How Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie met and built a family
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie first collaborated professionally on the 2005 action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, later forming a prominent family unit that drew intense media attention. They married in August 2014 and became parents to six children before publicly announcing their separation in September 2016. This evergreen explainer outlines key milestones, legal developments, and their ongoing co-parenting approach, prioritizing verified timelines and outcomes over speculation.
Key relationship timeline at a glance
Their public timeline includes early collaboration, years together, and eventual legal resolution. Below is a concise, source-aligned overview of widely reported milestones relevant to their relationship status and family structure.
| Date or Period | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | First worked together on Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Marked the start of their professional connection that preceded their personal relationship |
| 2006–2013 | Began dating; had three biological children and adopted internationally | Built a large blended family over several years while maintaining privacy in early years |
| August 23, 2014 | Married in Southern France | Formalized their partnership publicly amid ongoing careers and family expansion |
| 2014–2016 | Continued work and family life while reports of strains emerged | Highlighted challenges common to high-profile parenting and career demands |
| September 2016 | Jolie filed for divorce and sought custody; Pitt filed response | Initiated formal legal process, shifting their relationship to co-parenting framework |
| 2017–2019 | Multistate legal proceedings, custody evaluations, and settlement discussions | Reflected the complexity of child custody and financial arrangements for blended families |
| April 2019 | Reported settlement reached, finalizing divorce terms | Brought public legal chapter to a close while co-parenting continued |
| 2020–present | Court-ordered evaluations and adjustments to custody and parenting schedules | Demonstrates ongoing, adaptive approach to co-parenting across time zones and schedules |
Meeting and early collaboration
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie first worked together on the 2005 action-comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a studio action rom-com that paired them as married assassins. Industry coverage often notes that the film’s blend of action and comedy allowed their onscreen chemistry to register with audiences. That collaboration preceded deeper personal involvement, suggesting professional alignment before romantic development. Their timelines indicate they began a personal relationship several years after the film’s release, amid busy production schedules and ongoing family planning considerations.
Family building and marriage
Over the course of their relationship, they expanded their family through biological children and international adoption, ultimately raising six children together. They formalized their commitment with a private ceremony in France in 2014, widely covered as a symbolic milestone amid demanding careers. Media accounts describe their family life as oriented toward stability and routine for the children, reflecting approaches common to blended families with high public profiles.
Separation and divorce proceedings
In September 2016, Jolie filed for divorce and requested custody of the children, while Pitt filed a response acknowledging the need to prioritize the children’s wellbeing. Reports described the period as involving custody evaluations, court hearings across multiple jurisdictions, and extensive negotiations typical of high-conflict, high-profile cases. By April 2019, outlets reported that a settlement had cleared the way to finalize the divorce, focusing on legal closure while emphasizing that co-parenting responsibilities would continue beyond legal proceedings.
Co-parenting after separation
Since the legal resolution, both have publicly framed their interactions around the children’s needs, with court-ordered evaluations and travel logistics shaping their parenting schedule. Industry sources indicate they have implemented structured routines to provide consistency for their children across two primary households. This long-term co-parenting model requires ongoing communication and logistical coordination, particularly given geographic demands and career commitments.
Professional trajectories and public roles
Throughout their relationship and after their separation, each has continued to pursue distinct creative projects while occasionally sharing family appearances. Pitt has maintained a focus on film production and select acting roles, while Jolie has pursued directing, producing, and advocacy work tied to humanitarian issues. Public events that include both have generally centered on family obligations, such as school runs or awards-season duties, reinforcing a narrative in which their identities are intertwined yet individually developed.
Frequently asked questions
- When did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie first work together? They first collaborated on the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
- When did they marry? They married in August 2014 in Southern France.
- How many children do they have together? They share six children, through biological and adoptive parenting.
- When did they separate? They announced their separation in September 2016.
- Are they still co-parenting? Yes, they continue to co-parent with court-ordered arrangements that prioritize the children’s stability.