Arnold Schwarzenegger’s playful jabs about his divorce have reignited interest more than a decade after his split from Maria Shriver. During the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on September 18, the actor humorously referenced his 2011 divorce while celebrating journalist Chris Wallace’s star, highlighting the ongoing public fascination with Schwarzenegger’s past relationship and his entertaining takes on it.
Lighthearted Remarks on a Not-So-Light Topic
At Chris Wallace’s Walk of Fame tribute, Arnold Schwarzenegger cracked jokes about his familiarity with journalists, noting his unique perspective of having been married to one. The 78-year-old remarked,
“I know a lot about journalists,”
followed by,
“I’ve been interviewed by thousands and thousands of journalists. But not only that, I was also married to a journalist.”
He then quipped,
“The only difference between Chris and Maria is that Chris has never taken half my money.”
This was not Schwarzenegger’s first light-hearted comment regarding the financial aspects of his divorce. In a May event promoting the holiday film Jingle All the Way, Schwarzenegger jested,
“They play it the whole month of December. I know because my ex-wife calls me about the residual.”
A Complicated History That Has Evolved With Time
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver’s separation was particularly difficult for Maria, especially after the revelation of Arnold’s long-term affair with their family housekeeper Mildred Baena, which resulted in a son, Joseph Baena. Maria experienced emotional turmoil upon learning about Joseph, now 27 years old. However, over time, the former couple has fostered a more amicable relationship.
This progression was evident in their recent reunion at their son Patrick Schwarzenegger’s wedding to Abby Champion. The occasion brought together Arnold, Maria, and their children Katherine, Christina, and Christopher, showcasing a united family despite the past challenges.
Rob Lowe, a wedding guest, reflected on the event and Arnold’s speech, saying,
“It’s good to see everybody here,”
and described the day as
“a wonderful day. And Patrick is killing it now with The White Lotus.”
Maria Shriver’s Role as Co-Parent and Matriarch
Maria Shriver, married to Arnold in 1986 and filing for divorce in 2011 after the affair came to light, has been praised for her approach to raising their four children alongside Arnold. Actor Chris Pratt, who is married to the couple’s eldest daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger, applauded Maria’s parenting style in an interview, saying,
“She and Arnold raised four amazing kids, and that’s not always an easy thing to do.”
Chris Pratt went further to express admiration for Maria’s emphasis on discipline, faith, and manners, explaining,
“I think she holds them accountable. When Maria walks in the room, you stand up. She’s big on manners, and she’s big on accountability, and she’s deeply rooted in her faith. These are all things that I definitely want to take and implement in the rearing of our children.”
Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Journey From Son to Husband
Born in 1993, Patrick Schwarzenegger is the eldest son of Arnold and Maria. His acting career demonstrates his commitment to his craft, impressively featuring roles such as Donny Mitchell on Amazon Prime Video’s The Terminal List, where he underwent rigorous physical training.
Patrick credited his brother-in-law Chris Pratt with encouraging him to fully immerse in the role, recalling,
“I remember when Chris said, ‘Hey you know there’s this young role, Donny Mitchell, you’ll be the youngest in the platoon,’”
and described the preparation as a dream experience:
“I need you to gain 20 pounds and start tactical training, and know how they move, the body language, all this stuff.”
Patrick also took on significant roles such as Saxon Ratliff on HBO’s The White Lotus and portrayed Tim Tebow in FX’s American Sports Story. Despite his family connections, he emphasizes the dedication behind his success, recalling in 2025,
“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is. They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”
Off-screen, Patrick is embarking on a new chapter, having proposed to model Abby Champion in December 2023.
Katherine Schwarzenegger and Her Expanding Family
Katherine Schwarzenegger, born in 1989 as the eldest of Arnold and Maria’s children, has become a prominent author and mother. She married Chris Pratt in 2019 after a year of dating. Their family has since grown with three children: daughter Lyla Marie Schwarzenegger Pratt born in August 2020, daughter Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt in March 2022, and son Ford Fitzgerald Schwarzenegger Pratt in November 2024.
Katherine shared her joy in motherhood in an article for her mother Maria’s website, writing,
“When I became a mother, I felt like everything in my life had led me right to that baby being put on my chest, and it was perfect. Mom is the title I have always wanted and the role that I have looked forward to for as long as I can remember.”
The family also includes a bonus son, Jack Pratt, Chris’s child from his previous marriage to actress Anna Faris.
Chris Pratt on Family and Public Reactions
Chris Pratt places great importance on family but has faced criticism for public remarks about his children. In 2021, he received backlash after praising Katherine on Instagram for giving him a “gorgeous healthy daughter,” which some interpreted as insensitive toward his son Jack, who was born prematurely.
Reflecting on the episode, Pratt told Men’s Health,
“A bunch of articles came out and said, ‘That’s so cringeworthy. I can’t believe Chris Pratt would thank her for a healthy daughter when his first child was born premature. That’s such a dig at his ex-wife.’ I’m like, That is f–ked up. My son’s gonna read that one day. He’s 9. And it’s etched in digital stone. It really f–king bothered me, dude. I cried about it. I was like, I hate that these blessings in my life are—to the people close to me—a real burden.”
Anna Faris Shares Her Experience Post-Divorce
After eight years of marriage, Anna Faris and Chris Pratt ended their relationship. Faris has described the complexities of maintaining positive dynamics post-divorce, especially in the entertainment industry. Discussing her past relationships on her podcast, she noted,
“I’m sure things were more transparent with my relationship with Ben, but with Chris, I think that we both protected that imagery even within our close circles.”
She further reflected on the challenges of competing within the same profession, saying, “My two other marriages were with actors, and I don’t think we did a great job of eliminating competitiveness—or at least I didn’t. Being a proud person
