Mildred Patricia Baena was born on March 1, 1961, in Guatemala, and became one of the most talked-about women in Hollywood after a secret she had kept for over a decade was made public.
She worked as a housekeeper for Arnold Schwarzenegger and his then-wife Maria Shriver for more than 20 years. Her story is one of privacy, resilience, and life after an unexpected spotlight.
Who is Mildred Patricia Baena?
Mildred Patricia Baena, widely known as Patty, is a Guatemalan-American woman best known for her two-decade career as a housekeeper in the Schwarzenegger household.
She is also the mother of Joseph Baena, the biological son of actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
She came into public view in May 2011 when major media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, reported on her affair with Schwarzenegger and the birth of their son.
Until that point, she had lived an entirely private life. That moment changed everything for Mildred.
Despite the intense media attention that followed, she granted only one public interview, speaking to Hello! Magazine in June 2011.
Since then, she has stayed largely out of the spotlight and focused on rebuilding her life on her own terms.
Her story remains one of the most widely covered celebrity scandals of the 2010s. Yet Mildred herself has never sought fame, and continues to live quietly in California to this day.
Early Life of Mildred Patricia Baena
Mildred Patricia Baena was born into a modest family in Guatemala. She later immigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities, eventually settling in California.
Her mother’s name is Evelyn Pena, though very little else is publicly known about her parents or siblings.
She built her early adult life through hard work and dedication. Her path eventually led her to employment as a household staff member for one of Hollywood’s most prominent families.
Mildred Patricia Baena Age
Mildred Patricia Baena is 64 years old as of 2025, born on March 1, 1961. She remains largely retired from public life and continues to reside in California.
Mildred Patricia Baena Ethnicity and Nationality
Mildred Patricia Baena is of Guatemalan origin and holds dual Guatemalan and American nationality.
She grew up in Guatemala before immigrating to the United States, where she has lived for most of her adult life. Her heritage is a significant part of her identity, and she is of Guatemalan descent.
Mildred Patricia Baena Height and Weight
Mildred Patricia Baena stands at 5 feet 5 inches tall, which is approximately 165 centimeters. Her weight is reported to be around 75 kilograms, or approximately 165 pounds.
She has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. Her physical presence is described as warm and approachable by those who have known her personally.
Very little else about her physical appearance has been publicly documented, as she has consistently chosen to stay out of the media.
Mildred Patricia Baena Education
Mildred Patricia Baena’s early education details are not publicly available. However, after retiring from her housekeeping career, she chose to pursue a new path in the culinary arts.
She enrolled in culinary school following her retirement. In 2017, she graduated from a culinary school in Santa Anita, California. That decision marked a meaningful new chapter in her life.
Her culinary training reflected a genuine personal passion rather than a career driven by public ambition. Whether she went on to work professionally as a chef has not been confirmed in any public reports.
Mildred Patricia Baena Career
Two Decades as a Housekeeper
Mildred Patricia Baena began working for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver in the early 1990s at their Brentwood mansion in California.
Her responsibilities included daily household maintenance, cooking, and helping to care for the Schwarzenegger children. She was known within the household for her reliability and dedication.
She earned a reported weekly salary of $1,200 during her time with the family. Over more than 20 years, she became a trusted and integral part of the household. Few employees remain in any role for two decades.
The Public Scandal of 2011
The birth of Joseph Baena in October 1997 remained a closely guarded secret for many years. As Joseph grew older, those close to the family began to notice his strong physical resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In early 2011, Maria Shriver directly confronted Mildred about Joseph’s paternity. Mildred confirmed the truth, and during a couples counseling session, Arnold Schwarzenegger also admitted to fathering the child.
Maria Shriver filed for separation shortly after, in May 2011. The Los Angeles Times broke the full story on May 16, 2011, triggering a media storm across Hollywood and beyond.
The news came just days after Schwarzenegger and Shriver had publicly announced their separation. Mildred gave her only public interview to Hello! Magazine in June 2011.
In it, she reflected on the moment Maria confronted her, saying that Maria “cried with me and told me to get off my knees.” It remains the only account she has ever given to the press.
Retirement and Life After the Spotlight
Mildred Patricia Baena officially retired from her housekeeping position in January 2011. The public revelation of the affair later that year confirmed to the world what her household had already begun to process privately.
Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly accepted full responsibility for his actions. He also provided financial support to Mildred and their son Joseph, including a reported $65,000 contribution toward the purchase of a home. Life after the scandal required real strength and quiet determination.
In 2010, Schwarzenegger helped Mildred purchase a four-bedroom home with a pool in Bakersfield, California, for $268,000. She has lived there since, largely out of public view.
Mildred Patricia Baena Husband
Mildred Patricia Baena was previously married to Rogelio de Jesus Baena. The two wed on November 14, 1987, and together they had a daughter, Jackie Rozo.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 2008, reportedly linked to questions surrounding Joseph’s paternity.
She is not currently married. According to multiple reports, she is in a relationship with a man named Alex Aguilar, with whom she reportedly lives in Bakersfield, California.
However, this relationship has not been officially confirmed, as Mildred keeps her personal life very private.
Mildred Patricia Baena Children
Mildred Patricia Baena is the mother of at least two publicly known children. Her daughter, Jackie Rozo, was born in 1984 from Mildred’s earlier relationship. Jackie has also chosen a private life and stays away from the media.
Her son, Joseph Baena, was born on October 2, 1997. Joseph is the biological son of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He has built his own career as an actor and fitness influencer, and has developed a close public relationship with his father in recent years.
Joseph often pays tribute to his mother on social media, speaking warmly of her strength and the values she instilled in him.
Mildred Patricia Baena Net Worth
Mildred Patricia Baena’s estimated net worth is approximately $1 million as of 2026. This figure reflects her two decades of employment with the Schwarzenegger household, where she earned a reported weekly salary of $1,200, as well as the financial support she received from Arnold Schwarzenegger following the public revelation.
Arnold Schwarzenegger contributed an estimated $65,000 toward the purchase of her Bakersfield home in 2010.
He also funded Joseph Baena’s college education. The four-bedroom property, purchased for $268,000, represents a significant part of her known assets.
Her culinary school graduation in 2017 opened a potential new income path, though no confirmed professional work in that field has been publicly reported.
She lives a modest and private life and has not pursued any business ventures in the public eye.
Mildred Patricia Baena Social Media
Mildred Patricia Baena does not maintain any known active public social media accounts. She has consistently chosen to stay away from platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Her son Joseph Baena is publicly active on Instagram, where he regularly posts about his fitness journey, acting career, and his bond with his mother.
He has used his platform to speak positively about Mildred, reflecting the close relationship between the two.
Mildred herself prefers a life entirely outside the digital spotlight. That choice is fully consistent with who she has always been.
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The Bottom Line
Mildred Patricia Baena is a Guatemalan-born woman who spent more than two decades working quietly and faithfully in one of Hollywood’s most prominent households.
Her life was thrust into the public eye in 2011 following the revelation of her affair with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the birth of their son, Joseph Baena.
Since then, she has shown remarkable resolve by stepping away from the media, graduating from culinary school, and focusing on family.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Mildred Patricia Baena. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!