Living a life of fame and fortune came with some drawbacks for Arnold Schwarzenegger and his ex-wife Maria Shriver. For them, it was about reputation and privacy while trying to live like a regular couple. Even before they spent 25 years together in marital bliss, the road to the destination wasn’t easy, as they had to live together in secrecy.

In his book, Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, Schwarzenegger opened up on his and Shriver’s secret residence. Although they had been openly dating for a while, the couple couldn’t disclose the fact that they were living together. Why did it have to be such a huge secret? Let’s find out.

One for themselves and one for the show: How Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver lived privately

Although Schwarzenegger and Shriver lived on opposite coasts, dating brought them closer every day. They would go on vacations, meet up with each other’s families, hang out with friends, and so on. Soon, they figured it was time to move in together. Shriver was a journalist at that time, and she spoke about moving to California, closer to Schwarzenegger. But there was a problem.

Shriver was a member of the Kennedy family. Her father, Sargent Shriver, was quite conservative when it came to such matters. Although the former bodybuilder dating his daughter was approved of, living in would have brought up awkward questions from the mass. Therefore, the couple came up with a solution.

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They first found a 1920s Spanish-style house to live in together, with some great amenities like a lap pool, guest house, beaming ceilings, etc. Then, they rented another fully furnished house nearby, so Shriver could have her parents for lunch over there. The star confessed, “I’m pretty sure that Eunice knew what was going on, but the separate apartment was important for the family image”. Eventually, in 1986, the couple tied the knot.

To elope or not to elope?

In a big fat ceremony at the Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Massachusetts, Schwarzenegger and Shriver exchanged their vows and wedding bands. Over 500 guests graced the occasion and blessed the couple. But this prompted a question for Schwarzenegger.

Interviewer Johnny Carson sat down with the former bodybuilder and briefly spoke about how grand his wedding had been. He then joked around and asked if he ever considered eloping with his bride, given the grandeur and number of guests. To that, Schwarzenegger cheekily responded, “I didn’t think about it, but a lot of people suggested it you know”.

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