Season 3 of The White Lotus is here, and it’s already a massive hit among fans and critics. But one actor in particular who’s stealing the spotlight is none other than Patrick Schwarzenegger, the latest addition to the cast, who plays the (very) controversial Saxon Ratliff.
If you’re intrigued by X’s certified “white boy of the month,” look no further, because we’ve got 10 fun facts about the show’s newest sensation. Here’s everything you wanted to know about Patrick Schwarzenegger’s life, family, career, and romances:
10 Fun Facts About Patrick Schwarzenegger
1. His Dad is Arnold Schwarzenegger
Even if you’re not a total movie buff, this last name must ring a bell for you. Yep, you guessed it (duh): Patrick is the son of the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger, aka ‘The Terminator’ himself. And let’s be real, growing up with a Hollywood icon as your dad kinda sets the tone for your career. Arnold used to take Patrick to film sets, so this guy basically grew up surrounded by cameras and action.
2. He’s a Member of the Kennedy Family
If you thought Patrick had already secured the Nepo baby of the year award just for being Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, hold onto your seats—there’s more. His mom, Maria Shriver, is literally a Kennedy. Shriver is the niece of the former president John Kennedy. Oh, and she was also the First Lady of California. So yeah, Patrick’s family tree is basically a real-life version of The White Lotus—minus (hopefully) all that chaos.
3. He Once Starred in an Ariana Grande Video
Movies and music go hand in hand, right? Well, Patrick took that very seriously when he starred in Ariana Grande’s 2013 Right There music video. The clip, inspired by Romeo and Juliet, had Hollywood’s newest heartthrob playing (you guessed it) Romeo—cue the collective sighs. In 2023, he even tweeted about the 10-year anniversary of the video, proving that, once an Arianator, always an Arianator.
4. He is Chris Pratt’s Brother-in-Law
Wait, we’re not done name-dropping yet! Patrick is also related to Chris (freakin’) Pratt. His older sister, Katherine Schwarzenegger, married the Guardians of the Galaxy star in 2019, making him an official part of the fam. And they’re pretty tight—Patrick and Chris regularly get together for family outings, sporting events, and even have workout sessions together. Of course, Chris was front and center at The White Lotus premiere, being a super supportive brother-in-law.
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5. He Once Dated Miley Cyrus
Yep, you read that right—Patrick and Miley were a thing from 2014 to 2015. But the plot thickens: back in 2011, he actually confessed to Details Magazine that he had a crush on her. Manifestation was working back then! The two were total Tumblr-era couple goals, but things didn’t end on the best terms, when photos of Patrick with another girl emerged. Fans even speculate that Miley’s BB Talk (aka one of her most savage breakup songs) might have been about him. Oof…
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6. He’s Now Engaged to Abby Champion
After eight years together, Patrick popped the question to American model Abby Champion in December 2023 during a super romantic beachside proposal. Not only do they look like the most genetically blessed couple on the planet, but they’re also total career hype partners—she’s strutting down runways for top fashion brands, while he’s busy stealing scenes in hit TV shows. A true power couple in the making!
7. His Mom Cried When he Landed the ‘White Lotus’ Role
If you thought Arnold was Patrick’s biggest cheerleader, think again—his mom takes the crown. When Patrick told his mom that he got cast in The White Lotus, she literally cried. Patrick even joked that she might’ve been more excited than he was. The whole family was already obsessed with the show, and he tried to keep his casting a secret at first… but yeah, that didn’t last long.
8. Pratt Gave him Audition Advice
One of the perks of having a Hollywood-packed family? You get top-tier audition tips. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Patrick shared that Chris Pratt once told him, “The casting director knows within the first whatever seconds if you’re someone that works for the role or not, and make the first five seconds of the audition tape something unique and different.” So, Patrick took that advice very seriously—he made sure the first five seconds of his audition were unforgettable and fully committed to the character. Spoiler: it definitely paid off.
9. He “Eye-F—ed” his Way onto ‘The White Lotus’
Knowing he needed to stand out for the role of Saxon Ratliff, Patrick took Chris’ advice and went for a bold move during his audition: he started flirting (aka “eye f—ing”) with the camera like it was a girl.
He said, “I knew this character was going to be this kind of douchey, flirty finance guy that was a despicable human—but also someone that you wanted to root for, and thought was funny in a weird way. And so the first couple seconds of the audition tape, I just was like, for lack of a better word, eye-fu**ing, or kind of checking out the camera, and then approaching it as if the camera was a girl. And they thought that was really funny and weird and cool.
Honestly? Genius move—because nothing screams Saxon more than that! (We need that audition tape ASAP.)
10. He Really Went Nude on ‘The White Lotus’
If you’ve seen the show, you know that Patrick’s nude scene caused a lot of buzz on social media. When asked about using body doubles or prosthetics, Patrick kept it real, saying, “Yes, that’s my real butt. No stand-in. Once I read the script, I knew what was coming, but before that, I didn’t.”
He also mentioned that he wasn’t even the slightest bit uncomfortable filming the scene, because he fully trusts director Mike White. And, of course, he teased, “There’s more to come!”
Well, I guess we have plenty of reasons to keep watching The White Lotus, right? What? We’re talking about the plot, of course.
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