Joseph Baena’s Complex Relationship with His Half-Siblings: A Family Rift Uncovered
|Joseph Baena was born from an affair that strained Arnold Schwarzenegger’s family relationships. However, Schwarzenegger took responsibility for his actions, embraced Joseph, and the two now share a strong father-son bond.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, niece of former President John F. Kennedy, were married for over 30 years. Maria, an award-winning journalist and author, is the daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver.
The couple enjoyed a long, happy marriage and had four children together. However, their relationship ended in 2011, partly due to revelations involving their longtime maid, who had worked with the family for two decades.
During Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver’s marriage, Arnold had an affair with their household helper, resulting in the birth of Joseph Baena. Maria kept Joseph’s existence a secret from Arnold’s wife and their four children, with the Schwarzenegger family initially believing Joseph and his mother were simply family friends.
As Joseph grew older, his striking resemblance to Arnold became undeniable. When the truth emerged, it caused a major rift in the family. Despite the fallout, Arnold maintained a strong relationship with his children and ex-wife, but Joseph’s half-siblings reportedly distanced themselves from him.
Joseph Baena has expressed a desire to build relationships with his half-siblings, but some have not reciprocated his efforts. While those relationships remain strained, Joseph’s thriving career and strong bond with Arnold Schwarzenegger continue to grow.
Joseph Baena, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, was born on October 2, 1997, and grew up alongside his sister, Jackie Baena. Now 27 years old, Joseph is carving out a successful career. He earned a business degree from Pepperdine University in 2019 and works as a real estate agent for Aria Properties.
Joseph Baena focuses on real estate in West Los Angeles and Silicon Beach while also pursuing passions inspired by his father. Following in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding footsteps, he shares training moments with his father on Instagram.
In addition to real estate and fitness, Joseph is exploring acting, appearing in the sci-fi comedy film The Chariot. Regarding his personal life, he was romantically involved with his college sweetheart, Nicky Dodaj.
Joseph Baena and Nicky Dodaj often showcased their relationship on social media, but by November 2020, reports suggested their romance had faltered. By May 2021, they had removed photos of each other from their profiles, leaving their current status unclear.
As a child, Joseph lived with his mother, Mildred Baena, who worked for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s family in the Pacific Palisades. Over time, Joseph’s resemblance to Arnold became evident, raising Maria Shriver’s suspicions and eventually revealing the truth about his parentage.
Maria Shriver confronted Mildred Baena about her son, and Mildred confessed the affair with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The truth became public in January 2011, leading Maria to separate from Arnold that year. Their divorce was finalized in 2021.
Despite the fallout, Arnold and Maria maintained a cordial relationship to co-parent their children. Arnold’s sons reportedly accepted Joseph Baena, but his daughters seemed less forgiving. They excluded Joseph from sibling appreciation posts and family gatherings, reflecting ongoing tensions.
Joseph Baena was largely unaware of Arnold Schwarzenegger being his father until the affair became public. In a 2017 interview, Arnold acknowledged the complexity of the situation and noted that Joseph understood its gravity, despite the challenges.
Arnold’s daughters, Katherine and Christina, reportedly distanced themselves from Joseph and did not view him as part of the family. In 2019, Katherine did not invite Joseph to her wedding to Chris Pratt. She also excluded him from family gatherings and avoided sharing photos of him on social media, although she frequently posted images with her other siblings.
In 2019, the same year Katherine Schwarzenegger married Chris Pratt, she shared a National Siblings Day tribute on Instagram, featuring throwback photos of her, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher. However, she excluded Joseph Baena from the post, which upset some of her followers.
One follower speculated that Katherine and Christina weren’t ready to accept Joseph as part of the family, viewing him as a “living reminder” of the affair that had torn their family apart. This explanation resonated with some fans, who understood the emotional complexities behind their behavior.
Despite not being invited to his sister Katherine’s wedding, Joseph Baena showed maturity and kindness by leaving congratulatory comments on her wedding photos. He did the same for his other siblings’ social media posts. However, these thoughtful gestures have not been reciprocated by his siblings, leaving the rift within the family unresolved. It’s clear that Joseph has made efforts to reach out and maintain a connection, even though his half-siblings have not yet returned the same warmth.
In October 2023, Joseph Baena showed his support for his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, by sharing a photo of himself holding Arnold’s self-help book, Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life, on his Instagram Stories. He congratulated his father on the amazing book, demonstrating his ongoing affection and respect for Arnold.
As for Patrick and Christopher, while they haven’t publicly commented on their relationship with Joseph, it’s been reported that they spend time together privately. In 2021, Patrick and Joseph were seen working out together, with Joseph’s girlfriend, Nicky, later joining them, suggesting that the brothers have maintained some level of connection outside of the public eye.
The 2021 workout session between Patrick and Joseph Baena was the first time they had been seen together publicly since 2011. Some sources speculated that Patrick and Christopher were beginning to see Joseph as a brother rather than just an old family friend. To avoid causing tension with Maria Shriver or their sisters, the brothers chose to keep their growing bond with Joseph private and off social media. This move reflected their desire to respect the family’s dynamics while reconnecting with their half-brother.
Joseph Baena has not directly addressed his strained relationship with his father’s daughters. However, his behavior on social media suggests that he is making an effort to maintain a connection. He follows all of his half-siblings on social media, which may indicate his desire to stay involved from a distance. Additionally, Arnold Schwarzenegger has spoken positively about Joseph, suggesting that Joseph is doing his best to foster relationships with his family, even if those efforts are not always reciprocated.
When Arnold Schwarzenegger’s infidelity came to light, he not only took responsibility for his actions but also worked to build a strong relationship with his son, Joseph. Over time, they developed a close bond, even being able to joke about everything. However, in the beginning, Joseph felt nervous about connecting with Arnold, as he had spent most of his life with his mother. Despite these initial challenges, their relationship grew stronger as they navigated the complexities of their situation.
Over time, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joseph Baena developed a strong foundation of communication, with Arnold offering his son advice, especially regarding relationships. Joseph felt more comfortable using the “Baena” surname, choosing to forge his own path and identity.
Despite this, Arnold remained incredibly proud of his son. He attended Joseph’s graduation in 2019, showing his support. When asked who he called first with good news, Joseph lovingly mentioned both his mother and father, highlighting the close bond he shares with them.
In May 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger invited Joseph and his other children to the premiere of his show FUBAR. While the actor posed for red carpet photos with his children, Joseph was left to stand alone. A social media user expressed disappointment, commenting that Joseph seemed to be “totally ignored” and avoided by his half-siblings, highlighting the ongoing tension and lack of inclusion in the family dynamic.
A source close to Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed that he and Joseph are “very close,” but that Joseph’s half-siblings don’t share the same affection for him. The insider expressed that it was unfortunate, noting that Joseph is a good person who has been treated by their father the same as his other children. The source emphasized that Joseph’s efforts to bond with his siblings have not been reciprocated, despite Arnold’s equal treatment of all his children.
Despite not receiving the love and support of his siblings, Joseph Baena has had his mother, Mildred Baena, in his corner. While she doesn’t seek the spotlight and prefers to stay out of the public eye, she has occasionally appeared in her son’s social media posts, showing her continued support for him. Mildred has played a crucial role in Joseph’s life, providing him with love and stability amid the challenges with his half-siblings.
Mildred Baena has remained largely out of the spotlight since the public revelation of her affair with Arnold Schwarzenegger. She worked for the Schwarzenegger family from the early 1990s, caring for their home and children. However, after confessing the affair to Maria Shriver, she resigned from her position. Since then, Mildred has kept a low profile, choosing to stay away from media attention while focusing on raising her son, Joseph.
In 2017, Joseph Baena shared a heartfelt congratulatory post on social media, celebrating his mother Mildred’s graduation from culinary school. While Mildred prefers to stay out of the public eye, she has occasionally appeared in her son’s posts, often in the kitchen preparing delicious meals together. These moments showcase her supportive presence in Joseph’s life, despite her generally private nature.