In a recent honest interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted that while he still loves his ex-wife Maria Shriver, he doesn’t miss being married to her.
The American politician and actor, 75, ended his marriage to journalist Shriver, 67, in 2011 after it became public knowledge that he had fathered Joseph Baena, now 25 years old, with Mildred Baena, a housekeeper.
After settling their divorce in 2021, the couple established a solid co-parenting arrangement for the benefit of their four children.
Asked if he missed being married, the Hollywood legend said: ‘No. [The divorce] was very, very difficult in the beginning. Eventually, you move on. I have a wonderful girlfriend, [physical therapist] Heather Milligan, who is very successful. I’m really proud of her, and I love her.
‘Expressing his enduring admiration for his former wife of 25 years, he added: ‘At the same time, I love my wife. She and I are really good friends and very close, and we are very proud of the way we raised our kids. Even though we had this drama, we did Easter together, Mother’s Day together, the Christmases together, all birthdays — everything together.
‘If there’s Oscars for how to handle divorce, Maria and I should get it for having the least amount of impact on the kids. The sweetness and kindness you see in them, that’s from my wife. The discipline and work ethic is from me.’
In addition, the celebrity said he works out every day in addition to his demanding performing schedule and has no intentions to retire, adding he intends to “stay on this side of the grass” and “live forever.”
Nearly nine years after they initially met, Shriver and Schwarzenegger got married in 1986. Their divorce was finally finalized in 2021 after they separated in 2011.
Just a few days after Shriver gave birth to the couple’s fourth child, Christopher, Joseph Baena was born on October 2, 1997.
The couple did not have a prenup, but according to TMZ at the time, ‘there was never any real custody beef’, and ‘they both quickly agreed on joint custody.’. They had an estimated $400 million at the time of their separation.