Maria Owings Shriver (born November 6, 1955) is an American journalist, author, member of the Shriver and Kennedy families, former First Lady of California, and founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement. She was married to Arnold Schwarzenegger, divorcing in 2021.
Shriver started at KYW-TV, briefly anchored CBS Morning News, then joined NBC News in 1986. She anchored Today, NBC Nightly News, and reported for Dateline NBC. Leaving in 2004, she returned in 2013 as special anchor. Shriver earned a Peabody Award and co-anchored NBC’s 1988 Olympics coverage.
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Maria Schwarzenegger Net Worth
Maria Shriver has a net worth of $200 million. Celebrity lawyers say she will receive $100 million or more in her divorce settlement from Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose net worth is estimated at $300 million.
Schwarzenegger was a real estate millionaire by age 25, before his movie career. After moving to America, he used earnings from bodybuilding competitions to build a successful real estate portfolio, investing in commercial and residential properties across California.
Early life
Maria Shriver was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 6, 1955, daughter of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy. She is niece to John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy.
A Roman Catholic of Irish and German descent, she lived in Paris during middle school, briefly returning to Chicago in 1968. In 1970, she settled in Bethesda, Maryland, attending Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, graduating in 1973. She studied at Manhattanville College and graduated from Georgetown University in 1977. She is fourth cousin to Pam Shriver.
Career
In Ten Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Went Out Into The Real World (2000), Maria Shriver shared her passion for broadcast journalism, sparked during her father’s 1972 vice presidential race.
She began at KYW-TV in Philadelphia, co-anchored The CBS Morning News (1985-1986), NBC’s Sunday Today (1987-1990), and contributed to NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC (1992-2004). After her husband became California’s 38th Governor in 2003, she left NBC News. Shriver appeared in Last Action Hero (1993), That’s So Raven (2006), and hosted Larry King Live (2007).
Personal life
In 1977, Tom Brokaw introduced Maria Shriver to Arnold Schwarzenegger at a charity event. They married on April 26, 1986, in Hyannis, Massachusetts, at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church. They have four children, including Katherine and Patrick.
On May 9, 2011, they announced separation; Shriver filed for divorce on July 1, 2011, finalized in December 2021. Schwarzenegger admitted fathering Joseph Baena with Mildred “Patty” Baena. In 2018, Shriver changed her registration from Democrat to independent, advocating for bipartisanship and compassion.
Are Maria and Arnold still friends?
Arnold Schwarzenegger said their divorce was “very, very difficult in the beginning.” He added, “Maria Shriver and I are really good friends and very close,” and they are “very proud of the way we raised our kids.” (The Hollywood Reporter, March 27, 2025)
Conclusion
Maria Schwarzenegger’s (Shriver) journey is marked by her notable career in journalism, her influential family background, and her high-profile marriage. With a net worth of $200 million, she stands as a figure of success and resilience.
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FAQs about Maria Schwarzenegger
- What is Maria Schwarzenegger’s net worth?
- Approximately $200 million.
- What achievements define Maria Schwarzenegger’s career?
- Her successful journalism career, multiple Emmy wins, and her authorship.
- Why is Maria Schwarzenegger a prominent figure?
- Due to her career, Kennedy family background, and marriage to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- How did Maria Schwarzenegger accumulate her wealth?
- Through her career, divorce settlement, and family inheritance.
- What is Maria Schwarzenegger’s relationship status?
- She is divorced from Arnold Schwarzenegger as of 2017.
