10 Years After Their Split, Arnold Schwarzenegger & Maria Shriver's Divorce Becomes Official

Dec 29, 2021 by apost team

Arnold Schwarzenneger has accomplished quite a lot in his life, as he has found success in several industries. He is most known for his strong form and fit physique, which have both helped him compete as a professional bodybuilder. His iconic look, along with his well-recognized accent and charm, have also helped him land several roles in the acting industry, most famously as the title character in "The Terminator" film series.

Born on July 30, 1947, Schwarzenegger grew up in Austria, where he was an average student but showed enthusiasm toward learning. He had always been a huge sports lover and found a real passion for weight lifting and bodybuilding. As he entered his teen years, he began to focus on this skill seriously. 

Schwarzenegger's dedication to everything he put his mind to paid off in both his time as a bodybuilder and as an actor. He also served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011, and as of 2021, he is still the state's most recent Republican governor.

While his professional life has always been something to celebrate, his personal life has faced a lot of turbulence. His marriage to Maria Shriver ended very publicly after it was revealed that Schwarzenegger had been unfaithful to Shriver and had fathered a child with their housekeeper of over 20 years. 

After being separated for over 10 years, TMZ reported that the 74-year-old actor and the 66-year-old journalist finalized their divorce on Tuesday, December 28.

Shriver was used to the spotlight well before knowing Schwarzenegger. She is the niece of former United States President John. F. Kennedy. This means all her children are members of the Kennedy family tree, giving them a big name to live up to. She has done a lot with her life so far, including becoming a journalist, author and founder of the nonprofit organization The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement. 

Together they have four children: Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher. The family resided in Los Angeles, California. However, Schwarzenegger and Shriver separated in May 2011 after finding out that the former had been unfaithful. All of their kids were born in Los Angeles, California, receiving dual Austrian-American citizenship thanks to their natural-born status and their father’s. 

Unfortunately, complications arose with Schwarzenegger’s and Shriver’s marriage when it was revealed in 2011 that he had been unfaithful to her, leading the couple to file for separation in 2011. It was revealed that Schwarzenegger had an affair with the couple's housekeeper of more than 20 years, Mildred Patricia Baena, and had fathered a son, Joseph Baena, now 24. Moreover, nine.com.au reported that Joseph had been born a mere few days before Shriver and Schwarzenegger's fourth child, Christopher. 

The extremely pubic nature of the marriage's end and the shock of the affair took a toll on both Schwarzenegger and Shriver. The former California governor addressed the scandal at the time and released a statement: "There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry."

apost.com

While the fallout was quite public, both parents have put their children first and found a way to co-parent as harmoniously as possible. They also celebrated the fact that they are grandparents after their daughter Katherine welcomed daughter Lyla with her husband Christ Pratt in 2020. 

After his separation from Shriver in 2010, Schwarzenegger has since gone on to find love once again. According to The Daily Mail, Schwarzennegger and Heather Milligan have been together since 2015. The couple has been seen out and about together since then, enjoying their time together.

According to The Sun, Milligan was born on Nov. 9, 1947, making her 47 years old. She is a physical therapist with her own practice called Elite Ortho Sport Physical Therapy in Los Angeles, where she treats professional athletes with sports injuries. The Sun reported that Milligan has also participated in Schwarzenegger's strength competition called the Arnold Strongman Classic by treating some of the participants.

According to the Owens Recovery Science Podcast, Milligan is a graduate of Texas Woman's University's physical therapy program in Dallas, Texas, and also has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. On top of that, Milligan is also a board-certified specialist in orthopedics and sports and has a certification in orthopedic manual therapy.

It's clear that both Schwarzenegger and Milligan's love and devotion to sports and health is something they share in common, as well as their dedication to one another. The pair have kept their relationship pretty under wraps and don't share too much of their lives together on social media. In fact, January 2020 was the last time Milligan posted about Schwarzenegger on her Instagram by resharing a picture he previously posted. 

What do you think about the end of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver's marriage? Tell us your thoughts, and be sure to pass this news on to others as well.