Arnold Schwarzenegger Jokes About Maria Shriver Divorce Settlement

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More than 14 years later, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver‘s divorce is still making headlines.

Arnold Schwarzenegger jokingly referenced his 2011 split from former CBS Morning News anchor Maria Shriver – whose divorce became final in 2021 – while attending the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony for journalist Chris Wallace on September 18th.

Arnold started his speech by saying he’s had a lot of experience with journalists – he’s been interviewed by countless reporters, and he was even married to one.

I’ve been following this situation closely, and honestly, what really struck me about what the 78-year-old said is how bluntly he pointed out the key difference between Chris and Maria – Chris, at least, hasn’t cost him half his fortune. It’s a pretty direct way of putting it, but it really highlights where he stands.

TopMob News has reached out to Maria’s rep for comment but hasn’t heard back.

But this was not the first time Arnold joked about alimony in his divorce from Maria, 69.

The actor recently said his 1996 movie, *Jingle All the Way*, is a Christmas classic. He joked that he knows it’s still popular because his ex-wife lets him know when she receives residual checks for it each December.

Maria initially struggled after learning about Arnold’s affair with their housekeeper, Mildred Baena, and the birth of their son, Joseph Baena, who is now 27. However, she and Arnold have since become friendly with each other.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver recently came together again for their son Patrick Schwarzenegger’s wedding to Abby Champion. Their other children – Katherine, 35, Christina, 34, and Christopher, 27 – were also there to celebrate.

During his appearance on *Jimmy Kimmel Live* on September 17th, Rob Lowe remembered Arnold saying at the wedding, ‘It’s good to see everybody here. It’s a wonderful day.’ He also noted Patrick’s success with *The White Lotus*.

Maria is happy and curious to see what the future holds for Patrick and their family.

In a recent Instagram post on September 18th, she wrote to her youngest son, wishing him well as he starts a new chapter. She expressed her hope that his life will be filled with love, exciting experiences, good friends, meaningful work, family, and faith, and that the year ahead will bring him continued blessings.

The author of *I Am Maria* shared a heartfelt message, saying, “I feel so lucky to be your mother. I love you very much, and I truly appreciate you always making me feel included and sharing your life with me.”

For a complete guide to the Schwarzenegger family tree, read on.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s children – Katherine, Christina, Patrick, Chris, and Joseph – are all grown up, so he’s now enjoying being a grandfather! Katherine and her husband, Chris Pratt, have three children – Lyla, Eloise, and Ford – and Arnold loves spending time with them. He told Jimmy Kimmel in 2022 that being a grandfather is easy: his grandkids visit, he plays with them for a couple of hours, and then they go home!

Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger married in 1986 but divorced in 2011 after Maria discovered Arnold had a child with another woman. Their son-in-law, actor Chris Pratt, recently praised how they co-parented their four children despite the challenges and public attention. In a May 2024 interview with *Today*, Pratt expressed admiration for how well-adjusted their children are, especially considering the wealth and privilege often associated with Hollywood families. He wants to learn from Shriver’s parenting approach, specifically how she kept her children grounded and accountable. Pratt shared that Shriver emphasizes good manners, personal responsibility, and faith, all of which he hopes to incorporate into raising his own children.

Born in 1993, Patrick Schwarzenegger is the eldest son of Arnold and Maria Schwarzenegger. While he acknowledges the advantages of having famous parents, he also credits his brother-in-law, Chris, with helping him land a role in the Amazon Prime Video series *The Terminal List*. Patrick recalled Chris advising him to gain 20 pounds and undergo tactical training to fully embody the character of Donny Mitchell. He described training with real Navy SEALs as a “dream come true.”

Since then, Patrick has continued to build his acting career, appearing as Saxon Ratliff in *The White Lotus* and portraying Tim Tebow in FX’s *American Sports Story*. Despite his family connections, he emphasizes his dedication to the craft, noting he’s spent ten years taking acting classes and tirelessly preparing for roles. He’s aware some believe he only gets opportunities because of his father, but points to countless auditions and years of hard work.

In December 2023, Patrick proposed to model Abby Champion.

Katherine Schwarzenegger is the oldest of Arnold and Maria Schwarzenegger’s children, born in 1989. She’s now a mother herself, having married Chris Pratt in 2019 after a year of dating. They have three children together: daughter Lyla, born in 2020, Eloise, born in 2022, and son Ford, born in 2024. Katherine has often spoken about how much she always wanted to be a mother, saying that becoming one felt like everything in her life had prepared her for that moment. Chris also has a son, Jack, from his previous marriage to Anna Faris, born in 2012.

Chris Pratt prioritizes family above all else. However, he was hurt by the negative reaction he received in 2021 after publicly praising his current wife, Katherine, for having a healthy daughter. Some people online found the post insensitive, given that his son with his ex-wife, Anna, was born prematurely.

In a 2022 interview with *Men’s Health*, Pratt explained that articles criticized him for seemingly comparing his children. He said he was deeply upset, worrying about how his son, who was nine at the time, would one day read those comments. He felt it was unfair that something positive in his life caused pain to those close to him, and he admitted to crying over the situation.

Jack, the son of Anna and Chris, was born prematurely in August 2012 and needed care in the NICU.

The actress fondly remembers the day she finally brought her son, Jack, home. The early years were challenging, filled with frequent doctor visits, five surgeries, and physical therapy, but also with a lot of joy – she describes Jack as the most adorable child she could have ever hoped for.

Now a teenager, Jack still comes to his parents for advice. The actress shared with TopMob in March 2025 that, like many parents, she often wonders if she’s doing a good job raising her children. When Jack seeks her guidance, it reassures her that she’s on the right track, and she feels very proud of him.

 

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired families that embrace those sweet sibling moments! It feels like just yesterday Katherine and Chris Schwarzenegger Pratt welcomed their daughter, Lyla Maria, in August 2020 – they chose Maria as her middle name to honor Katherine’s mom, which I think is a lovely touch. Chris is understandably private about family life, but he’s shared how wonderfully Jack has stepped into the role of big brother. He told *Entertainment Tonight* that Jack is incredibly patient with Lyla, even when she tries to grab his glasses! It’s just so heartwarming to see those bonds forming, and it reminds us all of the simple joys of family life.

In March 2022, Chris and Katherine Pratt welcomed their daughter, Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt, into the family.

Actor Jason Bateman, known as a proud ‘girl dad,’ shared in June 2022 that his oldest daughter is doing great with her new role as a big sister. Initially, she was a little unsure about the baby, wanting to know what was going on and wanting to be the center of attention. Now, she loves her little sister, constantly wanting to hold her and being very affectionate. Bateman says these moments are what truly matter in life and that he feels incredibly grateful and happy.

Katherine and Chris Pratt had a baby boy, Ford Fitzgerald Schwarzenegger Pratt, on November 8, 2024. A few days later, they shared on Instagram that both mom and baby are healthy and Ford’s siblings are excited to meet him. The couple expressed feeling incredibly lucky and thankful.

Christopher Schwarzenegger, the youngest son of Arnold and Maria Schwarzenegger, has largely lived a private life since his birth in 1997. He’s involved with the Special Olympics Founder’s Council as Vice Chair and works as Director of Development at Indus Valley Media. He previously gained experience at Malka, a creative content agency, and with sports psychologist Trevor Moawad. Christopher is a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in psychology.

His sister, Christina Schwarzenegger, born in 1991, is an executive producer. She’s known for her work on documentaries like *Take Your Pills* (2018) and its follow-up, *Take Your Pills: Xanax* (2022).

Joseph Baena is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, born from an affair with his housekeeper, Mildred Patricia Baena, in 1997. Arnold didn’t discover he was Joseph’s father until years later. In his 2023 documentary, *Arnold*, he explained that he initially didn’t suspect paternity, but as Joseph grew older, it became increasingly obvious. He then worried about keeping the situation a secret.

Arnold has described the affair as a significant mistake, but emphasizes his pride in Joseph. He stated he wants Joseph to feel loved and accepted, and is happy with the person he has become.

Like his father, Joseph is pursuing a career in acting and is dedicated to fitness. He also works in real estate and recently competed on *Dancing With the Stars*.

Chris and Anna got married in 2009, but they separated after eight years. Anna, who was previously married to Ben Indra, suggested that her relationship with Chris wasn’t as ideal as it appeared to others.

On her podcast, *Unqualified*, she explained that while her relationship with Ben felt more open, she and Chris both maintained a perfect image, even with friends and family.

Now married to cinematographer Michael Barrett and stepmother to his two children, Anna also hinted that being with partners in the same acting profession didn’t help. She shared that she and her ex-husbands didn’t manage competitiveness well, and she personally struggled with pride and vulnerability. She hopes she’s learned from those experiences.

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2025-09-20 01:18