Maria Schreiber reveals the end of her marriage to Arnold Schwarzenegger in her new memoir, “I Am Maria.”
In an excerpt from her memoir, peopleSchreiber details a series of life-changing events held in January 2011. One of them was the end of her marriage to Schwarzenegger 25 years later.
“A year and a half later, it seemed like all hell was unleashed,” she said in the excerpt. He mentioned the year after his mother's death in 2009.
The couple first met in 1977, began dating, and after eight years of dating, they tied the knot in April 1986.
Shriver and Schwarzenegger got married for 25 years before filing for divorce in 2011. (via Richard Colcurry/New York Daily News Archives Getty Images)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Schreiber have been around for many years
When describing the early days of their relationship, Schreiber explained that her “attractiveness to him is instantaneous”, but added that her “family didn't understand my relationship with Arnold.”
“After all, Arnold was a Republican and a bodybuilder, and he wanted to be a movie star,” she wrote. “He lived in a two-bedroom apartment and wore speed.”
“My first lady job is over. My father has passed away. And there was another devastating and life-changing blow. A 25-year marriage exploded.
She explained that when Schwarzenegger decided to run for California governor due to the possibility of a “conflict of interest,” she must leave a career as a journalist, but she has achieved her new goal of “becoming an incredible first lady in California.”
Their marriage ended in 2011, when Schwarzenegger admitted to fathering his child during an extramarital event with the family housekeeper 14 years ago. In her book, she explained that “I was “terrified” by saying, “I had no marriage, my parents, my job.”
Schreiber explained the “terrifying” feeling when his marriage to Schwarzenegger ended. (Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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“I was consumed with sadness, wrapped with confusion, anger, fear, sadness, anxiety. I didn't know who I was now or where I was. Honestly, it was brutal and I was scared,” she said. “I sat on the floor of my hotel room in the darkness, tears just flowing down my face and I thought to myself. Maria, this doesn't have to be your end.”
After spending some time at the monastery, Schreiber revealed that he had begun writing poetry. Through her writing, she realized she was “frightened of not being able to meet the legacy of her family” and spent her life “measuring herself by impossible standards.”
“I also had to meet other misguided beliefs – about aging, being alone,” she said. “I believed that without a partner you must be worthless and unloved. I learned that nothing is further away from the truth.”
The former couple finalised their divorce in December 2021, but remained friendly since the split. The two were sometimes filmed together. In 2020, Schreiber joined the actor and four children to celebrate Schwarzenegger's 73rd birthday.
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Schwarzenegger shared that he and Schreiber are proud of how they came together to raise their children. (Eric Charbonaw/Sony Pictures Los Angeles Wire Image)
In May 2023, Schwarzenegger spoke about the divorce from his perspective, telling a Hollywood reporter that it was “very difficult at first,” but “ultimately you'll move on.” He went on to say that they are “really good friends” and more than anything, the two are “very proud of the way we raised our children.”
“If there's an Oscar for how to handle divorce, Maria and I should get it to have the least impact on our children,” he told the outlet. “The sweetness and kindness you see to them, it's from my wife. The discipline and work ethic are from me.”
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