angelina jolie brad pitt
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
  • Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in September 2016.
  • A judge officially ruled both stars legally single in 2019. 
  • The former couple share six children: Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, and Vivienne. 

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been embroiled in a messy legal battle since ending their relationship

Jolie first filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016, two years after the pair got married at their Chateau Miraval in France. A judge declared both actors legally single in 2019.   

The biggest stake in the divorce continues to be the custody arrangements for the couple's youngest children.

In 2021, Pitt was awarded joint custody of his six children with Jolie, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to Business Insider. Page Six first reported the news.

"Pitt has always been seeking the opportunity to have more time with his children and prioritized their well being while the other side did everything to try and stop that," the source, whose identity is known to BI but is being withheld due to the nature of the information, said at the time.

Then, in a 2022 court filing, Jolie accused Pitt of choking one of their children and striking another on a September 2016 flight

Here's a primer on all of the Jolie-Pitt children.

Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 22

Angelina Jolie and son Maddox arrive for the state dinner in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2023.
Angelina Jolie and Maddox at the state dinner in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2023.

Maddox was adopted by Jolie in 2002 from Cambodia and originally changed his name from Rath Vibol to Maddox Chivan Thornton Jolie when she was still married to Billy Bob Thornton.

The following year, Jolie opened a foundation in Cambodia (now the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation) which helps provide healthcare, education, and conservation projects. In 2006, a children's center was opened under his name in Cambodia's capital.

Maddox had a small part in Pitt's 2013 movie "World War Z," playing a zombie who was shot. Maddox also helped his mother with work on a Netflix original film based in his home country of Cambodia. Jolie directed and produced an adaptation of the Loung Ung memoir, "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers."

"The film will change Mad, but as much as he's discovering the horrors of the past, he'll also be discovering the culture before the war, the dignity of his country, how they held their heads up," Jolie told Vogue in 2015 of Maddox's role working on the film.

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Maddox at the world premiere of "Maleficent" May 28, 2014.

Pitt formally applied to adopt Maddox in 2005 at the same time he applied to adopt the couple's other adopted daughter, Zahara.

It has also been reported that an alleged fight between Pitt and Maddox on a plane trip may have played a role in Jolie's decision to file for divorce. In a statement released by Jolie's attorney at the time of the announcement, it was said the decision to divorce "was made for the health of the family."

The FBI cleared Pitt of child abuse allegations in November 2016.

Maddox studied at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. In a 2020 interview with Extra, Jolie said Maddox returned to the US to take his classes online during the pandemic.

In February 2021, Maddox showed off the large dragon tattoo he had inked on his right ribcage in a photo British Vogue published of Jolie cutting her son's hair. The photo was among several intimate at-home snapshots Jolie shared for the magazine's March cover story.

In April 2023, Maddox and Jolie attended a state dinner at the White House hosted by President Joe Biden in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, 19

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Zahara, Jolie, and Maddox Jolie-Pitt at the Japan premiere of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" on October 3, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.

Jolie adopted Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005, right after Independence Day.

Zahara also provided her voice in "Kung Fu Panda 3" and has a small uncredited role in "Maleficent."

In 2011, Jolie started work on an Ethiopian facility to be named after her daughter for children who have been diagnosed with HIV or tuberculosis.

Zahara appears to be pretty close with sister Shiloh. The two have been seen out on shopping excursions together and attended Nickelodeon's 28th annual Kids' Choice Awards in 2015 with Angelina Jolie.

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Jolie with daughters Zahara and Shiloh at the Kids' Choice Awards in March 2015.

In 2019, Zahara launched a jewelry line, Zahara Collection, in collaboration with jeweler Robert Procop.

Jolie revealed in a March 2020 Time essay for International Women's Day that she "spent the last two months in and out of surgeries with my eldest daughter," referring to Zahara, but did not disclose the "medical challenges" her daughter was facing. A source told ET that month that Pitt had skipped that year's BAFTAs to be with Zahara during her recovery.

In October 2021, Zahara wore her mother's 2014 Oscars dress to the world premiere of Marvel's "Eternals." At the time, Jolie told Entertainment Tonight that all five kids who attended the event upcycled some of the stars' old belongings.

Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, and Knox Jolie-Pitt arrive for the World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ Eternals at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on October 18, 2021
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt at the world premiere of "Eternals" at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on October 18, 2021.

In late 2021, Zahara joined Jolie in Washington, DC, as the actor headed to meetings to "modernize and strengthen" the Violence Against Women Act.

Zahara started classes at Spelman College in Atlanta in fall 2022. The following year, she joined Spelman's Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. In a video posted by Essence, she referred to herself as Zahara Marley Jolie, but it's unclear if she legally changed her name.

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, 18

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Shiloh with brothers Pax (left) and Maddox (right) along with dad Pitt at the premiere of Jolie's movie, "Unbroken."

Pitt and Jolie's first biological daughter was born in May 2006. People paid a reported $4 million for the exclusive US rights to run the first photos of Shiloh.

When young, Shiloh preferred dressing in masculine clothes — fedoras and sometimes ties. In 2008, Pitt explained to Oprah how then-2-year-old Shiloh would ask to be called John.

Two years later, Jolie opened up to Vanity Fair about their daughter.

"She likes tracksuits, she likes [regular] suits," Jolie said. "She likes to dress like a boy. She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys' everything. She thinks she's one of the brothers."

As she got older, Shiloh debuted a new look with longer hair, which she often wears up when attending events with her family.

Shiloh may have ditched suits for the time being, but often opts for fun and comfortable shoes over heels on red carpets.

Angelina Jolie smiles with daughters Zahara and Shiloh at the Rome Film Fest in 2021.
Angelina Jolie with daughters Zahara and Shiloh at the Rome Film Fest in 2021.

Jolie wrote in the same March 2020 Time essay where she discussed Zahara's surgery that another of her daughters underwent hip surgery around the same time. The actor didn't specify whether she was talking about Shiloh or her youngest daughter, Vivienne, but People confirmed at the time that then-13-year-old Shiloh had been photographed walking on crutches

In 2022, Shiloh went viral after dancing to Doja Cat's song, "Vegas," which is featured in the movie "Elvis," in a video posted by choreographer Hamilton Evans. 

On her 18th birthday on May 27, Shiloh filed to legally change her name to Shiloh Jolie, TMZ and People reported. 

As for Pitt's response, a source told People: "He's aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. He's never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter."

"The reminders that he's lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It's very sad," the source added.

Pax Jolie-Pitt, 20

Angelina Jolie with Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt as the LA premiere of MSNBC Films'
Angelina Jolie with Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt as the LA premiere of "Paper & Glue: A JR Project" at the Museum of Tolerance on November 18, 2021.

Jolie's second oldest son, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, was adopted in 2007 from Vietnam when he was 3 years old. His name means peaceful sky in Latin and Vietnamese, respectively. Pitt adopted Pax a year later in 2008.

Pax, along with his brother Maddox, has shown off some cool hairstyles over the years ranging from mohawks to dyed looks. He celebrated his seventh birthday with the family in Paris, where they rode in a hot-air balloon and went on a party cruise. That same year, in 2011, Jolie took Pax back to Vietnam for a visit so he could learn more about his culture. 

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Knox, Zahara, Pax, Jolie, Vivienne, and Shiloh at the world premiere of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" in 2019.

zip-up shark hoodie became a staple outfit of his to hide from the paparazzi. 

Like some of his siblings, he also had a small role in one of his parents' films. He had a small uncredited role in Jolie's "Maleficent." Pax also recorded some animal noises for pandas in "Kung Fu Panda 3" along with his siblings Zahara, Shiloh, and Knox. Pax was reportedly helping Jolie with her Netflix film by taking still photos on set.

Jolie revealed during a 2016 appearance on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour that Pax has an interest in music and deejaying

In 2021, Pax graduated from a Los Angeles high school. According to The Sun, he skipped his graduation, not wanting to draw attention at the event.

Vivienne and Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt, 15

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The twins in Japan in 2013.

Fraternal twins Knox Léon and Vivienne Marcheline were born on July 12, 2008. Knox is the middle name of Pitt's grandfather and Leon is the name of Jolie's great-great-grandfather. Marcheline is the name of Jolie's mother. 

In 2011, Jolie described Vivienne, whom she refers to as Vivi, as a "girly girl" who likes to get her nails done and loves the color pink. Jolie used the words "elegant and delicate" to describe her youngest daughter to Marie Claire in 2011. Meanwhile, Knox is just the opposite, according to Jolie, who described him then as a tough little "dude" who likes dinos and swords.

Vivienne played a pint-sized version of Princess Aurora in "Maleficent" alongside her mom, a role for which she reportedly earned $3,000 per week. Knox, meanwhile, recorded animal noises for "Kung Fu Panda 3," in which Jolie voiced Tigress.

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Vivienne on set of "Maleficent" with Angelina Jolie.

The twins modeled in Vogue alongside their siblings and parents for the magazine's November 2015 issue. Jolie told Vanity Fair that Vivienne wanted to learn Arabic while Knox was learning sign language.

And Knox may have a future in design. For Mother's Day in 2014, Knox had one of his Maleficent drawings turned into a gold ring. Vivienne, meanwhile, practices karate.

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Knox Jolie-Pitt attend the
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Knox Jolie-Pitt at the UK premiere of "Eternals" on October 27, 2021 in London, England.

Knox and Vivienne spend a lot of time with their mom, accompanying her to the grocery store, heading to a musical, and going on a theme park outing. Five of the Jolie-Pitt clan joined their mother at the premieres of her 2021 Marvel movie, "Eternals."

Recently, Vivienne and Jolie attended the red carpet premiere of the Broadway show" The Outsiders: A New Musical," which the actor produced. Vivienne is listed as "Vivienne Jolie" in the Playbill, but it's unclear if she legally changed her name.

On Sunday, the mother-daughter duo wore color-coordinated outfits to the 2024 Tony Awards, where Jolie won her first Tony for producing "The Outsiders: A New Musical."

"Viv reminds me of my mother in that she isn't focused on being the center of attention but in being a support to other creatives," Jolie said in a statement obtained and shared by People in August. "She's very thoughtful and serious about theatre and working hard to best understand how to contribute."

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the 77th Tony Awards on June 16, 2024, in New York.
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the 77th Tony Awards on Sunday.
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