Few Hollywood romances sparked as much public fascination as Brangelina. Their story began under deeply controversial circumstances, yet the pull between them was impossible to ignore. Together, they traveled the globe raising six children before finally tying the knot in 2014 — only for everything to unravel just two years later.
Here’s a closer look at how their journey unfolded.
2004–2005: A Fateful Film Set and a Marriage Ending
The two first crossed paths during production of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2004. That same year, Jennifer Aniston initiated divorce proceedings from Pitt. Both Jolie and Pitt would later acknowledge that their feelings for each other developed while shooting the film.
July 2005: Going Public
By mid-2005, the newly dubbed “Brangelina” made their relationship official in a striking W Magazine editorial titled Domestic Bliss. Pitt also joined Jolie on a trip to Ethiopia as she completed the adoption of her second child, Zahara.
January 2006: A Baby on the Way
Barely three months after Pitt’s divorce from Aniston was formally concluded, the couple revealed they were expecting their first biological child together.
January 2006: Becoming the Jolie-Pitts
Around the same time, a judge approved the request to add Pitt’s name to Jolie’s children’s surnames. Pitt’s formal adoption of the children soon followed.
May 2006: Shiloh Arrives
The couple welcomed daughter Shiloh in Namibia in May 2006, and the following month appeared with her on the cover of People magazine.
March 2007: The Family Grows Again
Jolie and Pitt traveled to Vietnam in early 2007 to adopt three-year-old Pax, bringing their growing family to four children.
May 2008: Twins on the Way
A February 2008 pregnancy announcement was followed by an even bigger surprise — at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Jolie revealed the couple was expecting twins.
July 2008: Knox and Vivienne Are Born
The twins arrived in Nice, France in July 2008. A month later, Knox and Vivienne graced the cover of People.
2009–2010: Tabloid Turbulence
Author Ian Halperin’s 2009 book alleged that Pitt had been unfaithful to Jolie. Then in 2010, News of the World published claims that the couple had quietly separated earlier that year. The pair took legal action against the publication and ultimately prevailed.
April 2012: An Engagement Confirmed
Reports emerged in April 2012 that Jolie had been spotted wearing an estimated $1 million engagement ring. Pitt’s manager later acknowledged the milestone, noting the couple’s children were thrilled, though no wedding date had been set.
August 2014: They Say “I Do”
A decade after meeting on set, the couple exchanged vows at their French estate, Château Miraval, in Provence. All six of their children had meaningful roles in the ceremony — Zahara and Vivienne as flower girls, Shiloh and Knox as ring bearers, and Maddox and Pax escorting their mother down the aisle.
2014: Reunited on Screen
Jolie penned the screenplay for By the Sea (2014), which marked the first time she and Pitt starred opposite each other since Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
September 2016: The Incident on the Plane
Though the full details wouldn’t surface publicly until 2022, a serious altercation occurred aboard the family’s private jet as they flew back to Los Angeles following a vacation. Reports alleged that Pitt physically confronted Jolie, struck the ceiling of the plane repeatedly, and spilled alcohol on her and the children. No criminal charges were filed.
September 2016: Jolie Files for Divorce
Following two years of marriage, Jolie formally sought a divorce, citing irreconcilable differences and requesting sole physical custody of their children.
November 2016: Pitt Cleared
After the divorce filing prompted an investigation by the Department of Child and Family Services, authorities determined no wrongdoing on Pitt’s part.
December 2016 – January 2017: A Bitter Custody Fight
Pitt pursued joint custody, but a December ruling granted Jolie sole custody instead, with Pitt permitted supervised visits coordinated through the children’s therapist.
June 2018: A Custody Agreement Reached
While Jolie was in London filming Maleficent, both parties settled on a custody arrangement that gave Pitt unsupervised contact via phone and text, along with visitation rights.
April 2019: Single Status Restored
Though their divorce remained technically unfinished, a judge granted both parties single status through bifurcation, enabling them to file taxes as individuals.
2021–2022: The Château Miraval Dispute
The vineyard estate where they had married became a major flashpoint. Pitt maintained he was blindsided by Jolie’s intention to sell her stake, while Jolie cited the estate’s connection to alcohol as her motivation. What began as a negotiation eventually saw Jolie sell her share to Russian businessman Yuri Shefler for $67 million — a move Pitt strongly opposed.
May–July 2021: Custody Battles Revisited
A tentative ruling in May 2021 briefly awarded Pitt joint custody, but the decision was later thrown out on appeal after it emerged the presiding judge had an undisclosed professional relationship with him.
2022: The 2016 Plane Incident Comes to Light
The FBI’s report detailing the altercation aboard the private jet became public for the first time, reigniting debate about what had taken place that night.
November 2023: Zahara Steps Back from the Pitt Name
When introducing herself to sorority sisters at her university, daughter Zahara referred to herself only as Zahara Marley Jolie. A video of the moment circulated widely online.
2024: Allegations of Abuse Before the Plane Incident
As the Château Miraval legal fight continued, Jolie’s legal team put forward claims that abuse had begun long before the 2016 flight. In an April filing, her attorneys wrote that the plane incident was the first time Pitt’s conduct extended to the children, prompting Jolie to leave the relationship immediately.
June 2024: Shiloh Removes Pitt’s Name
Upon turning 18, Shiloh legally dropped her father’s surname. Pitt reportedly acknowledged the decision and expressed that he found it deeply upsetting.
December 2024: Divorce Finally Settled
After eight years of legal proceedings, Jolie’s attorney confirmed the couple had reached a final divorce settlement — drawing the curtain on what became one of the most prolonged and acrimonious splits in Hollywood history.
October 2025: Fresh Tensions Emerge
Newly released court documents revealed that Jolie described Pitt’s insistence on a non-disclosure agreement as deeply painful. She alleged the demand, made during the Château Miraval negotiations, was designed to keep her silent. Pitt’s camp offered no public response.
December 2025: A Court Win for Pitt
On December 27, Judge Lia Martin of the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled in Pitt’s favor, ordering Jolie to hand over unredacted communications related to her legal strategy. The ruling came weeks after Pitt’s lawyers submitted supporting evidence that included private text messages, which legal observers noted could significantly influence the case going forward.
Legal Battles Ongoing
Prior to that December ruling, Jolie had been pursuing over $33,000 in legal fee reimbursements and accused Pitt of attempting to dominate her through demands for access to her private attorney communications. Her legal team called the request legally unfounded and characterized it as part of a broader pattern of control.
Sources: Glamour, TODAY.com, Cosmopolitan, People
