Arnold Schwarzenegger and his ex-wife Maria Shriver together made one of the most celebrated couples ever. When they began dating, the “Terminator” actor was a bodybuilding champion turned actor and Maria was an NBC journalist, most importantly a daughter of a politically prominent family. Maria’s choice astounded people, as the popular assumptions were diametrically opposite to what had happened.

Maria Shriver is the daughter of diplomat Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy. Growing up in a family of diplomats and politicians meeting the Austrian Oak fulfilled a strong wish about her marriage. While they were married for 25 years, they gave no chance for people to question their decision but rather left them envious of their togetherness. In a 2004 interview, Shriver opened up on how Arnold was different from the ones she had known.

Maria Shriver said she didn’t like them

Shriver shared that the moment she met Arnold, the connection was instant, and she found him “attractive, funny and original.” Hailing from an elite background, people who questioned her choice had trouble with the class. “You are supposed to live a life that they project onto you..” she said.

Having lived with such people her entire life, she chose to detour from the path. “I wanted out of that suffocation.” Perhaps the Universe heard it and there he was, “Arnold was like an explosion of fresh air.” Thus, satiating her deepest desire to marry her authentic self.

In coherence with the normalcy in their families, “Everyone assumed that I was supposed to marry someone like a John Kerry,” or someone who graduated from Harvard or Yale. But Maria’s stand was clear––a big ‘no’ to marrying “those boys- I didn’t like them.”

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Maria didn’t discount the challenges and hurdles she faced in their relationship. “I have worked and worked on my marriage, and it has paid off,” she said. Moreover, she affirmed that there was not a dull moment in her life and that “we are still engaged with each other, hot for each other.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger never bothered the critics or doubters

Maria shared that when the Governator first met her, he talked about his aspirations. Filled with passion and drive to the brim, he spoke about where he wanted to be, and where he wanted to go and paid no heed to people drawing boundaries and setting templates to fit in. Head over heels in admiration for Arnold, Shriver said, “..he never tried to play it safe.”

While everyone around Shriver was serious and lacked the spirit of adventure, Arnold viewed the world as a blank canvas and do anything he dreamt of. “Arnold wanted to be a star. He wanted to be famous! I thought it was great,” she said.

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Schwarzenegger and Shiver share four children. They split in 2011 after 25 years of marriage, after it was revealed that he fathered a son with their housekeeper. They divorced a decade later in 2021.