Arnold Schwarzenegger has been spotted in Austria, his homeland, following the auction of the watch that led to his recent arrest at Munich airport.
The actor faced an unpleasant situation at the German airport when he arrived with a watch valued at thousands of dollars, exceeding the allowable limit for undeclared items. Despite not having the necessary customs forms, Schwarzenegger paid the fine associated with the incident and became part of a criminal investigation.
It was revealed that Schwarzenegger's intention all along was to auction the watch at the Dinner and Auction for Environmental Protection held in Stanglwirt, Kitzbühel, Austria. The watch made it to the auction in time, allowing Schwarzenegger to enjoy his time in Austria without further complications. The auction, organized by the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative to raise funds for climate change measures, featured the actor humorously referring to the watch as "the most viewed watch in the world right now."
After overcoming the challenges, the watch found a new owner as businessman and investor Klemens Hallman, a friend of Schwarzenegger, purchased it for $294,000. The successful auction raised a total of 1.4 million dollars.
With the auction triumph, Schwarzenegger was able to unwind and attend the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Austria with his partner, Heather Milligan. The couple enjoyed the event, shielding themselves from the low temperatures while witnessing the men's slalom in Kitzbuehel.
The incident involving the watch, which led to a routine control and a hefty fine, has now become a mere anecdote. Customs spokesman Thomas Miester clarified that the delay was part of a routine procedure.
According to German customs guidelines, travelers arriving from outside the EU are required to declare funds of 10,000 euros or more, especially if they include valuables such as jewelry or expensive digital cameras. Schwarzenegger successfully navigated this issue, achieving his goals of auctioning the watch and savoring the Alpine Skiing World Cup in his native country with his partner.
