Arnold Schwarzenegger's son, Joseph Baena, is earning praise for his skills in the kitchen. But the inspiration behind his popular cooking videos is a heartfelt story. Baena credits his mother, Mildred, for teaching him everything he knows.

Every other post on Joseph Baena's Instagram page is of him cooking delicious, healthy meals. And when it comes to his impressive skills, he has the sweetest answer about who inspired him.

In a TikTok video, Baena was seen preparing his 'chicken and rice and everything nice' meal, otherwise known as the chicken and rice bowl, which he mentioned helped him reach his fitness goal. While preparing the dish, Baena credited his mother, Mildred Baena, for teaching him how to cook. The video was a hit, garnering nearly 2.5 million views.

Arnie Jr. has always been open about the closeness he shares with his mom and her influence on his life. He has been open about growing up in a humble household with only his mother to support him. It was through her that he learned to embrace his Latin American heritage, which is evident in his cooking.

But his mother isn't the only parent with whom the 28-year-old shares a close relationship. He is the son of Mildred Baena and bodybuilding legend and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who fathered him while he was still married to his wife, Maria Shriver.

Baena Jr. was 13 when he first learned that Schwarzenegger was his dad. Despite some initial hesitations, the two have since built a close bond. The Austrian Oak even trained him for his first bodybuilding show, which he ended up winning.

Joseph Baena Followed in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Footsteps

On March 28, 2026, Joseph Baena won his first bodybuilding competition at the NPC Natural Colorado State competition. He ended up winning three gold medals and one silver medal.

• Men’s Open Bodybuilding Heavy Weight Class - Gold
• Men’s Classic Physique True Novice - Gold
• Men’s Classic Physique Novice - Gold
• Men’s Classic Physique Open Class C - Silver

On April 4, 2026, Baena achieved another feat by winning the INBA Iron Gladiator Classic Physique Championship.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil