Joseph, the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mildred Baena, who previously served as the Schwarzenegger family’s housekeeper, has shared insights into his relationship with his father. Arnold’s affair with Mildred during his marriage to Maria Shriver became public knowledge, and the actor later reflected on the impact of his actions on his family in a Netflix documentary.

Although Arnold assisted in funding Joseph’s college education, financial support ceased after graduation. Joseph, now 26, spoke on the Unwaxed Podcast about the shift in his life. He expressed gratitude for his father’s help during college but acknowledged the abrupt shift after graduation, saying, “Right when college was done, it was just like, ‘You go. You’re on your own.’ I was like, ‘Oh, s**t’.”

To support himself, Joseph initially took a different career path and interned at a Los Angeles realty firm called ARIA Properties. Despite not initially landing acting roles and needing a stable income, Joseph found satisfaction in real estate work. “I enjoyed it and was like, ‘Oh, I think I can do this pretty well.’ So, I got my license,” he shared on the podcast.

Joseph discovered Arnold was his father during high school, recalling the moment vividly when his mother informed him due to the news spreading. Despite the complexities of his family history and the financial independence he gained, Joseph has chosen not to adopt the Schwarzenegger name, emphasizing that he already has a last name he is comfortable with.

This glimpse into Joseph’s life highlights his journey of self-discovery, financial independence, and choosing his own path despite the challenges presented by his family history.