Arnold Schwarzenegger's success story has been an inspiration to many people. From professional bodybuilding to becoming the 38th governor of California, he's certainly pushed himself to the top. However, his seemingly perfect life has also been subject to multiple controversies. Despite his lovable film performances, a lot of his personal issues have painted him in a bad light over the last few years. One of which was an affair with his housekeeper Mildred Baena back in the 90s.
This ended his marriage with award-winning journalist, Maria Shriver who's also a member of the Kennedy family. The two had been married from 1986 to 2017. When news about the affair broke out in 2011, Shriver immediately filed for divorce. But it wasn't until almost a decade later that it was finalized. Despite what sounds like a tough divorce battle, the two have remained good friends. But how about The Terminator star's relationship with their five children and his love child with Baena? Here's what we know.
The Eldest: Katherine Schwarzenegger
Katherine, the eldest of all Arnold's children is an author of positive self-image books, clearly taking from her mother's journalistic talents. Despite not following her father's footsteps in acting, they still have a pretty close relationship and are immensely supportive of each other. Growing up, Katherine would even visit her father on the set of Terminator that she admitted to crying on the premiere of its latest installation, Terminator: Dark Fate because of how proud she was of her dad.
The Commando star's eldest has also been married to Chris Pratt since 2019. The retired bodybuilder has openly expressed his fondness for his son-in-law. Arnold has even gushed about the Guardians of the Galaxy actor, saying how kind he is to his daughter which "is the most important thing" for him as a father.
He said he was also "blown away" that his daughter ended up choosing a guy who is taller and is doing bigger movies than him. Eventually, the in-laws grew closer through their shared love for working out. Arnold revealed that what got him was Chris saying he needed an "inside scoop to the Pumping Iron."
The Executive Producer Daughter: Christina Schwarzenegger
Unlike Katherine, Arnold's second child Christina didn't mind entering the world of film. She didn't get into acting like her father but she's the executive producer of the Netflix original documentary Take Your Pills. The idea for this project was inspired by Christina's personal experience with quitting Adderall. Her mom also co-produced the documentary to show support and raise awareness of the serious effects of Adderall.
Christina began taking Adderall during her first year in high school for her Attention-Deficit Disorder. She was diagnosed when she was five. But this led to addiction during her junior year of college at Georgetown University. She became dependent on the drug, using it to finish college in 2013 and to stay sharp in the competitive post-graduate world. It took her about seven months to quit and get back to normal.
Since then, she began using her platform to promote mental health awareness and continues to join her parents' philanthropic participation in organizations like the Women's Alzheimer's Movement and the Special Olympics. The Predator star is undeniably proud of his second daughter. His Instagram is practically a fan page that doesn't fail to acknowledge every milestone Christina reaches in her career and personal life.
The Actor Son: Patrick Schwarzenegger
Of all the Schwarzenegger siblings, it's Patrick who ended up following his dad's showbiz career. Starting at the age of 10, he already had a small role in The Benchwarmers. He practiced his acting skills throughout his childhood. One of his major appearances on screen was in Ariana Grande's Right There music video when he was 20 years old. In the same year, he landed a minor role in Grown Ups 2. He eventually got a major role alongside Bella Thorne in the 2018 romantic drama film Midnight Sun.
Of course, the Total Recall star couldn't be more proud of his son who also graduated from the Marshall School of Business at the University of South California with a minor in Cinematic Arts in 2016. His graduation became a reunion for his divorced parents. The three were all smiles at the event, showing just how well they've maintained a peaceful and loving relationship despite the controversies they faced in the past as a family.
The Most Lowkey Son: Christopher Schwarzenegger
Christopher is Arnold's youngest son with Maria Shriver. Unlike his other siblings, he's always been away from the limelight. He even has a private Instagram account with a bio that warns against the public. It says, "If I don't know you, don't try to follow me." He prefers to hang out with his family, especially with his dad, in private. Still, there are instances where he just can't escape the curse of his family's fame. At one point, the media would publish stories about his weight just to have something on Arnold's introverted son. Now, that's not cool at all.
The Love Child: Joseph Baena
Joseph Baena was born just a few days after Christopher. This 23-year-old may even be the Schwarzenegger child who takes the most from his dad. Sources say that Joe trains with his dad at Gold's Gym in Los Angeles. The Conan The Barbarian star also wants to bring him into his sports competition, The Arnold Classic Worldwide. It's an intercontinental festival that includes contests for bodybuilding, combat, and similar other athletic tournaments.
As for Joe's relationship with his siblings, he's reportedly close to the boys but not so much with the girls. His sisters ignore him a lot on social media despite him following all of his siblings and liking all their photos. The girls have continued to ignore their dad's post about Joe, leaving it obvious to fans that they indeed haven't fully let their half-brother into the family. Maybe in time, they will. But Arnold's equal attention to his kids already seems to make up for all the issues the family continues to face. What an amazing dad, right?