Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son Joseph Baena Says He Was ‘Chubby’ in High School Before Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph Baena got candid about his childhood body issues.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, July 15, to share a funny video about the monotony of gym visits, the actor and real estate agent, 27, offered a more serious take on the topic of fitness in the video’s 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,” Joseph 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.”

Joseph, who learned that Schwarzenegger, 77, was his biological father when he was just 13 years old, was seen in the video hitting a sofa as the text “Kind of tired, might skip the gym today,” was shown above him.

As he settled in, a shirtless childhood photo of Joseph flashed up, prompting him to quickly lift himself off the sofa and, presumably, head towards a sweat session.

A former bodybuilder, Joseph told Us Weekly in 2019 that he viewed his famous father as a “huge inspiration” in forging a name in the sporting world. (Joseph was raised by his mother, Mildred Baena, and took the surname of his legal father, Rogelio Baena, prior to Mildred splitting from Regelio shortly after Joseph’s birth.)

“Constantly working on the body, working on your personality, the mind, everything is beneficial to you,” Joseph told Us at the time. “I always want to better myself, so I think bodybuilding is a great way for me, personally, to better my physical health.”

He later transitioned to real estate and got his real estate license in 2021, before the bright lights of Hollywood beckoned. Joseph then appeared in several films including Gunner, alongside Morgan Freeman and Luke Hemsworth, and Athena Saves Christmas opposite Cuba Gooding Jr..

On June 13, Joseph shared a carousel of photos from the season two premiere of Fubar, starring Schwarzenegger, that took place in Los Angeles one day prior. “Action packed night at the Season 2 premiere of FUBAR! New season just dropped and it’s bigger, badder, and more badass. Go watch my dad do what he does best 💥💪🏼 #FUBAR,” he captioned the Instagram post, which included a photo of Joseph standing beside Schwarzenegger on the event’s red carpet.

Joseph told Us in August 2024 that, just like his dad, he’s keen to pursue small screen endeavors — ideally a real estate reality show that would combine his talents. “I’ve always thought that doing something like that, like a reality show, might take me away from the movie career,” he said. “But honestly, if it’s something that’s in good spirits, something that’s not so dramatic where I look like a weirdo or like a jerk, you know? Then I’m super open to it.”

He added that Schwarzenegger remains a pillar of support no matter what avenue he chooses. “[He’s] always just telling me, do the reps, do the work and do the classes,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been doing and we’re working our way up.”