Arnold Schwarzenegger's Prank on Jesse Ventura on the Set of Predator Costs Wrestler a Bottle of Champagne

Back in the 1980s, Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger, both renowned for their impressive physiques, shared the screen in the 1987 action film Predator. Naturally, a bit of friendly rivalry brewed between the two muscular stars.

Schwarzenegger decided to have a little fun with Venturas competitive nature. He orchestrated a prank that led Ventura to briefly believe his arms were larger than Schwarzeneggers, ultimately resulting in Ventura losing a bottle of champagneand perhaps some bragging rights.

The Wardrobe Department Setup

The future California governor cleverly enlisted the wardrobe team to aid his scheme, anticipating that Ventura would check costume measurements. Ventura later recalled that during his fitting, he noticed his arms measured an inch larger than Schwarzeneggers, which made him feel quite proud.

Schwarzenegger explained that this setup was intentional, allowing him to place a playful bet with Ventura: a bottle of champagne to be decided later at the gym.

Gym Rivalry Turns the Joke into Reality

On set, the cast included Ventura, Schwarzenegger, and Carl Weathers, making for a highly competitive atmosphere. True to form, Ventura proposed measuring their arms to settle the size debate. Schwarzenegger agreed and suggested betting a bottle of champagne on the outcome.

When the actual measurement took place, Schwarzeneggers arm surpassed Venturas by three inches. The prank succeeded, and Ventura had to hand over the champagne. While the exact bottle remains undisclosed, considering the films blockbuster success, it was likely a quality one.

Author: Logan Reeves