The key to success? Work hard, stay focused and marry a Kennedy.

Framed as a punchline, the line plays on Schwarzenegger’s public narrative of self-made achievement—bodybuilding discipline, relentless work ethic, and single-minded ambition—then undercuts it with a wry nod to social capital. “Marry a Kennedy” alludes to his 1986 marriage to Maria Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family, suggesting that connections and pedigree can accelerate or legitimize success in American public life. The humor depends on the tension between meritocratic ideals (“work hard, stay focused”) and the reality that networks, family name, and access often matter. It also functions as self-deprecating commentary on how his political and celebrity trajectory was perceived.