Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Ups and Downs Through the Years: Divorce Drama, Custody Battle and More
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been locked in a messy court battle ever since she filed for divorce in September 2016, but the pair were not always at odds.
The Oscar winners fell for each other while filming the 2005 action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The origination of their relationship instantly caused controversy since Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston at the time.
The Friends alum and the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star announced their separation in January 2005. She filed for divorce the following March, and the proceedings were finalized in October 2005.
“We spent a lot of time contemplating and thinking and talking about what we both wanted in life and realized that we wanted very, very similar things,” Jolie told Vogue in January 2007. “And then we just continued to take time. We remained very, very good friends — with this realization — for a long time. And then life developed in a way where we could be together, where it felt like something we would do, we should do.”
Pitt and the Salt star became serious rather quickly, with her confirming her pregnancy with their first child in January 2006. He formally adopted her son Maddox and daughter Zahara in 2006, and their children took on the surname Jolie-Pitt.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been locked in a messy court battle ever since she filed for divorce in September 2016, but the pair were not always at odds.
The Oscar winners fell for each other while filming the 2005 action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The origination of their relationship instantly caused controversy since Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston at the time.
The Friends alum and the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star announced their separation in January 2005. She filed for divorce the following March, and the proceedings were finalized in October 2005.
“We spent a lot of time contemplating and thinking and talking about what we both wanted in life and realized that we wanted very, very similar things,” Jolie told Vogue in January 2007. “And then we just continued to take time. We remained very, very good friends — with this realization — for a long time. And then life developed in a way where we could be together, where it felt like something we would do, we should do.”
Pitt and the Salt star became serious rather quickly, with her confirming her pregnancy with their first child in January 2006. He formally adopted her son Maddox and daughter Zahara in 2006, and their children took on the surname Jolie-Pitt.
The couple welcomed Shiloh in May 2006. The Maleficent actress adopted son Pax in March 2007, while the actor followed suit in February 2008. Their twins, son Knox and daughter Vivienne, were born in July 2008.
“One of the greatest, smartest things I ever did was give my kids Angie as their mom,” he gushed to Parade in September 2011. “She’s such a great mom. Oh, man, I’m so happy to have her. With a partner like Angie, I know that when I’m working, the kids are happy, safe and prospering. And when Angie’s working, she knows she has the same.”
Jolie and Pitt announced their engagement in April 2012. They tied the knot in France in August 2014. However, Brangelina called it quits in September 2016.
Scroll down to rediscover how Pitt and Jolie’s post-split relationship became so contentious.
September 2016
The Lara Croft: Tomb Raider star filed for divorce after two years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. She requested sole physical custody of their six children. “This decision was made for the health of the family,” her rep told Us Weekly in a statement at the time.
September 2016
An altercation on the duo’s private jet led to a child abuse investigation into Pitt. “He got drunk and was fighting with Angie,” a source claimed. “Maddox stepped in to defend Angie and got in Brad’s face.”
The Fight Club actor was cleared of the allegations in November 2016.
September 2016
The By the Sea costars reached a temporary custody agreement one week after their separation. She received full physical custody, while he was granted visitation rights. They were both ordered to undergo individual counseling as well as attend family counseling with their kids. He was subjected to random drug and alcohol testing at the time too.
November 2016
Pitt sought joint physical and legal custody of the children in his response to Jolie’s divorce filing. While Maddox initially refused to see his father, they reunited in October 2016 as their relationship remained strained.
February 2017
The Girl, Interrupted star opened up about the divorce in a BBC interview. “I don’t want to say very much about [the incident] except to say that it was a very difficult time and we are a family. And we’ll always be a family,” she said, growing emotional. “And we’ll get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it.”
March 2017
Us confirmed that Jolie and Pitt were speaking again after their split. “They are in a place where they can put anger or hurt aside to focus on their children and how they plan to coparent,” a source revealed, while another insider added: “They are only speaking about the kids but have agreed that the kids’ best interest comes first and that they will be civil to one another.”
May 2017
The Ad Astra actor got real about the aftermath of the split nearly one year later. “I was really on my back and chained to a system when Child Services was called,” he admitted to GQ Style. “And you know, after that, we’ve been able to work together to sort this out. We’re both doing our best. I heard one lawyer say, ‘No one wins in court — it’s just a matter of who gets hurt worse.’ And it seems to be true. You spend a year just focused on building a case to prove your point and why you’re right and why they’re wrong, and it’s just an investment in vitriolic hatred.”
He continued: “Fortunately my partner in this agrees. It’s just very, very jarring for the kids, to suddenly have their family ripped apart. If anyone can make sense of it, we have to with great care and delicacy, building everything around that. … Our focus is that everyone come out stronger and better people — there is no other outcome. I see it happen to friends — I see where the one spouse literally can’t tell their own part in it, and it’s still competing with the other in some way and wants to destroy them, and needs vindication by destruction, and just wasting years on that hatred. I don’t want to live that way.
June 2018
Pitt and Jolie reached a temporary custody agreement for summer 2018 after the court decided that “not having a relationship with their father” would be “harmful” to the children. The court determined the kids “are safe with their father” too. Maddox, due to his age, was free to stay with either parent.
The Emmy winner had physical custody during portions of the summer and was required to spend time with the children with a psychologist present.
August 2018
Jolie’s attorney claimed in a filing that Pitt had “paid no meaningful child support since separation” as of August 2018. In response, his lawyer noted that “[Pitt] adamantly disputes the contention that he has not paid significant child support. [Pitt] has previously loaned [Jolie] $8 million to assist her in purchasing her current residence and has paid over $1.3 million in bills for the benefit of [Jolie] and the minor children.”
November 2018
The estranged duo avoided going to trial over custody by reaching a new agreement. “Brad and Angelina will have joint physical and legal custody of the children,” a source close to Pitt told Us at the time. “Over a period of the next six to eight weeks, the monitored visits will come to a conclusion. The children will immediately begin to have overnight visits with their father.”
April 2019
Jolie and Pitt filed for a bifurcated judgment, which meant they were deemed legally single though their divorce continued.
June 2019
“Brad is enjoying spending more time with the kids and things have been improving with the four younger kids,” an insider revealed in June 2019. “Brad and Angie have been coparenting, utilizing OurFamilyWizard, which has probably been one of the most beneficial tools for their family in terms of keeping things moving forward in the best amicable terms possible. … Once Brad and Angie began using the platform, it allowed them to coordinate the kids’ schedules. They have very busy lives.”
October 2019
The French chateau where they wed caused more problems in the divorce settlement. “The sticking point is the value of Miraval,” a source said. “Angelina wants to be awarded the property as hers entirely because it was her idea to purchase the property to begin with.” However, Pitt believed he’d been “more than generous with other financial elements.”
