasent go gether.
If he would be typical bodybuilder he would be exploited bu Weider, or he would be a one hit wonder like Ferrigno.
You don't sit and discuss movie projects with James Cameron, Ivan Reitman type of mega successful directors without being extremely smart.
Compare that with Ferrigno, I can imagine he had hard time memorizing his 'lines' in hulk series and trying to blend in with other actors without being awkward.
I just watched his CNN interview, while he is not as sharp as 2 decades ago, being able to be revelant and talk as logical at age 76 shows his potential, many carreer politicians with law degrees have hard time talking sense in their advanced age.