Arnold Schwarzenegger is a name known to almost everyone. He has earned fame as one of the world’s most renowned bodybuilders, actors, and, more recently, politicians. His journey has taken him through the realms of entertainment and politics, shaping an extraordinary career.
In addition to these remarkable achievements, Schwarzenegger holds another significant role—that of a father. He tied the knot with journalist Maria Shriver in 1986, and together, they welcomed their first child, Katherine, in 1989. The couple expanded their family with the arrivals of Christina, Patrick, and Christopher.
Living a life that balanced the demands of family and career, Schwarzenegger strove to be an involved and caring father. However, in May 2011, their world was rocked by a startling revelation. Schwarzenegger disclosed a closely guarded secret that had been concealed for years—a hidden child.
On May 16, 2011, The LA Times broke the news that Schwarzenegger was the biological father of a 13-year-old boy named Joseph Baena. Mildred Baena, Joseph’s mother, had been the housekeeper for Schwarzenegger’s household during the time of Joseph’s conception. Mildred had been a loyal employee for two decades and was pregnant with her son while Maria Shriver was expecting her youngest child, Christopher.
Throughout Joseph’s upbringing, his mother maintained the secrecy surrounding his true parentage. Even Schwarzenegger himself remained unaware of his paternity until Joseph reached the age of seven. It was only when Joseph started to bear a striking resemblance to him that Schwarzenegger became aware of the truth.
Reflecting on the revelation, Schwarzenegger shared, “It was a very challenging, surreal, and perplexing experience. I told myself, ‘I must come to terms with this.’
A Ticking Time Bomb
And that’s precisely what Schwarzenegger did. It took seven more years for his family to learn the truth, a revelation that unfolded after Mildred Baena had retired from her role as their housekeeper. The day following his departure as California’s governor, he mustered the courage to disclose the truth to his wife during a marriage counseling session.
Shortly thereafter, Shriver initiated divorce proceedings. Schwarzenegger candidly described the emotional turmoil of revealing this secret to his family in an interview with People Magazine.
“If you had asked me a decade ago, five years ago, even just two years ago, what held the utmost importance in my life, I would have repeated it endlessly—it’s my marriage, it’s my family,” he confessed. “So, the very thing that meant the world to me disintegrated due to my own actions. That is something I will eternally reflect on with profound regret.”
Simultaneously, Joseph was grappling with his own shocking discovery. His mother had kept the truth about his paternity concealed throughout his life. In an interview with Hello Magazine, Mildred recounted her experience upon learning that Schwarzenegger was indeed her son’s father.
“I always knew Arnold was the father, and maybe as Joseph grew older and started resembling him, Arnold might have wondered. However, he never broached the subject with me,” Baena revealed.
As the undeniable resemblance between Joseph and Schwarzenegger became impossible to ignore, Mildred described the moment when she finally confided in Shriver.
“She displayed immense strength. We cried together, and she encouraged me to rise from my knees. We embraced each other, and I assured her it wasn’t Arnie’s fault, emphasizing that it takes two,” Baena recounted.
Joseph’s Story
When the news broke, Mildred tried her best to stay out of the public eye, and she agreed to give one interview only. In the interview with Hello, she spoke about her son’s reaction to the news. She said that when her mother sat Joseph down to tell him the news, he exclaimed, “Cool!” and said he was looking forward to getting to know Schwarzenegger.
Both Mildred and Joseph remained silent on the matter for years. It wasn’t until January of 2022 that Joseph finally broke his silence in an interview with Men’s Health.
Joseph opened up about what his life was like growing up in the suburbs of California. “It was a humble home, and we didn’t have much,” Baena said. He has four siblings on his mother’s side, and he recalled that his childhood was, overall, peaceful and happy.
That is until the news broke of his father’s identity. He said he was in the eighth grade at the time, and he was pulled out of class by his mother. She told him that they had to go home immediately, and she explained that the media had found out about his father. They left on a road trip to Texas to hide from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.
“She was really the only person I had, and I was really the only person that she had,” he said. “No one knew, and everyone wanted the details. We had each other’s backs.”
Even though his first experience making headlines was due to Schwarzenegger, that isn’t what he wants to be known for. As a current real estate agent and aspiring actor, Baena hopes to pave his own path, despite the shadow of his father.
What are your thoughts on Schwarzenegger’s scandal? Share this with your favorite gossip enthusiast who would be eager to learn about what his secret son is currently up to!
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