Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce settlement after eight-year legal battle

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have finally reached a divorce settlement, putting an end to one of Hollywood's most public and contentious separations.

The couple filed a joint declaration on Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, confirming that they have agreed on the division of their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by People magazine.

"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt," Jolie's attorney, James Simon, said in a statement. "She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. 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."

Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, who were together for 12 years and married for two, have six children. Their divorce began in 2016, following an alleged altercation on a private jet in which Jolie accused Pitt of being abusive towards her and their children. While the FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services investigated the claims, they ultimately took no action against Pitt.

Despite the long and often bitter legal battle, the court documents reveal that the settlement includes the pair waiving their right to any future spousal financial support. However, no further details have been made public at this stage, and the agreement still requires final approval from a judge.

Four of the couple's six childred are over 18, meaning no custody arrangements were necessary for them. The only minors in the family are 16-year-old twins, Knox and Vivienne. In June, their eldest daughter, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, petitioned to remove Pitt’s name from hers, which was granted. Their other children are 23-year-old Maddox, 21-year-old Pax, and 19-year-old Zahara.

Along with the federal and L.A. County officials, the initial judge in the case heard testimony on the allegations before deciding to give Pitt equal custody of the children.

One of the most contentious issues during the divorce has been the couple’s shared ownership of the Château Miraval vineyard in France. Pitt filed a lawsuit against Jolie, accusing her of selling her half of the winery to a third-party company, Tenute del Mondo, without his consent. He labelled the sale “vindictive” and said it undermined a private space that had been important to their family. Jolie’s attorneys countered that Pitt had demanded she sign a non-disclosure agreement that would have kept certain aspects of his alleged abuse hidden, which she refused.

The divorce agreement does not affect the winery lawsuit, where the legal battle between the two stars could continue.

The divorce case has been kept largely out of the public eye thanks to the couple’s decision to use a private judge, an increasingly common move among splitting celebrities. There have been no official court actions in nearly a year, and the settlement came as a surprise to many, as there had been little indication that the couple was nearing an agreement.

Despite their legal wrangling, both stars have kept a low profile regarding their personal lives. In a 2017 GQ interview, Pitt admitted to struggling with alcohol during the time of the divorce and the jet incident but said he had since become sober and was undergoing therapy. Jolie, meanwhile, has stayed mum on the specifics of the divorce, though she has pushed for a wider examination of Pitt’s behaviour through the courts.

The couple's relationship began in 2004 after co-starring as hitman-and-hitwoman spouses in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They became one of the most iconic couples in Hollywood, with Jolie starring in films such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Maleficent, while Pitt became a global star with hits like Fight Club and Inglourious Basterds. Both won Oscars, Jolie for Girl, Interrupted in 1999 and Pitt for Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood in 2020.

Jolie has returned to the heart of the Oscar conversation this year for her portrayal of the legendary soprano Maria Callas in Maria.