Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver were married for over two decades, seeing careers as celebrities and politicians. Because of their strong facade, the world was shocked when they announced their divorce. Shriver later revealed she turned to her faith after learning of Arnold’s infidelity, which resulted in an illegitimate child with their housekeeper.
Thanks to NBC’s Tom Brokaw, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver’s love story began at the Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament in 1977. The journalist introduced the couple during the event, and things quickly escalated into a romantic relationship.
It took nine years of courtship before Arnold finally proposed to Shriver in August 1985. They tied the knot less than a year later, on April 26, 1986, at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
The celebration was filled with Kennedy family members, including Jackie O, John Jr., Joan Kennedy, and Caroline Kennedy, Shriver’s cousin and maid of honor.
Around their wedding, Arnold gifted his in-laws with an Andy Warhol portrait of Shriver. He also told the wedding guests:
“I love her, and I will always take care of her. Nobody should worry.”
Arnold and Shriver welcomed their firstborn, Katherine Schwarzenegger, in December 1989. At that time, Shriver left her role as “Sunday Today” co-anchor to focus on her new family.
Katherine is now famously married to “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt, who was once nervous about asking the “Terminator” star for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
In July 1991, Arnold and Shriver welcomed another daughter, Christina Schwarzenegger. The couple’s second-born child followed in the entertainment business as a producer recognized for the documentaries “Take Your Pills” and “Take Your Pills: Xanax.”
At some point, Arnold started missing significant events in his children’s lives, such as recitals and sports games. However, his relationship with his children only faltered when he betrayed Shriver.
Arnold and Shriver had two more kids: Patrick Schwarzenegger and Christopher Schwarzenegger. Born in September 1993, Patrick followed in his parents’ footsteps as an actor and appeared in “Midnight Sun” and “Grown Ups 2.” Besides his acting career, Patrick is a model and a business owner.
Meanwhile, Christopher, born in September 1997, chose a career away from the spotlight. However, he sometimes appears alongside his family for public engagements and intimate celebrations.
Despite having four children, the couple’s married life faced challenges. When Arnold joined politics, his schedule in and out of their home strained his relationship. In a 2012 interview, he admitted:
“A lot of relationships, when you’re a politician, have a tendency of falling apart or getting hit because of having to spend so much time on your work.”
The Hollywood star experienced this as he became more engrossed in his work. As Arnold recalled, his meetings, projects, and budget planning would sometimes reach until the wee hours of the morning, and when he wasn’t busy raising money or working, he was out campaigning.
At some point, Arnold started missing significant events in his children’s lives, such as recitals and sports games. However, his relationship with his children only faltered when he betrayed Shriver.
In 1996, while Shriver was on vacation with their children, Arnold, who was in Los Angeles to film “Batman & Robin,” began an illicit affair with their housekeeper, Mildred Baena.
According to Ian Halperin, author of Arnold’s biography, the famous body builder-turned-movie star cried as he begged Shriver for another chance.
Their relationship resulted in a son, Joseph Baena, born the following year. Joseph’s father was initially registered as Mildred’s husband, but his resemblance with Arnold grew stronger as time passed. Soon, it became hard to miss.
Shriver tried confronting her husband about Joseph’s birth father, but Arnold constantly denied the truth. On January 4, 2011, Arnold and Shriver sat in a couple’s counseling session where the truth eventually came out.
Arnold begged his then-wife for forgiveness to no avail. By then, it had already been over a decade since his illegitimate son was born. The action star later issued a statement, confirming the truth to the media’s speculation. He publicly apologized for his actions and took full responsibility.
According to Ian Halperin, author of Arnold’s biography, the famous body builder-turned-movie star cried as he begged Shriver for another chance. He constantly called his ex-wife for forgiveness, but Shriver didn’t want to be a part of it.
On May 9, 2011, Arnold and Shriver announced the end of their marriage through a joint statement that ensured the public their kids were their top priority. The statement read:
“After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion, and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship. We are continuing to parent our four children together.”
Since the issue made headlines in different media outlets, Mildred has been in hiding. However, as fabricated stories made their way to the press, she decided to share her narrative.
She claimed to see the resemblance between Arnold and Joseph as time passed, confirming the identity of her son’s father. “Maybe as Joseph got older and began to look like him, [Arnold] wondered, but he never said anything to me,” Mildred said.
After their divorce, Arnold continued to love his wife and ask for forgiveness. He had nothing but beautiful words to describe Shriver, calling her a phenomenal woman who did not deserve his betrayal.
Shriver also noticed the similarities between Arnold and Joseph and had an inkling of the truth. At first, Shriver would tell her housekeeper, “I’m here if you need to talk,” until she eventually confronted Mildred with the truth. Mildred shared:
“[Shriver] was so strong. She cried with me and told me to get off my knees. We held each other, and I told her it wasn’t Arnie’s fault – that it takes two.”
Despite her strong front, Shriver was broken by her marriage. She went to a convent to find peace and seek advice. It wasn’t until a reverend mother suggested the reason Shriver really came – to look for permission to be herself.
Shriver realized she had never allowed herself to be weak and vulnerable after what had happened. She knew she had to learn from the situation and become stronger while being the best mother she could be to her kids.
After their divorce, Arnold continued to love his wife and ask for forgiveness. He had nothing but beautiful words to describe Shriver, calling her a phenomenal woman who did not deserve his betrayal.
Arnold’s actions undoubtedly brought pain to his family. Each child reacted differently to what he had done, but he has since maintained a good relationship with his children.
It took about a decade until the couple’s divorce was finalized. As public figures in the entertainment industry and politics, handling the pair’s assets may have been difficult. However, the delay could also be due to their lingering feelings.
His Mediterranean-style home has seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, entertainment areas, and a gym.
Arnold’s years of hard work have amassed him an estimated worth of $400 million, while Shriver is part of the prominent Kennedy family. The pair had no prenup drafted before tying the knot.
Their property settlement agreement was reportedly split in half. Since separating, Shriver has moved out of their residence and moved nearby in Brentwood.
According to a source, Arnold and Shriver were better off married as their assets were intertwined. However, they were also able to reach a relationship from a civil standpoint. The insider added that Shriver had always been good to Arnold as her children’s father. She never talked ill about him.
In 2018, Shriver talked about forgiveness, suggesting that he had taken the necessary steps to accept her ex-husband’s apology. “I’ve learned that forgiveness is a process, and it takes time,” she said.
The pair continue to live harmoniously apart. Arnold still resides in their Pacific Palisades, California mansion with picturesque views of canyons and the Pacific Ocean. His Mediterranean-style home has seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, entertainment areas, and a gym.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s property also boasts a pool, a tennis court, a spa, and a pond. With more than enough space in the 2.5-acre land, there is plenty to do when his five children visit.
Arnold’s youngest son, Joseph, is often absent in photos with his half-siblings as he reportedly isn’t close to them. In 2019, he congratulated his older sister, Katherine, during her wedding to Pratt.
He was noticeably absent from the wedding while Christina, Patrick, and Christopher were in attendance. “[They] have no relationship with Joseph,” a source close to the family revealed. “I think the sons have more of a relationship with him.”
In April of the same year, Katherine celebrated National Siblings Day with an Instagram photo of her, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher. Social media users quickly called her out on the platform for failing to acknowledge Joseph as a brother.
A source close to Katherine shared that their non-existent relationship came as no surprise. After all, Joseph was the result of their father’s affair, which broke their family apart.
However, Joseph is no stranger to his siblings as he frequently stayed in Arnold’s mansion, growing up alongside his half-siblings.
Meanwhile, Joseph seems to long for a relationship with his other siblings. He reportedly follows and likes their posts on social media. However, they like all of their father’s posts except those with Joseph.
There was no way he could detach himself from Arnold’s name. Still, he tried to earn success on his own merits by refusing to use his father’s last name.
While he may not have a relationship with his siblings, Joseph established a strong bond with his father. He even followed his father’s footsteps and cared for his physique through physical activities.
In February 2022, Joseph was featured on the cover of Men’s Health, showing his strong resemblance to the Hollywood actor. Besides bodybuilding, Joseph joined the entertainment industry and appeared in “Lava!” and “Predator.”
Since his mother’s affair with Arnold came out, Joseph Baena’s life has become of public interest. There was no way he could detach himself from Arnold’s name. Still, he tried to earn success on his own merits by refusing to use his father’s last name. Joseph disclosed:
“That’s just not my main priority at the moment, so I’m just focused on building myself up and building my career in acting and real estate and just focusing on that right now.”
Nevertheless, Joseph is grateful for having a great father. Admittedly, Arnold has influenced several decisions in his life, including his acting career, fitness lifestyle, and mindset.
