Ten years after their high-profile separation shocked the entertainment industry, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have finalized their divorce proceedings following a protracted eight-year legal battle over finances, custody, and assets, according to court records and reports from outlets including People.
The 2016 Flight Incident and FBI Inquiry
The marriage dissolved following an altercation aboard a private jet on September 14, 2016, during a flight from France to Los Angeles with their six children, according to documents detailed by People. Six days after the incident, on September 20, 2016, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. In heavily redacted FBI documents released in 2022, Jolie alleged an aggressive outburst by Pitt during the flight, an allegation Pitt consistently denied. The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry following an anonymous tip but closed the file two months later without filing criminal charges.
The Origins of Brangelina and Family Growth
The relationship began on the set of the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, while Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston, generating widespread media coverage. The couple integrated their family rapidly: Pitt adopted Jolie’s children Maddox and Zahara in 2006, followed by Pax in 2007. They also welcomed three biological children—Shiloh, born in Namibia in May 2006, and twins Knox and Vivienne, born in Nice in July 2008. After years of public visibility as a family, they married on August 23, 2014, at their French estate, Château Miraval, before separating two years later.
Château Miraval Dispute and Ongoing Litigation
While the formal divorce concluded in late 2024 after years of wrangling over custody and financial terms, litigation concerning their shared French winery, Château Miraval, remains active in the courts. Jolie sold her stake in the vineyard in October 2021. In February 2022, Pitt filed a lawsuit alleging that Jolie breached an agreement requiring mutual consent for the sale and deliberately sought to harm the business, according to court filings. In response, Jolie’s firm Nouvel filed a cross-complaint seeking $250 million, characterizing Pitt’s legal actions as a retaliatory campaign.
Personal Developments and Family Dynamics
In the years following the separation, Pitt addressed his struggles with alcohol, stating in a 2019 interview with the New York Times that he completed a twelve-step program with Alcoholics Anonymous after deciding to halt his drinking. Pitt has been in a relationship with jewelry designer Ines de Ramon since late 2022. Concurrently, public records and media reports indicate significant estrangement between Pitt and his older children, with five of the six children dropping his surname in daily use and two executing legal name changes.
Angelina Jolie’s Planned Relocation
Angelina Jolie stated to the Hollywood Reporter in 2024 that she remained based in Los Angeles primarily due to ongoing divorce constraints and custody arrangements, noting an intention to relocate once her youngest children reached adulthood. With twins Knox and Vivienne turning 18 on July 12, 2026, Jolie prepared her Los Feliz villa—purchased in 2017 for $24.5 million—for sale, according to People. In a September interview with L’Officiel, she stated an intention to adopt a nomadic lifestyle outside the United States, with planned stays in locations including Cambodia, where she adopted her oldest son, Maddox, in 2002.
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