A woman who allegedly had an affair with Arnold Schwarzenegger was reportedly paid $20,000 by the publisher of a US tabloid to keep the matter secret just days after the "The Terminator" star announced his candidacy for California governor in 2003.

A friend of the woman, named by the Los Angeles Times as 46-year-old Gigi Goyette, claims she was also paid $1,000 by the tabloid, the National Enquirer, to keep confidential what she knew about the reported deals, according to Internet Movie Database.

Details came out after American Media Incorporated, owner of the National Enquirer, ended a five-year $13 million contract with the actor last month to serve as executive editor of two of their fitness magazines.