Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie: Unraveling the Epic Saga of Brangelina’s Romance, Family, and Contentious Divorce

From their electrifying on-screen chemistry that blossomed into a real-life romance, to a deeply personal decade-long relationship that captivated the world, and ultimately, a highly publicized, bitter split marked by intricate legal battles—the journey of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring and complex narratives. This comprehensive overview delves into every significant twist and turn, providing an in-depth look at the highs and lows of what was once considered the ultimate power couple.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie carved out one of the most infamous and unforgettable love stories in Tinseltown history. What began as a professional collaboration between two of the era’s most respected and adored actors swiftly laid the groundwork for a profound love affair. This romance would span over a decade, welcome six children into their lives, and see them embark on a number of collaborative projects. However, since the couple announced their separation in 2016, their relationship has unfortunately devolved into a series of ugly disputes, all played out under the harsh glare of public and media scrutiny.

Years of contention have unfolded between Brad and Angelina, primarily centered around a drawn-out custody battle for their children and a significant lawsuit concerning Chateau Miraval, the picturesque French property they acquired together. These disputes have kept them locked in a seemingly endless conflict. While their marital relationship has long ended, the legal entanglements have finally started to reach some resolutions. Join us as we trace their remarkable history, explore the origins of their family, delve into the intricacies of their marriage, and dissect the protracted legal skirmishes that defined their post-split era, ultimately revealing their current standing today.

When Did Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Meet? The Spark on Set

It was back in 2005 when a seemingly ordinary action-comedy film hit theaters, unknowingly acting as the powerful catalyst for Brad and Angelina’s iconic relationship. The movie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starred the future Hollywood power couple as a husband and wife duo, both secretly assassins tasked with eliminating each other. While such a premise might not immediately suggest a recipe for enduring romance, the intense on-set experience and the collaborative nature of their work brought Brad and Angelina exceptionally close. Their palpable chemistry, undeniable even in the film’s promotional materials, quickly fueled widespread speculation about their off-screen connection.

At the time, Brad Pitt was still married toFriendsstar Jennifer Aniston, a beloved actress whose own marriage to Pitt had been a celebrated union. As production on Mr. & Mrs. Smith concluded and rumors of a blossoming romance between Brad and Angelina intensified, Brad’s five-year marriage to Jennifer was nearing its end. Soon after, Jennifer Aniston filed for divorce, a move that opened the door for Brad to openly pursue Angelina. This highly publicized love triangle dominated headlines for months, with the public avidly dissecting every detail and desperately seeking answers to whether Brad had been unfaithful to Jennifer with his captivating new co-star.

“I would be a robot if I said I didn’t feel moments of anger, hurt, of embarrassment,” Jennifer Aniston candidly confessed in a poignant 2006 Vanity Fair interview. This revealing conversation took place as Brad and Angelina were beginning to openly display their new relationship to the world. She continued, expressing her bewilderment, “I just don’t know what happened. There’s a lot I don’t understand, a lot I don’t know, and probably never will know, really.” The interview captured the raw emotions of a woman navigating a very public heartbreak.

Despite the intense public speculation and scrutiny, both Brad and Angelina consistently denied any romantic involvement while he was still married to Jennifer. Jennifer Aniston, for her part, stated that she felt compelled to believe her husband’s denials at the time. “I choose to believe my husband,” she remarked. “At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised by anything, but I would much rather choose to believe him.” This denial, however, did little to quell the public’s suspicions, which only grew stronger as Pitt and Jolie’s relationship progressed.

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie’s Growing Family

Long before Angelina and Brad officially became a couple, Angelina Jolie had already embarked on her journey into motherhood. In 2002, the actress adopted her son, Maddox, from Cambodia when he was just seven months old. At that time, Angelina was married to Billy Bob Thornton, but she took Maddox in as a single mother after her split from Thornton just months following the adoption’s finalization. In July 2005, Angelina further expanded her family by adopting a daughter, Zahara, from Ethiopia. Brad Pitt was present with Angelina when she picked up Zahara, signaling his deep involvement, and he officially legally adopted both Maddox and Zahara in 2006, solidifying his role as their father and marking the true beginning of their blended family.

Barely a year into their blossoming romance, Brad and Angelina were excitedly expecting their first biological child together. In May 2006, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was born, instantly making their growing clan a family of five. This significant event further cemented their bond and captured global attention. In March 2007, Angelina adopted Pax from Vietnam, and Brad legally became his adoptive father in February 2008, embracing another child into their loving home. The family continued to grow with the arrival of twins, Vivienne and Knox, in July 2008. Angelina famously chose the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2008 to debut her baby bump, publicly announcing her pregnancy with the twins and adding another memorable moment to their celebrated life together.

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie’s Marriage: A Private Ceremony

After years of building their family and navigating their high-profile relationship, the former couple finally exchanged vows in 2014. The private ceremony took place at their beloved Château Miraval estate in Correns, France – a stunning property they had purchased partly as a sanctuary from the intense media scrutiny that perpetually surrounded them. Their wedding was a beautifully intimate affair, designed with their children at its heart. Maddox and Pax had the honor of walking their mother down the aisle, while Knox and Shiloh enthusiastically served as ring bearers. Zahara and Vivienne graced the occasion as adorable flower girls, making the entire event a true family celebration.

For her special day, Angelina Jolie donned a unique custom Atelier Versace gown. What made this dress truly remarkable was the fact that their children all contributed to its design, adding their drawings and doodles to the veil and train. Brad Pitt himself did not see the dress until the momentous occasion of Angelina walking down the aisle, a detail she shared with PEOPLE magazine, highlighting the element of surprise and intimacy. The children’s involvement didn’t stop there; they also played a hand in writing their parents’ wedding vows. “It was very sweet what they came up with,” Angelina gushed, reflecting on the heartfelt contributions of her kids to their parents’ union.

Regrettably, their much-anticipated marriage proved to be quite short-lived. After just two years as a married couple, Brad and Angelina publicly announced their decision to divorce in September 2016. What followed was an unprecedented outpouring of explosive claims and counter-claims, revealing the tumultuous events that ultimately led to their messy and highly publicized separation. This marked the end of an era for “Brangelina” and the beginning of a protracted legal battle that would dominate headlines for years to come.

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie’s Tumultuous Custody Battle

The marriage officially unraveled in spectacular fashion during a private flight home from France to the United States with their six children. The dramatic aftermath ignited a years-long custody battle that, astonishingly, has continued into 2023, even though three of their children have now reached legal adulthood. Initially, Angelina Jolie was granted temporary full custody of the children, while Brad Pitt was allotted visitation rights. This arrangement was put in place amidst claims that Brad had engaged in physically violent behavior towards Maddox on the flight, following an argument with Angelina. While the specific details of the alleged altercation were not made public at the time, the incident served as the immediate trigger for Angelina’s divorce filing.

By November 2016, Brad Pitt was officially cleared of the child abuse allegations by both the Department of Child & Family Services and the FBI, bringing a temporary resolution to that aspect of the controversy. A new temporary custody arrangement was subsequently established, permitting Brad unsupervised visits with his children, though these visits were subject to approval from a court-appointed psychologist. This step was crucial in slowly rebuilding his access to his children.

In January 2017, Brad Pitt formally requested that all court documents pertaining to the sensitive custody case be sealed from public view. Initially, Angelina Jolie contested this decision, asserting that Brad was merely “terrified that the public would learn the truth about him” if the documents were not kept private. However, by the end of that same month, the estranged couple managed to reach a mutual agreement to seal the documents, ensuring a degree of privacy for the ongoing proceedings and their children.

A significant development occurred in June 2018 when Brad Pitt achieved a notable victory in the custody case. A judge ruled that Angelina Jolie was not doing enough to facilitate and encourage a relationship between the children and their father. Consequently, Brad was granted an increase in custody time over the summer months, reflecting a new temporary agreement designed to give him more access. That August, however, a fresh disagreement emerged regarding child support, with Angelina publicly accusing him of failing to pay a “meaningful” amount, adding another layer to their already complex legal disputes.

While Brad and Angelina were initially expected to proceed to a full trial for their custody hearing in December 2018, they managed to come to an agreement out of court by November of that year. This agreement stipulated that Brad would still hold less than 50 percent custody, but it did ensure that his time with the children would be increased. This marked a period of tentative progress in their protracted legal battle, signaling a desire to avoid a public trial.

By April 2020, a judge issued a ruling declaring Angelina and Brad to be “legally single,” a significant step forward in dissolving their marital status, though their divorce was not yet fully finalized. That summer, the couple faced a new disagreement when Angelina attempted to have the judge overseeing their divorce case, John W. Oudenkirk, removed and replaced. Her reasoning stemmed from concerns about his alleged prior relationship with Brad’s attorney. However, her request was ultimately denied in November 2020, allowing Judge Oudenkirk to continue presiding over the proceedings.

In March 2021, Angelina Jolie filed new court documents, making explosive claims that she possessed proof to substantiate allegations of domestic violence against Brad. Furthermore, Angelina asserted that if her children were permitted to testify in the custody hearing, their statements would powerfully support her allegations. At the time, a source close to Brad Pitt refuted these claims, telling HollywoodLife that Angelina was merely attempting to “target and tarnish” her ex-husband’s reputation with these serious accusations.

The judge, however, ruled that the children would not be allowed to testify in May 2021, a decision that deeply displeased Angelina. She publicly attributed this outcome to Judge Oudenkirk, claiming he was not providing her with a fair trial. In that same month, Brad Pitt was finally awarded joint custody of the remaining minor children, a major victory for him. Yet, Angelina swiftly appealed the decision in June, reiterating her insistence that Judge Oudenkirk had not acted impartially in his rulings. The lawyers representing both stars appeared in court in July 2021 to argue the appeal.

Following that crucial hearing, Angelina was granted her request to have Judge Oudenkirk removed from the case, effectively voiding the joint custody decision he had made the previous month. At the time, a representative for Brad Pitt issued a statement to HollywoodLife, clarifying, “The appeals court ruling was based on a technical procedural issue, but the facts haven’t changed. There is an extraordinary amount of factual evidence which led the judge – and the many experts who testified – to reach their clear conclusion about what is in the children’s best interests. We will continue to do what’s necessary legally based on those detailed findings of what’s best for the children.” Brad subsequently went to court in October 2021 in an attempt to reinstate Judge Oudenkirk’s earlier decision, but his request was ultimately denied.

As summer transitioned into fall in 2022, Brad and Angelina’s custody case once again dominated headlines when Angelina went public with shocking allegations against Brad. These revelations emerged amidst another significant legal battle they were embroiled in (detailed further below). In newly filed court documents, Angelina finally shared her comprehensive account of what she alleged occurred during that fateful September 2016 private plane journey involving herself, Brad, and their children, providing the most explicit details to date.

Angelina’s detailed statement alleged that Brad had a heated confrontation with one of their children (widely believed to be Maddox) even before they boarded the plane. Once airborne, he allegedly accused Angelina of being “too deferential” with the kids. Over an hour into the trip, the complaint claims he “grabbed [Angelina] by the head and shook her” before proceeding to “grab her by the shoulders and shake her again.” Reportedly, one of the children attempted to intervene and defend Angelina, at which point she alleged that Brad “lunged” at the minor child, escalating the terrifying situation further.

“The children rushed in and all bravely tried to protect each other,” Angelina’s statement vividly recounted. “Before it was over, Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face. Some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop. They were all frightened. Many were crying.” These harrowing allegations painted a stark picture of the events that precipitated the couple’s split and the subsequent custody battle.

Upon the plane’s landing, Angelina alleged that Brad initially refused to allow her and the children to disembark the aircraft. According to the documents, it wasn’t until he eventually fell asleep that she was able to formulate a plan to safely escort the children to a hotel. At the time these events first surfaced, a source close to Brad confirmed that the actor had been drinking and acknowledged that he “crossed a line,” but stressed that he immediately sought to make amends. Following Angelina’s public accusations in 2022, a representative for Brad added, ““(Jolie’s) story continues to evolve each time she tells it with new, unsubstantiated claims. Brad has accepted responsibility for what he did but will not for things he didn’t do. These new allegations are completely untrue.” The differing accounts highlight the deep chasm in their narratives.

The War Over Miraval: A Vineyard Divided

The aforementioned “other lawsuit” that kept Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie embroiled in legal wrangling revolved around their esteemed winery, Chateau Miraval. The couple first discovered this enchanting French estate in June 2007 while actively seeking private properties suitable for raising their burgeoning family. They ultimately purchased the property from Tom Bove, who, in a 2023 Vanity Fair profile, recounted that Brad and Angelina were desperate for a private haven before the birth of their twins, Vivienne and Knox. The acquisition was finalized in May 2008 through individual holding companies, with Brad initially holding a 60 percent stake and Angelina 40 percent.

Beyond its role as a family refuge, Brad Pitt quickly developed a passionate interest in winemaking, transforming the estate into a successful business venture. He partnered with renowned wine producer Marc Perrin to craft an exquisite rosé, which rapidly gained international acclaim. While Angelina Jolie was less directly involved in the day-to-day wine production, the prestigious ‘Jolie-Pitt’ name prominently featured on all the labels of their extremely successful wines. The couple officially became equal partners in Miraval in 2013 when Brad transferred an additional 10 percent of his stakes to Angelina for the symbolic price of one euro – a transaction he later claimed she never actually paid, according to the Vanity Fair article, setting the stage for future disputes.

However, with the announcement of their divorce, significant disagreements inevitably arose regarding the fate of the cherished estate and its lucrative wine business. Angelina Jolie wanted out of her business partnership with Brad, and she sent an email to him in Jan. 2021 to let him know, the Vanity Fair profile reveals. Her reported message articulated, “I have tried to stay open to the business, to see it as something that could be positive for our family, and have therefore not walked away. I see now how you have really wanted me out and will most likely be pleased to receive this email.” This communication marked a pivotal moment in the Miraval dispute.

Initially, Brad Pitt agreed to purchase Angelina’s portion of the winery, but the intended deal ultimately fell through. Angelina later asserted that Brad refused to finalize the agreement because she would not sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) he had requested. This alleged NDA, according to Vanity Fair, “prohibited Jolie from discussing, outside of court, any of Pitt’s personal conduct toward her or the family.” Conversely, a source close to Brad steadfastly maintained that the NDA was strictly confined to business matters related to Miraval, highlighting the conflicting narratives surrounding the failed buyout.

In July 2021, Angelina Jolie formally filed legal paperwork, accusing her former husband of actively blocking her efforts to sell her share of the winery to a third party. Brad Pitt promptly fired back in September 2021 with his own legal documents, in which he accused Angelina of attempting to deliberately exclude him from the potential sale of their shared asset, further escalating the dispute over the valuable estate.

Brad Pitt contended that Angelina’s decision to attempt selling her stake in the winery directly contravened an alleged prior agreement between them. He claimed that he and Jolie made a pact agreeing never to “sell their respective interests in Miraval without the other’s consent.” It was a promise Jolie would deny, claiming “no such agreement ever existed,” as reported by Vanity Fair. A source close to Brad, reflecting the sentiment of his legal team, characterized Angelina’s actions at the time as “vindictive,” underscoring the deep animosity surrounding the business disagreement.

In October 2021, Angelina Jolie officially sold her 50 percent stake in Chateau Miraval to a company controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler. This transaction ignited a new phase in the legal battle. Subsequently, in February 2022, Brad Pitt sued her, alleging that she had made the sale without his required permission. In his legal paperwork, Pitt sought damages and expressed his desire to annul the deal with Shefler, claiming that the new co-owner was making it exceedingly difficult for him to manage the winery according to his vision and established practices.

By June 2022, Brad Pitt amended his legal filing, intensifying his accusations by claiming Angelina had purposefully attempted to “inflict harm” upon him through her secretive sale to Shefler. He further asserted that Shefler harbored “malicious intentions” for the winery business. Brad’s court documents explicitly stated: “Jolie knew and intended that Shefler and his affiliates would try to control the business Pitt had built and to undermine Pitt’s investment in Miraval. And just as Jolie envisioned, that is exactly what Shefler has done.” Pitt also alleged that Angelina deliberately sold her share of the winery to an “adversarial party” as an act of retribution, specifically because he had been granted 50/50 custody of their children in a separate, albeit related, lawsuit. The actor’s lawsuit additionally noted that he only discovered the sale of the winery after it had already been reported in the press, emphasizing the secretive nature of the transaction from his perspective.

That July, a judge granted Angelina Jolie and her legal team the right to subpoena documents from Brad’s team, a crucial step amidst the escalating battle over Miraval. Once her team had access to the necessary documentation, Angelina and her holding company, Nouvel, filed their countersuit in September 2022. In these counter-documents, Angelina accused Brad of “acting in a hostile, destructive and illegal manner.” Nouvel specifically sought financial damages, based on claims that Brad had “wasted its assets” through various projects and expenditures at the Chateau over the years, implying mismanagement. At the time, a source close to Brad Pitt dismissed these new claims, telling HollywoodLife, “Sadly, this is yet another rehash and repackaging of old material to try and distract from [Angelina]’s own behavior.”

The conflict truly reached an apex in October 2022 when Angelina Jolie filed another cross-complaint, which contained bombshell allegations about her ex-husband. In this suit, Angelina publicly came forward with her accusations concerning Brad being “violent” towards both her and their children during the infamous 2016 airplane incident – an event that directly preceded her divorce filing (it’s important to recall that Brad had previously been cleared by the Department of Children and Family Services regarding these allegations). Angelina asserted that she had never openly discussed these specific allegations before, but claimed that Brad had “forced” her hand by attempting to “reassert control over [her] financial life” through demanding she undo the Miraval sale and rejoin him as a business partner, thereby making her feel compelled to reveal the full extent of the alleged abuse.

This latest lawsuit meticulously detailed Angelina’s grave allegations of Brad’s alleged abuse, which were comprehensively outlined in the ‘custody battle’ section of this article. A representative for Brad Pitt vehemently denied the story’s new elements, while pointing out that Brad had previously “accepted responsibility” for certain actions on the plane. However, the rep firmly insisted, “These new allegations are completely untrue.” Furthermore, Angelina explicitly claimed that she and Brad never had an explicit agreement prohibiting the sale of the winery without each other’s mutual permission, directly contradicting one of Brad’s central arguments in the Miraval dispute.

Where Angelina & Brad Stand Today: A Lingering Aftermath

Regrettably, as of June 2023, the relationship between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie remains entangled in complex legal and personal disputes, far from a state of harmony. Brad filed a new complaint against Angelina in the ongoing Miraval battle on June 1. In this latest legal action, Brad reiterated his assertion that Angelina had “intentionally” sought to damage him through the sale of Miraval to Shefler. He also reiterated his claim that the two had a clear agreement about not selling the winery without each other’s explicit consent prior to their separation. Furthermore, Brad continued to allege that Angelina’s sole motivation for selling her share of the winery was an act of retribution, sparked by his legal victory in their custody case. This legal escalation underscored the persistent animosity surrounding their shared business venture.

Since their split, Brad Pitt has made a conscious choice to keep his interactions with his six children entirely out of the public eye; he has not been photographed publicly with any of them. This approach contrasts sharply with Angelina Jolie, who is frequently seen with their children, both during casual outings and at high-profile red carpet events, presenting a unified public front with her kids. This difference in public appearances highlights their distinct strategies in navigating post-divorce parenthood under intense media scrutiny.

In what marks a monumental development, several reports in December 2024 revealed that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had finally reached a comprehensive divorce settlement. According to TMZ, a prominent entertainment news outlet, the acclaimed actress officially “signed off” on the divorce on December 25, Christmas Day. This long-awaited resolution brings an end to a protracted and often acrimonious legal battle that spanned years, officially closing the chapter on one of Hollywood’s most high-profile and tumultuous marriages.