After nearly a decade of public and legal drama, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have officially settled their divorce. On Monday, December 30, the couple signed off on the agreement, marking the end of one of Hollywood’s most talked-about separations. The decision comes eight years after Jolie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Jolie’s legal representative confirmed the news and provided insights into the long, drawn-out process. Despite the settlement, other legal disputes, including those involving their French estate and winery, Château Miraval, remain ongoing.
A Lengthy and Draining Journey
In a statement to PEOPLE, Angelina Jolie’s attorney James Simon shared the emotional toll the years-long divorce proceedings have taken on his client.
“More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time, she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family,” he said. “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.”
A source close to Jolie added that the actress and filmmaker has consciously avoided speaking negatively about Pitt throughout the process. “She doesn’t speak ill of [Pitt] publicly or privately,” the source said. “She’s been trying hard to be light after a dark time.”
The Beginning: Divorce Filing and Allegations
Angelina Jolie, now 49, filed for divorce on September 19, 2016. The decision came shortly after an incident aboard a private jet involving Pitt and their children. Jolie alleged that Pitt was abusive during the flight, claims that later sparked investigations by child welfare authorities and the FBI. Ultimately, Pitt was not charged, and Jolie chose not to press charges.
The divorce filing marked the beginning of a contentious legal journey for the pair, who share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox. While the couple had hoped to keep the process private, their disputes soon became highly publicized due to the high-profile nature of their relationship and the sensitive issues at stake.
Efforts to Maintain Privacy
Recognizing the strain that public scrutiny placed on their children, Jolie and Pitt attempted to bring some level of confidentiality to their divorce proceedings. In January 2017, the pair issued a joint statement announcing that they had reached an agreement to use a private judge to handle the legal aspects of their separation.
“The parties and their counsel have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues,” the statement read.
They also committed to presenting a united front for their children. “The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification,” the statement concluded.
Despite these intentions, the divorce proceedings were fraught with disputes, including heated custody battles and disagreements over shared assets.
Custody Disputes and Sealed Records
A significant focus of the divorce proceedings was the custody of their six children. In 2017, Pitt and Jolie agreed to seal sensitive records related to their family. At the time, most of their children were minors. However, as of 2024, four of the six children—Maddox (23), Pax (21), Zahara (19), and Shiloh (18)—are now adults. Only the twins, Vivienne and Knox, remain minors at age 16.
Despite the sealing of records, reports of ongoing tensions frequently emerged, with sources close to both parties offering conflicting narratives. The protracted custody battle underscored the deep rift between the former spouses, even as they both publicly claimed to prioritize their children’s well-being.
Ongoing Battle Over Château Miraval
While the divorce itself is now finalized, disputes over the couple’s shared assets—most notably Château Miraval, a $164 million French estate and winery—remain unresolved.
In February 2022, Brad Pitt filed a lawsuit against Jolie over her sale of her stake in the estate to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group. Pitt claimed that Jolie’s actions violated an agreement requiring mutual consent before either party could sell their shares. Jolie countered by filing her own lawsuit through her business, Nouvel, alleging that Pitt was attempting to seize control of the property through manipulative tactics.
The Château Miraval dispute has become one of the most contentious aspects of their post-divorce relationship. In November 2024, Jolie scored a legal win when a judge ruled that Pitt must disclose documents, including emails and texts, that her lawyers argue will support her claims of abuse and cover-ups.
However, Pitt also notched a victory in the same month when Jolie’s motions to dismiss his lawsuit were rejected. His legal team has argued that evidence supports the existence of a written agreement requiring mutual consent for any sale of the estate. A source close to Pitt described Jolie’s legal maneuvers as “deliberate efforts to misdirect, recycle, and reposition the truth.”
Jolie’s countersuit, meanwhile, has described Pitt’s actions as “frivolous, malicious, and part of a problematic pattern.” Her legal team denies the existence of any agreement preventing her from selling her shares.
A Painful Chapter Closes
The finalization of their divorce ends a painful chapter for both Pitt and Jolie, despite the ongoing Château Miraval dispute. The settlement allows both parties to focus on other aspects of their lives, though unresolved legal issues are likely to keep them intertwined for the foreseeable future.
Jolie has expressed relief that this stage of the process is over, with sources noting her determination to focus on peace and healing for herself and her children. Pitt, meanwhile, has moved on in his personal life and has been dating jewelry executive Ines de Ramon since 2022.
Despite the lengthy and often contentious proceedings, both Jolie and Pitt have repeatedly emphasized their desire to prioritize their children’s well-being. As they continue to navigate their legal disputes, the finalized divorce marks a significant milestone in the story of their separation—a story that has captivated public attention for nearly a decade.
With the divorce settled, attention now shifts to the ongoing battle over Château Miraval, a dispute that promises to remain in the spotlight as new legal developments unfold.
