The Prolonged Divorce of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: Unraveling the Complications

The divorce between Hollywood’s former golden couple, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has taken an astonishing eight years to finalize, far exceeding the duration of their marriage. Legal skirmishes over custody involving their six children and disputes related to their jointly-owned vineyard have significantly delayed the process. With enduring accusations and legal battles continuing, the emotional and practical implications of their split have profoundly impacted both their lives and the lives of their children.

The divorce between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, arguably the most watched couple of modern Hollywood, has taken an astonishing eight years to reach a settlement, four times longer than their short-lived marriage. The lengthy duration of this divorce can be attributed to a tangled mix of bitter disputes involving their children and their shared ownership of a French vineyard.

Celebrity lawyer Chris Melcher, speaking to BBC News, described the protracted proceedings as highly unusual. He elaborated that the primary challenges arose from differing views over child custody and ownership of Château Miraval, a vineyard they purchased together in 2008. The stress of these negotiations has made the situation feel more like a drawn-out battle than a typical divorce—something Melcher noted is rare for cases of this magnitude.

Kate Daly, co-founder of Amicable, an online divorce service, highlighted the stark difference between high-profile separations and average divorces. She remarked that the wealth of celebrities allows them to involve expensive legal teams, which most people cannot afford. This drawn-out process serves as an unfortunate example of how the divorce industry functions differently for rich couples.

Angelina Jolie, 49, and Brad Pitt, 61, first connected in 2004 during the filming of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and were married in 2014, but their relationship evolved under the constant scrutiny of the public eye. Both had previous marriages—Pitt to Jennifer Aniston and Jolie to Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton. They share six children, who have added layers of complexity to their breakup.

Their final public appearance as a couple came in November 2015 at the premiere of "By the Sea," a film Jolie wrote and directed about a troubled marriage. Tensions began to publicly surface when news broke in September 2016 that Jolie filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences,” following an alleged incident on a private plane involving their son Maddox.

Although Pitt was cleared of any wrongdoing, legal disputes resurfaced in subsequent years with claims of emotional and physical distress. In a round of interviews, both parties expressed hopes for a resolution. Jolie emphasized her decision for the well-being of her family, while Pitt noted his commitment to overcoming their difficulties amicably.

Efforts to resolve custody of their children have seen the couple swap between attempts at cooperation and bitter disagreements. Despite finally being declared single in 2019, the settlement for the divorce remained unresolved as they navigated the complexities of co-parenting their children, aged between 16 and 23.

Moreover, the couple is still embroiled in legal disputes involving their vineyard, where Pitt accuses Jolie of unlawfully selling her stake without his consent to a company linked to a Russian oligarch. Jolie's side has remained mostly quiet regarding these allegations.

Their divorce, overshadowed by emotional and legal turmoil, highlights the toll such public separations can have on familial relationships. As the lawyer for Jolie noted, both parties have endured a protracted and exhausting saga since their separation eight years ago, intensifying the need for closure as they attempt to heal and move forward.