Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Finalize Divorce Settlement After Eight-Year Battle

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive on the red carpet at the 86th Academy Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Center in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on March 2, 2014
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive on the red carpet at the 86th Academy Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Center in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on March 2, 2014. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock (12379652i)

Hollywood’s once-golden couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have officially finalized their divorce settlement, bringing an end to an eight-year legal saga that has dominated headlines. The agreement, reached on December 31, resolves disputes over property, finances, and custody arrangements for their six children.

According to The New York Times, the settlement includes the division of their vast estate, including Jolie’s sale of her stake in their French winery, Château Miraval, which had been a major point of contention. While terms of the financial agreement remain confidential, both parties have reportedly agreed to an equitable split of assets.

The custody of their children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne—had also been a fiercely contested issue. Under the terms of the settlement, Jolie will retain primary custody, with Pitt granted expanded visitation rights. Maddox, who is now an adult, has opted to maintain limited contact with Pitt, reflecting a strained relationship that had been a focal point of earlier disputes.

The divorce proceedings, which began in 2016 when Jolie filed citing “irreconcilable differences,” have been marked by high-profile legal battles and public revelations. Among the controversies were allegations of domestic disputes during a private flight in 2016, which were thoroughly investigated but did not result in charges.

Celebrity lawyer Chris Melcher told BBC News the divorce settlement had taken an unusually long time.

“This is much longer than any divorce we typically see. But they initially had fights over custody and then it revolved around this winery they own together, and that’s been the focus of their fight over the last few years…A lot of times in a case of this magnitude we can settle it within six months, a year at the very most. Eight years is really a sign of something more going on…It’s an inability to let go and a desire to really harm the other,” Melcher said.

BBC News noted that the case had become emblematic of the challenges in high-stakes celebrity divorces, blending legal complexities with intense media scrutiny. Both Pitt and Jolie have publicly expressed hopes of moving forward for the sake of their family.

Jolie’s lawyer, James Simon, told Variety, “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.”

Château Miraval, a symbol of their once-idyllic union, remains a contentious topic. Jolie sold her shares to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group, in 2021, a move Pitt claimed was made without his consent. Despite the settlement, legal disputes over the winery could persist, with Pitt pursuing claims that Jolie’s actions intentionally undermined the business.

As one of Hollywood’s most iconic couples, Pitt and Jolie’s breakup has been closely followed since their split. Their journey from celebrated stars to adversaries in a prolonged legal battle reflects the complexities of untangling shared lives and legacies. With the settlement now finalized, both stars appear ready to turn the page on this chapter, focusing on their individual careers and roles as parents.