Patrick Schwarzenegger Gets Candid About How His 'Values' Differ from Dad Arnold (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Patrick Schwarzeneggeris learning to define success for himself outside the shadow of his famous family.

The actor,31, is always asked about his famous parentsArnold SchwarzeneggerandMaria Shriver, and as he’s thrust into the spotlight more than ever before with the premiere ofseason 3 ofThe White Lotus, Patrick is facing even more of that curiosity than ever.

Patrick Schwarzenegger on Dear Media’s Real Pod podcast with host Victoria Garrick.Real Pod/Dear Media

Real Pod/Dear Media

“To me, one of the things that I’ve learned probably the most — and probably from my mom more than my dad — is just: what is success to you? And really making sure you have a clear understanding of what you value in life,” he says.

Patrick continues, “Nothing against my dad, but his values and what his, you know, definition of success was is very career-driven, very much wanting to be the biggest movie star in the world, very much wanting to be the biggest bodybuilder in the world, you know, very much wanting to be the biggest politician, always taking those kind of next career steps.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Patrick Schwarzenegger attend the Los Angeles premiere of “The White Lotus” Season 3.Emma McIntyre/Getty

Emma McIntyre/Getty

“Of course, I want to make money. Of course, I want to make a career for myself. Of course, I want to be a huge movie star,” he adds. “And I want to have multiple successful brands and stuff like that, but that’s on par with other areas that I define as success.”

Patrick Schwarzenegger in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3.Fabio Lovino/HBO

Fabio Lovino/HBO

Patrick says he has a “clear understanding of what success means” to him personally, and that’s something he can thank his mom for.

“I really learned that a lot from my mom and just having really kind of defined areas of that,” he says of Shriver, 69.

“And I bring that up because I don’t — I’m not worried so much about how successful my dad is or was, and same with my mom. I just really care about carving my own path, and wanting to feel successful to me,” he continues. “I’m never gonna out-succeed my dad in his terms. But in my terms, I will.”

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

The profound impact both of his parents have had on his career and how he defines success is something Patrick echoed inhis recent PEOPLE digital cover story. “My dad is all about hard work, determination, work ethic. That’s probably what’s kept me working each and every day at getting better.”

Shriver, though, is the one who “sacrificed a lot with her career to take care of us kids," so he credited her for having more influence on him — and Arnold, 77, would agree.

“If you were to ask my dad [who had the bigger impact on my life], he would say it’s 95 percent my mom, 5 percent him.”

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New episodes ofThe White Lotusseason 3 premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max. Patrick’s interview onDear Media’s Real Pod podcast with host Victoria Garrickwill be available to stream on Wednesday, Feb. 26 wherever you get your podcasts.

source: people.com