'I Used to Be Chubby in High School': Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son Shares Shocking Before-and-After Transformation

A shirtless childhood photo stops Joseph Baena in his tracks—and reminds fans that even Arnold’s son had to start somewhere.

On July 15, 2025, Joseph Baena shared an Instagram reel where he combined humor and a throwback childhood picture to reveal a deeply personal truth.

In the reel, the actor and fitness model lies down on a couch, with the text "Kind of tired, might skip the gym today" overimposed on the screen. The video then cuts to an image of a young and overweight Baena, shirtless at the beach.

That visual is enough to jolt Baena back into action, rushing off — presumably — to the gym. The light-hearted clip had a heartfelt caption.

"People sometimes forget that I used to be chubby in high school. I got cut from my basketball and soccer team because I couldn’t keep up with the other kids," Baena wrote.

"Swim didn’t have tryouts thankfully and completely changed my life forever. That was my introduction to Fitness and training. Everyone starts somewhere but starting is the most important," he concluded.

Baena’s inspiring journey and relatable words quickly drew the attention of hundreds of fans, chiming in with surprised reactions, sincere words of praise, and some cheekier encouragement.

"Didn’t know you’d had weight issues. Great work , very inspiring.! [sic]" wrote one fan. Another noted that "It's all in the past. Now you are 🔥🔥🔥🔥," and a third simply added "That face and body is gorg."

Many praised Baena’s commitment. "Dude you’re permanently locked in," said one impressed fan, with a second adding "Always a good reminder."

"I guess the pressure is on you being "his" son, but you looked fine. A lot of guys carry a bit in their early teens then stretch out as they move into adulthood. You’re a great guy, that’s the main thing," wrote one fan.

Other users focused on Baena’s famous dad, Arnold Schwarzenegger. "You can’t, you’re the TerminaSON you gotta do it," joked one fan. "Happy you tapped into some of the best genetics on the 🌎" wrote another.

The topic of past weight issues had come up in an interview with People back in November 2022, when Baena discussed being bullied for his weight, and not by strangers.

"I was bullied when I was a kid, elementary, middle school, and not really in high school, but I just felt like an outsider in high school at the beginning," recalled the young actor.

Baena recalled, " [I] was really overweight from the end of elementary school into the beginning of high school." He shared that the bullying he faced was not from strangers or typical cliques.

"It wasn't outside people or people that I didn't know, or popular kids or whatever," he explained. "It was my closest friends that were the ones that bullied me the most and made fun of me for being overweight."

He added that this experience posed a significant challenge. "It was really a big struggle for me," Baena admitted, "creating that ambition to change my weight and my physique."

These experiences helped prepare him for his role in "Bully High," a movie that explored themes like bullying and prejudice. Baena played a school president navigating tension and inclusion, and said, "It wasn’t too hard to get into the character."

Baena is quite active on social media, regularly posting his physique, meals and routines to his Instagram profile. His posts showcase how his relationship with his weight and body has changed over time — from the insecurity of a bullied boy to the confidence of a man in control of his physique.

He's often joined by his father, like in a November 2022 post where he shared a picture with Schwarzenegger.

In the photo, Schwarzenegger is wearing a blue jacket and black sweatpants as he smiles at the camera while sitting on his bicycle. Next to him was Baena, in shorts and a long-sleeve sweater, sitting on his own bike.

The relationship between Baena and Scharzenegger wasn't always this close, though. In fact, it took a long time for the "Terminator" actor to find out he was the boy's father — and longer still for the boy to know.

It wasn't until Joseph turned around eight years old that Arnold realized he was his son. Joseph was the son of the Schwarzenegger family's housekeeper, Mildred Patricia Baena.

Mildred welcomed her son in 1997, soon after having an affair with Arnold. However, at that time, no one knew the "Aftermath" actor was Joseph's father.

Arnold said it hit him when Joseph "started looking like me. That's when I kind of got it. I put things together." However, the actor did not tell his family about it then.

Instead of denying his illegitimate son, Arnold supported Mildred financially while she still worked for the family. The actor confessed it was "difficult, strange, bizarre" to live with the secret.

He told his wife, Maria Shriver, about fathering Joseph during a marriage counseling session when she confronted him directly. She filed for divorce soon after his confession.

"I apologized many times to her and asked her for forgiveness," the actor said in an interview with CBS News while talking about his affair with Mildred. He hoped his ex-wife would forgive him for what he did.

How Did Arnold's Kids React after Learning about Their Half-Sibling?

After Arnold told Shriver about his affair, his four children with her, Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher, also learned about their half-brother. The "FUBAR" actor recalled apologizing to them.

"They cried. It tears your heart out," Arnold said. The actor felt bad watching his children cry after they learned about his affair and Joseph's existence.

Arnold's world revolved around Shriver and the kids, and confessing his affair broke his family apart. "That is something that I will always look back and say, 'How could you have done that?'" the actor said.

While talking about Joseph in a 2012 interview, Arnold revealed that he took care of the boy and his mother. He supported them financially and raised Joseph like his other children.

Joseph Baena's Relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger

Joseph didn't know Arnold was his father until he was a teenager. Now, the father-son duo share a close bond and are often seen together in photos on social media. However, Joseph's half-siblings reportedly don't share the same bond with him.

"But, to be honest, the other kids don't love Joe," claims a source close to the family. According to the source, Arnold's four children treat Joseph differently because he is a product of their father's affair with Mildred.

According to reports, Schwarzenegger's relationship with his illegitimate son has caused strained dynamics within the family. While the megastar maintains a close bond with his youngest child, sources claim that his other children from his marriage to Shriver choose to avoid him and do not have a strong relationship with their half-brother.

During the premiere of Schwarzenegger's Netflix show, "FUBAR," Joseph walked the red carpet alone. At the same time, the actor was accompanied by his daughters, Christina and Katherine, as well as Katherine's husband, Chris Pratt.

The absence of Joseph alongside his half-siblings was notable, indicating their apparent estrangement. Sources reveal that the other children hold some resentment towards Joseph, possibly stemming from the affair and its consequences.

Joseph has expressed sheer pride and joy in his father's achievements despite the strained relationships. He took to social media to share a photo from the premiere, expressing his admiration for Schwarzenegger, who he closely resembles.

However, the reported lack of closeness between Joseph and his half-siblings is evident in their limited interactions. Joseph was reportedly not invited to Katherine's wedding in 2019, instead congratulating them through social media.

Sources acknowledge the complexities of the situation, with Schwarzenegger admitting the difficulties his children and family faced. It is reported that the "Twins" actor maintains a strong bond with Joseph, often including him in various events. However, the strained relationship between Joseph and his half-siblings remains a challenge.

While Schwarzenegger loves all of his children, sources claim that the other siblings still "don't love" Joseph, keeping their distance and avoiding close contact with him. The situation appears tough for everyone involved, with another source sharing that the Schwarzenegger family continues to navigate the complexities with respect and understanding.