Where it All Began
In 1986, Arnold married Maria Shriver, with whom he had four children — Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher. In May 2011, the Golden Globe winner disclosed that he had fathered Joseph with Mildred. She was the family’s housekeeper, and during an affair, she fell pregnant.
Joseph was born in 1997, the same year as Arnold and Maria Shriver’s youngest son, Christopher. Arnold and Maria publicly separated later that same month. Their legal separation was finalized 10 years later, in December 2021. The film producer is appreciative of his relationship with Joseph despite the dissolution of his marriage.
Birth and Early Childhood
On October 2nd, 1997, Los Angeles witnessed the birth of Joseph Baena. Despite the relentless bustling of Los Angeles, which Joseph called home for his early years, he had a quiet childhood.
Joseph’s mother, Mildred, was a housekeeper who provided a stable home environment. Joseph spent his formative years immersed in a world of normalcy, completely unaware of his heritage.
Family Background
Community and simplicity best describe his early years, surrounded by a close family unit, playing sports, and being outside. Mildred played an important part in shaping Joseph’s early life through her emotional support and unbreakable attachment to his welfare.
While Rogelio, Mildred’s husband, left her when Joseph was very young, she raised him with his four other siblings. She instilled in all of her kids a Latin American cultural context that embraced strong Guatemalan traditions.
Discovering His Heritage
Until the age of 13, Joseph was unaware that his real parentage was that of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mildred believed that by not telling him, she was protecting him. But, in 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly acknowledged Joseph as his child.
Naturally, this created a frenzy in the media. Despite the intense public scrutiny, Joseph conducted himself with maturity. He quickly adapted to his newfound identity as the public revelation enabled him to develop a closer bond with his father.
Elementary and High School Years
During Joseph’s elementary and high school years, he was enrolled in several local Los Angeles schools, including Frontier High School. His inquisitive nature contributed to his early success in mathematics and history.
Joseph’s diverse interests, commitment, diligence, and active participation in swimming lay the necessary framework for his successful and varied educational pursuits.
College Life
As a student at Pepperdine University, he majored in Business Administration. There, Joseph received comprehensive coursework with a particular focus on Entrepreneurship. This gave him the academic knowledge that he needed to pursue his competencies.
Joseph advanced his skills and knowledge of business concepts, which he has used in his career. He has not used the advantage of having a famous, rich father to get further in life. He’s put in the effort and grit needed to achieve his goals and dreams.
Extracurricular Activities and Sports
Joseph took up his love of exercise, sports, and bodybuilding during his time at Pepperdine University. However, unlike his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joseph doesn’t have the same motivation to enter physique competitions.
Joseph still enjoys going to the gym, playing sports, and staying active in general. All he wants is to keep fit and aim for a happy, balanced life.
Early Career Aspirations
While Joseph’s career aspirations are multifaceted and influenced by Arnold, he pursued acting without using his famous father’s name. He also developed a love for bodybuilding without a desire to compete. And, impressively, he’s successfully pursued a career in real estate. Joseph’s acting career began at college. With the help of an acting coach, he has been able to develop his acting skills further.
Upon graduating from college, he began an internship at a real estate company to help pay the bills. He developed a passion for property and decided to pursue it as his career. Joseph has set the stage for his future endeavors through his natural inclination towards pursuits that require perseverance and passion.
Training Regimen
Joseph’s intense and well-crafted workout sessions usually last several hours in the gym. Each session focuses on different sets of muscles to guarantee evenly distributed growth. Joseph’s workout routine consists of six days per week of weightlifting with one day of active rest.
Active rest includes a hike or some form of cardio. While there are certainly similarities to his father’s legendary workout routines, Joseph has adopted a workout routine to suit his objectives. He combines an understanding of contemporary fitness with traditional wisdom.
Diet and Nutrition
Joseph’s diet is high in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs to support his workouts and muscle development. This diet also complements his intensive training program, similar to his father’s.
Joseph prefers whole foods, lean proteins, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates. He avoids processed foods and high-sugar options when possible. He customizes his nutrition plans based on his bodybuilding goals and adjusts his diet based on his training and body composition.
Fitness Modeling
Joseph has a long list of career ventures, including fitness modeling. Through collaborations with significant fitness brands, he has utilized his desirable physique to secure features and magazine covers.
His work in fitness modeling has allowed him the platform to grow his influence and visibility on social media, reaching a wider audience in the fitness world.
Early Steps in Real Estate
Upon graduating from Pepperdine University, Schwarzenegger cut financial support for Joseph, and he needed to find a job to support himself financially, as acting roles were infrequent.
He soon began an internship at a real estate company that not only provided him with an income but also a viable career option.
Future Ambitions in Real Estate
Joseph obtained his real estate license and began his property management career as an agent for Aria Properties in West Los Angeles and Silicon Beach. He describes himself as “not your average realtor” and prides himself on personalized attention for his clients.
He is confident that he will continue to gain experience in real estate, which will complement his acting career. It seems like nothing will stop this young man from traveling the path he’s on.
Initial Foray into Acting
Joseph’s acting dreams debuted with tryouts for smaller roles, echoing the original path his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, took. As a newbie in show business, Joseph found it necessary to work on defining his own identity. Of course, he still bears the weight of his father’s image. While working on emerging into the world of acting, Joseph’s minor roles provided experience and visibility to begin his career.
Starting in smaller roles helped him to polish his talent and develop confidence. Joseph is well aware that as the son of Schwarzenegger, the shadow of his father is enormous, but he doesn’t look to avoid his father. Instead, Joseph hopes to use Schwarzenegger’s journey as inspiration to try to make it on his own in Hollywood.
Notable Acting Roles
Joseph has taken on several notable roles that have highlighted his skills and potential, such as a shot-by-shot remake of Terminator 2. He has received commendations from audiences and critics after his appearances in independent films and television projects.
Through these roles, he has had the opportunity to play different characters and show his versatility as an actor. Additionally, he has been able to grow as an actor through the roles he has taken on and work on improving his skills.
Future Projects
Joseph continues to contemplate his array of future plans. In fact, Joseph is due to feature in a number of forthcoming movies that could signal a significant career trajectory in the movie industry.
Joseph’s ambition extends beyond the mainstream movie genre. He hopes for future roles in action films and dramatic works that challenge his style. This path determines that Joseph will likely forge his own long-term acting future, regardless of any past relationship with his famous father.
Opposite Ends
After graduating from Pepperdine University, Joseph wanted to offer fellow graduates a sense of community while learning about different career paths. Opposite Ends consists of engaging interviews with experts in a particular field, offering insights and wisdom to listeners. It offers Joseph an alternative way to interact with his audience beyond social media by showing a deeper side of himself.
He opens up about his personal life and career and learns from experts in their field. Joseph has demonstrated that he is a thoughtful and engaging host through his interviews on Opposite Ends. He is able to move between subjects with ease and prides himself on being relaxed and authentic during his interviews. His podcast allows him to establish his own identity not connected to his father.
Net Worth
Joseph has accumulated a notable sum of money, estimated to range between $1 million to $3 million. His money is comes from the different directions he’s taken in his career. From acting to bodybuilding to real estate, his professional earnings reflect his diverse interests and talents.
A sizable chunk of his financial income comes from fitness modeling for big-name brands, acting roles, and real estate sales commissions. With a variety of earnings coming in, Joseph Baena’s net worth is looking healthier and more stable, providing him with financial security as he explores different career and investment pursuits.
Relationship With Schwarzenegger
Joseph Baena’s relationship with his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has changed a lot over the years. The relationship has evolved from its initial relatively private, low-key bond to one that’s much more public and displays respect and affection for one another.
Schwarzenneger has been a mentor to Joseph — providing career advice and support during his early career work. They have a lot of shared interests, and it’s an inspiring father-son relationship overall.