Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love child Joseph reveals how his dad ‘pumps him up’ to triumph in bodybuilding competitions

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Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Joseph Baena, has talked about how his father has helped him quickly become successful in bodybuilding.

The rising 28-year-old competitor shared how Arnold Schwarzenegger, the 78-year-old actor known for ‘The Terminator,’ has been a mentor and source of support during his training.

Joseph Baena, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s former housekeeper, Mildred Patricia Baena, recently won the INBA Iron Gladiator Classic Physique title. This victory follows a series of wins in Colorado the previous week, where he excelled in several categories, including the Men’s Open Bodybuilding Heavy Weight Class and both Novice competitions.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by individuals who achieve greatness in multiple fields. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a prime example! He absolutely dominated the world of bodybuilding, winning seven Mr. Olympia titles, and then seamlessly transitioned into a hugely successful acting career and even a career in politics. It’s a testament to dedication and the power of reinventing yourself, and he’s rightfully considered one of the best ever in his sport.

Joseph Baena has been working out with his father at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, and Arnold Schwarzenegger has been actively helping him during these training sessions.

In a recent interview with GQ, Baena shared that his father first got him interested in bodybuilding while he was in college, remembering his father giving him a comprehensive bodybuilding guide.

He explained that he started weightlifting after casually reading a book about building bigger biceps and quickly became passionate about it.

Baena shared that his initial interest in health quickly grew into a full-fledged lifestyle. He explained that he became passionate about healthy eating, understanding how the body works, and the effects of training.

Honestly, just thinking about training with my dad… it’s incredible. He’s seriously the best training partner I could ever ask for. I can’t even put it into words, he just pushes me so much! I don’t know what I’d do without him, really.

He added that Schwarzenegger helps keep him disciplined in the gym.

He motivates me and keeps me working hard at the gym. When I’m tired from eating so little, he encourages me to keep going.

In 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly announced that he was the father of a son, Baena, who was 13 years old at the time. The boy was conceived during a brief relationship with Schwarzenegger’s former housekeeper.

The news brought an end to the actor’s 25-year marriage to journalist Maria Shriver, and their divorce was officially completed in 2021.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver have four children together: daughters Katherine, 35, and Christina, 34, and sons Patrick, 36, and Christopher, 28.

On May 10, 2011, the couple announced they were separating, explaining in a joint statement that they were both going through a period of significant change in their personal and professional lives.

After careful consideration and much discussion, we reached this decision as a team.

The former couple announced they had been living separately and were figuring out what their relationship would look like going forward.

They shared that they will continue to co-parent their four children, who remain the most important part of their lives.

Just a week later, Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly confirmed the affair to the Los Angeles Times. 

He said he was sorry for what he did and accepted full blame for the hurt it caused. He also stated that he had apologized to Maria Shriver and their children.

Looking back on that difficult time in his life, the actor confessed he often regretted his past actions and wished he could change them.

Dwelling on mistakes won’t fix things, so it’s important to focus on the future and building strong relationships with his children,” he explained to Men’s Journal in 2017.

He joked that if he could actually be the Terminator, he’d travel back in time and tell his younger self, “Arnold… don’t do it.”

And he noted, ‘You know, it’s always easy to be smart in hindsight. That’s not the way it works.’

As much as the family has tried to come together, it seems Joseph and his half-siblings still aren’t very close. I’ve heard they’re not quite on speaking terms, and it’s a little heartbreaking to see, honestly. It’s like old wounds haven’t fully healed, and it’s hard for everyone involved.

At the premiere of season two of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s show, FUBAR, in 2024, it was clear that there was distance between him and his ex-wife, Maria Shriver. He posed for photos first with her four children, and then separately with their son, Joseph.

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2026-04-14 22:34