The Tragic Fate of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Brother: How Childhood Abuse Tore Them Apart
Meinhard's death left behind an unborn son. Patrick Knapp was born in September 1971, four months after his father was killed. When Arnold learned of the child's existence, he made a quiet, definitive commitment to protect his nephew from the financial and emotional instability that had destroyed Meinhard.
Arnold funded Patrick's upbringing, covering schooling and living expenses in Austria. Once Patrick reached his teenage years, Arnold sponsored his move to the United States, welcoming him into his household in Southern California. Arnold paid for Patrick's higher education, supporting him through degrees at UCLA and the USC Gould School of Law.
Today, Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger is a prominent entertainment and corporate attorney in Los Angeles. He served as Arnold's personal legal counsel for decades and represented him during high-stakes negotiations, including his return to film and his international business ventures. Patrick gave his own son the middle name Meinhard, ensuring the memory of the brother who never made it out of Austria lives on in the family line.
