Maria Shriver is an American journalist, author, a former First Lady of California as well as a recognized philanthropist who came to the spotlight for being the better half of veteran actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is best known for being the anchor of “The CBS Morning News” between 1989 and 2003.

Born on November 6, 1955, in Chicago to Eunice Mary Kennedy and Robert Sergeant Shriver Jr., Maria is the second and only female child of five siblings. She is also the niece of United States President John F. Kennedy.

Maria earned a bachelor degree in American studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. After completing her education, Maria tried out her luck in television, mostly as an anchor and newsreader.

For her most noted works, she has co-anchored in ‘The CBS Morning News’ followed by NBC News. She was working as contributing anchor in NBC’s Dateline from 1989 but took unpaid leave in 2003, when her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became a candidate for the California recall election.

After Arnold won the election, Maria became the First Lady of California. After few months, she resigned from NBC due to conflict of interest. Apart from having a successful career as a television journalist and filmmaker, Marina is also a reputed author.

To date, she has published six bestselling books, namely; “What’s Heaven”, “Ten Things I wish I’d Known”, “What’s wrong with Timmy?”, “What’s happening to Grandpa”‘, “And one more thing before you go”, and “Just who will you be”.

The royalties from these books have added extensively to her earnings. This beautiful American journalist, activist and author, has also produced HBO documentary ‘The Alzheimer’s Project’ which earned her two Emmy Awards.

What Is Maria Shriver’s Net Worth?

‘The Today Show’ fill-in co-anchor and prominent journalist Maria Shriver isn’t just a household name in the American media alone. Her rise to prominence following her marriage to Arnold and then her ascendancy to California’s coveted First Lady seat from 2003 to 2011, really helped in shaping her future and gathering the fortune she enjoys today.

While we wouldn’t solely link her fortune to her relationship with Arnold, it’s worthy to note that she is multi-faceted. Her career in the media started in 1978 and has continued to blossom to date.

She served various stints on The CBS and NBC where she started as a news anchor. Since 2013 to date, she has been working as The Today Show fill-in co-anchor and has made neat earnings from her jobs. Her fortunes, which she has gathered throughout these years, have really helped in sky-rocketing her assets to the tune of 100 million dollars, making her one of the richest women in the world.

Maria Shriver’s Wedding and Divorce: Does She Have a New Boyfriend?

Maria Owings Shriver married former Mr. Universe of Austria and a renowned action hero of Hollywood, Arnold Schwarzenegger on April 26, 1986, in Massachusetts, at a Roman Catholic Church – nine years after they began dating.

After the classy marriage, Maria became famous as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s wife and went on to have four children (Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher) with Schwarzenegger.

In 2011, the couple divorced, ending their 25-year-old marriage. This was after it emerged that hunky Arnold had an affair with their housemaid (Mildred Patricia Baena) which resulted in a child (Joseph Baena). Their divorce reportedly gave Maria a financial benefit which apparently helped her in piling up her financial standing.

Contented with the extortionate benefit she received from Arnold, prominent American journalist Maria Shriver decided to spoil herself with a $10 million villa which renders every lavishing luxury she wants. Being a keen enthusiast of luxury vehicles, she also bought herself a Mercedes Benz S class and an Audi A8.

Maria may have separated from Arnold but she remains hot and sexy and doesn’t even look like she’s over 60! While she was still married to her husband of 25 years, she was said to have been seeing her boyfriend Matthew Dowd, a political consultant and former adviser to former President George Bush. Though we don’t know how true this is, the unverified source also claimed that Dowd and Maria were lovers even before Arnold’s infidelity came to light.

Shriver’s boyfriend, Dowd, is currently an ABC News political analyst. He has had two failed marriages. His first marriage was blessed with three sons while his second marriage crashed he lost one of his twin infant daughters in the hospital.

Dowd and Maria may have had troublesome pasts in their respective marriages, but the couple seems to be each other’s perfect match as their intimate relationship since 2013 keeps going strong and there are no signs of leaving each other’s comforting arm.

Philanthropic Contributions

Maria is also a recognized philanthropist. She has been campaigning for people with intellectual disabilities. She is a member of the International Board of Special Olympics that her mother founded.

Being the First Lady of California also helped her to aid more for the intellectually disabled people and she has hired them in various state offices. More so, she has also launched various projects like ‘A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything’, ‘A Women’s Nation Takes on Alzheimer’s” and ‘A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink’ which adds extensively to her profile as a philanthropist.

Quick Facts about Maria Shriver

Full Name: Maria Owings Shriver

Profession: Author, journalist

Height: 1.80m

Ethnicity: American

Nationality: American

Date of Birth: November 6, 1955

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Education: Georgetown University

Marital Status: Divorced

Astrological Sign: Scorpio

Maria Shriver Assets: $100 million