Mildred Baena became pregnant with Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph, while the star was married to Maria Shriver.
It wasn’t until 2011 that Joseph learned who his father was when his grandmother told him.
Joseph and his siblings were raised about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
Baena speaks proudly of his upbringing, saying “It was a humble home, and we didn’t have much.”
Joseph’s family faced a tremendous amount of scrutiny, understandably, once news broke about Schwarzenegger being his father.
That’s when Joseph and his mother moved North of Los Angeles to escape the chaos.
Although news of his unknown son shook up Schwarzenegger’s family life and made headlines, he didn’t turn away from Joseph.
Instead, Schwarzenegger reached out to Joseph and the two quickly formed a close bond.
Joseph Baena, now in his mid-twenties, attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and Schwarzenegger was there to support him on graduation day.
All financial support from his dad was terminated after he graduated.
Baena decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry but struggled to land acting roles and follow in his famous dad’s rather large footsteps.
Instead, Baena shifted gears and earned his real estate licence. Like his famous father, he also got into bodybuilding.
It is estimated that the famous actor’s net worth is in the ballpark of $1 billion, according to Forbes.
Schwarzenegger grew his fortune by investing in stocks from money earned acting and his bodybuilding business.
Schwarzenegger bought Joseph and his mother a home after learning that Joseph was his biological son.
It worked out well, as Joseph could commute to the Pepperdine campus in coastal Los Angeles while living rent-free at home.
Thankfully, Schwarzenegger paid for his son’s college tuition, for which Joseph is very grateful. But after that, his father cut him off financially.
Baena says that he holds no grudges about his father ending financial support.
Growing up, Baena was happy being raised by his Guatemalan family and learning his heritage.
Baena celebrated his family’s culture through music and food, oblivious to his famous father.
Baena very vividly remembers the moment in eighth grade when his mother pulled him from class.
She was preparing him for the shock of everyone learning who his father was.
Baena’s life went on as his dad raked in millions endorsing video games and lending his voice to animated characters.
Joseph still aspires to act, in his father’s shadow.
He supports himself working as a real estate agent
Baena’s career and life paths are his own to travel, free from needing his father’s wealth, name, and fame to succeed.
Working as a real estate agent, Baena wants to make both of his parents proud.
Surprisingly Baena has not taken on his famous dad’s last name, partially in support of his hard-working mother.
“Well, I already have a last name…” he says with pride.
Joseph isn’t the only famous kid that’s been cut off
While Baena’s story is popular for who his dad is, it is by far means a unique one.
Many celebrities keep their massive fortunes to themselves, not sharing with family members.
Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal is also worth a reported $400 million dollars, yet shares almost none of it with his six children.
O’Neal maintains his kids must earn every penny.
He’s ready to earn his own fame and fortune
Coming from humble beginnings, Baena is ready to earn his fame and fortune on his own merit.
Actor Harrison Ford has one son that is a renowned chef, and another son in a rock band.
Real estate was something to learn while Baena struggled to find steady income.
It was through wanting to do well in his studies, that real estate grew on him.
A media frenzy ensued while Baena and his family were piecing their lives together.
The shocking revelation happened while his dad was host of the television show Celebrity Apprentice.
Baena and other more famous siblings were protected from the flames of the frenzy.
Networks like CNN, shows like TMZ, and even Oprah Winfrey herself, all fought not-so behind the scenes.
All pursuing exclusive interviews with any family member willing to spill the beans.
Celebrities have been practicing tough love with their offspring for years.
Today, celebs would rather lend their bank accounts to business ventures and education rather than just handing out money.
While staying with relatives, Joseph says his life transformed before his eyes.
Joseph says he relied on his mom for support and guidance, “She was really the only person I had.”
Joseph’s mom Mildred separated and divorced her husband Rogelio, shortly after Joseph’s birth.
Her ex-husband Rogelio Baena spoke to a Columbian magazine, claiming Joseph’s birth documents were falsified by Schwarzenegger and that he planned to sue. Thankfully, that seems to be water under the bridge today.
Given his father’s gigantic celebrity shining brightly all over Hollywood, Joseph never gave up on his pursuit of an acting career.
Baena knows he has a mountain to climb.
Baena tried his first leading role in low-budget action films called Lava and Encounters.
Joseph believes he has to start somewhere and is unfazed by acting in such nameless productions.
Joseph drew on the experiences his dad went through to begin his career.
Joseph knows people mocked his dad’s accent, constantly doubting his abilities as a legitimate Hollywood actor.
Although he has incredible genes, Joseph admits that athleticism didn’t come naturally to him at first.
He acknowledges being out of shape and getting cut from the basketball and soccer teams.
It was not until a friend of his in high school, encouraged Joseph to join the swimming team.
Swimming got Baena into better physical shape and piqued his interest in health and fitness.
Baena already had the natural upper body strength and long arms for swimming success.
He developed a new athletic frame and along with it came his new found confidence.
Today, Joseph is a successful realtor in the northern California area.
Joseph is extremely proud of his mother who raised him. Mildred graduated culinary school becoming a chef.
After Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reported withdrawal of support for his son Joseph Baena an exciting development emerged. Baena delivered his dad’s iconic line, “I’ll be back,” from the Terminator franchise in his movie Called to Duty.
In the film, Baena references the line to his fellow pilots by calling it “…one of the greatest lines of all time.”
Baena The Action Star
Joseph Baena’s breakthrough in the action genre arrives with his role in Called to Duty.
Released in July 2023, the film marks Baena’s entry into the genre that his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, helped popularize.
In Called to Duty, Joseph Baena stars as a fighter pilot, drawing parallels to the premise of Top Gun.
Baena underwent intense training for the film, showcasing his impressive physique as he embraced the role of a skilled and dedicated pilot.
Despite Arnold Schwarzenegger having a positive relationship with all his children, those from his marriage to Maria Shriver have not fully embraced Joseph as their brother.
It is widely believed that it is primarily because he was the result of his father’s extramarital affair.
The strained relationship between Arnold Schwarzenegger’s children from his first marriage and Joseph Baena became apparent when Baena walked the red carpet alone.
During Schwarzenegger’s FUBAR premiere, Baena greeted fans and the press alone while his stepsisters arrived with their significant others, forming a united front as Arnold’s entourage of support.
Baena Gave FUBAR “2 thumbs up!”
Baena remained unfazed by his half-siblings’ slight, demonstrating support through social media.
Unashamedly and extremely proudly, he posted photos and quotes praising his dad’s work, saying, “I give FUBAR a 2 thumbs up!”
Baena and his dad share a strong bond. Baena remained for the after-party of FUBAR while his siblings went home.
Schwarzenegger’s financial support of Joseph and providing a house for Mildred, Joseph’s mom, seemed to put a further strain on Baena’s already unstable relationship with his stepfamily.
Despite the tension between Schwarzenegger’s children with Maria and Joseph, he lives a happy, bitterness-free life and has moved on.
Joseph and Schwarzenegger’s son Patrick, from his marriage to Shriver, have been seen hanging out, but Patrick does not follow Joseph on social media.
As Joseph prepares to establish his mark in the Hollywood action scene, he provides more evidence of his close relationship with Arnold.
Baena often receives helpful advice from his dad, but the most memorable is after Schwarzenegger said, “You gotta put the reps in. It’s practice, practice, practice!”
