The modern era’s most prominent A-list couple, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, were married for two years, yet their divorce proceedings have spanned eight years, a duration significantly longer than their marriage itself. This prolonged legal battle is attributed to a complex and acrimonious separation, entangled with disputes over their six children and a jointly owned French vineyard. Jolie’s lawyer described the ongoing process as extensive, with a celebrity lawyer noting that such lengthy divorces are unusual, often indicative of an unwillingness to “let go and a desire to really harm the other.”
The romantic beginning of Jolie and Pitt’s relationship unfolded in 2004, leading to their marriage in 2014. They met on the set of the film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, released in 2005. Jolie reflected on their connection in a 2007 Vogue interview, stating, “we found this strange friendship and partnership that kind of just suddenly happened.” Both had been married previously: Pitt to Jennifer Aniston, and Jolie to Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton. Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie biography details her prolific career and personal life.
Together, Jolie and Pitt share six children. Maddox was adopted from Cambodia in 2002, with Pitt later adopting him after their relationship began. In 2005, they adopted Zahara from Ethiopia. Their first biological child, Shiloh, was born in Namibia in 2006. Their son Pax was adopted from Vietnam in 2007, and twins Knox and Vivienne were born in 2008. Notably, reports emerged that Shiloh had petitioned to drop Pitt from her surname.
The Beginning of the End and Allegations of Abuse
The couple’s final public appearance together was in November 2015 at the premiere of By the Sea, a film written and directed by Jolie, which depicted a troubled marriage. While promoting the film, Jolie acknowledged marital issues, stating to The Telegraph, “Brad and I have our issues. We have fights and problems like any other couple.” However, she clarified that these were not the specific problems portrayed in the movie.
The announcement of Jolie filing for divorce in September 2016, citing “irreconcilable differences,” came as a shock. It was later revealed that she filed the day after an incident on a private plane. Initially, allegations suggested Pitt had hit their son Maddox during the flight. While the FBI and social workers investigated, no action was taken, and Pitt denied wrongdoing. In 2022, legal documents from the vineyard dispute surfaced, where Jolie accused Pitt of drunkenly attacking her and two children on the same flight. A source close to Pitt denied these claims.
In a 2020 interview with Vogue, Jolie stated that she left Pitt for the “wellbeing” of her family, deeming it “the right decision” and emphasizing her focus on their healing. Pitt, in a 2017 GQ interview, discussed his sobriety journey, calling the split a “huge generator for change” and expressing a commitment to resolving matters amicably.
Custody Battles and the Vineyard Dispute
The attempts to finalize the divorce and custody arrangements were fraught with conflict. Although declared officially single in 2019 by a judge, the divorce remained unsettled. A custody agreement reached in 2018 seemingly unraveled, leading to Pitt being granted joint custody in 2021 after a legal battle. However, the private judge overseeing the case was later removed due to undisclosed business relationships with Pitt’s legal team, raising the possibility of new custody proceedings, though nothing public has been announced.
Beyond the custody of their children, a separate legal battle involves Chateau Miraval, the vineyard the couple purchased in 2008 and where they married in 2014. Pitt is suing Jolie for selling her stake to a spirits manufacturer, alleging they had agreed not to sell their shares without mutual consent. Jolie has not publicly commented on this lawsuit. You can find more details about Angelina Jolie’s filmography in Angelina Jolie top movies.
Emotional Fallout and Ongoing Process
The divorce proceedings have been largely private, with the couple reportedly hiring private judges to mediate disputes. Showbiz journalist Jeanne Wolf highlighted the significant emotional toll on both the children and the couple, noting their efforts to keep details private. Jolie’s lawyer emphasized that the recent settlement was merely “one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago,” adding that Jolie was “exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.” The prolonged nature of their separation underscores the deep complexities that can arise even in seemingly straightforward celebrity divorces.