LOS ANGELES — Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have come to a divorce settlement, marking the conclusion of one of the most prolonged and contentious separations in Hollywood’s history, though not all legal matters between them have been resolved.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott J. Nord approved the agreement after Jolie and Pitt signed it the previous day. Jolie’s attorney, James Simon, stated, “More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.”
According to the filing, both parties relinquish their rights to any future spousal financial support, but further details have not been disclosed. An inquiry sent to Pitt’s attorney for comment has not received a response.
Jolie, who is 49, and Pitt, who is 61, were a prominent celebrity couple for 12 years, two of which they spent married. The Academy Award-winning duo share six children. Jolie initiated the divorce proceedings in 2016 following a private jet flight from Europe, during which she alleged that Pitt had physically abused her and their children. The FBI and child services opened investigations into the incident. Two months later, the FBI stated it would not pursue the matter further, and no charges were brought forth against Pitt.
A heavily redacted FBI report revealed in 2022 indicated that an agent had submitted a probable cause statement but, after discussions, decided against pursuing criminal charges. The report also noted that Jolie felt “personally conflicted” about prosecuting Pitt, and in a later court filing, she opted against pursuing charges for the well-being of their family.
A source involved with the child services investigation revealed in 2016 that the inquiry concluded without any findings of child abuse. A judge declared Jolie and Pitt divorced and single in 2019, but discussions regarding asset division and child custody were to proceed separately. Although both have had the option to remarry since that ruling, neither has taken that step. This was Jolie’s third marriage; she had been married to Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton previously, while Pitt’s marriage to Jolie marked his second following Jennifer Aniston.
Afterward, a private judge appointed to handle the couple’s case reached a decision for shared custody of their children. However, Jolie later moved to have this judge removed over an undisclosed conflict of interest, leading an appeals court to agree and invalidate the previous ruling, forcing the couple to restart settlement discussions.
During the prolonged divorce proceedings, four of their children reached adulthood, eliminating the need for custody agreements regarding them. The only minors currently involved are their 16-year-old twins, Knox and Vivienne. The court will continue to oversee child custody matters as part of California’s jurisdiction, even with the agreement finalized. Recently, one of their daughters, known as Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, successfully filed to drop Pitt’s last name.
The couple’s decision to employ private judges—an increasingly popular trend among separating high-profile celebrities—has kept many details of their divorce confidential. There were no official court actions related to their case for nearly a year, and no indications that both parties were nearing a settlement.
Nevertheless, some disputes have emerged due to a separate lawsuit initiated by Pitt concerning Jolie’s sale of her half of a French winery they co-owned, Chateau Miraval. Pitt has alleged that Jolie’s decision to sell her share to the Tenute del Mondo wine group was both “vindictive” and “unlawful,” having occurred without his permission and altering what he considered a private sanctuary for their family.
In response, Jolie and her legal team argued that Pitt had tried to force her to sign a broad non-disclosure agreement regarding his behavior as a condition of the proposed deal, which they interpreted as an attempt to conceal abusive actions towards both Jolie and their children.
The settlement reached during the divorce does not impact the ongoing legal struggle surrounding the winery, meaning that future legal confrontations between the two stars may still transpire.
Both Jolie and Pitt have remained largely secretive regarding all matters surrounding their split, despite active promotional efforts for various projects. While Pitt has openly discussed his struggles with alcohol during the period surrounding the plane incident and subsequent separation, he has not publicly defended his actions during the flight.
When they began dating in 2004, both were among the most celebrated stars in the film industry after co-starring in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” They maintained high profiles throughout their relationship, with Jolie winning an Oscar for “Girl, Interrupted” in 1999, while Pitt’s career soared, culminating in an Academy Award for his performance in 2019’s “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” Meanwhile, Jolie has focused on her film work and raising their children, recently garnering attention for her role as the iconic soprano, Maria Callas, in a new cinematic venture.
