The Six Children Of Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie: Where Are They Now And Why Are Three Dropping 'Pitt' From Their Names?

The Jolie-Pitt children are no longer children. As of late December 2025, the six famous children of Hollywood icons Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are all young adults and teenagers, navigating college, career paths, and, most notably, a very public and complex family dynamic. The world has watched them grow up, but the past few years have brought the most significant, definitive changes, including major career moves and the shocking public decision by at least three of the children to remove their famous father’s surname from their public and legal identities. This is the definitive, up-to-the-minute look at where Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne stand today.

The core of the family's story remains the contentious divorce and custody battle that began in 2016. While the divorce itself was finalized in 2019, the legal disputes over assets and custody have continued, creating a deeply strained relationship between Brad Pitt and his children, particularly the older ones. Their recent, independent choices to distance themselves publicly underscore the lasting impact of the family separation and their mother's influence.

The Jolie-Pitt Children: A Complete Biography and Current Status (December 2025)

The six children—three adopted and three biological—represent one of the most famous sibling groups in the world. Their diverse origins and individual journeys are detailed below, with their ages current as of December 2025.

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• Maddox Chivan Jolie (Adopted)
  • Born: August 5, 2001, in Battambang, Cambodia.
  • Current Age: 24.
  • Status: The eldest son, Maddox was adopted by Angelina Jolie in 2002 and later by Brad Pitt in 2006. He has been studying at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, though he has spent time in the US during the pandemic. Maddox has been publicly estranged from his father since the 2016 plane incident that precipitated the divorce. He has also worked as a production assistant on his mother’s films.
• Pax Thien Jolie (Adopted)
  • Born: November 29, 2003, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
  • Current Age: 22.
  • Status: Adopted by Jolie in 2007, and by Pitt in 2008. Pax has quietly been pursuing a career in the art world, reportedly working under an assumed name to maintain anonymity. His focus is said to be on abstract art and photography, with reports suggesting he has even exhibited his work in Tel Aviv. Like his older brother, his relationship with Brad Pitt is reportedly strained.
• Zahara Marley Jolie (Adopted)
  • Born: January 8, 2005, in Hawassa, Ethiopia.
  • Current Age: 20.
  • Status: Adopted by Jolie in 2005 and by Pitt in 2006. Zahara is currently a student at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia—one of the nation's most prominent historically black colleges. In a major public moment, she was recently initiated into the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority, introducing herself simply as "Zahara Marley Jolie," a clear sign of dropping the 'Pitt' surname.
• Shiloh Nouvel Jolie (Biological)
  • Born: May 27, 2006, in Swakopmund, Namibia.
  • Current Age: 19.
  • Status: The first biological child of the couple. On her 18th birthday in May 2024, Shiloh officially filed a decree in the Los Angeles Superior Court to legally change her name to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, dropping 'Pitt.' This move, made immediately upon reaching legal adulthood, was the most definitive public statement yet from any of the children about their relationship with their father. She is known for her passion for dance and her distinctive personal style.
• Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt (Biological Twin)
  • Born: July 12, 2008, in Nice, France.
  • Current Age: 17.
  • Status: Twin brother to Vivienne. Knox is the quieter of the two twins, with his interests reportedly leaning toward the artistic and culinary arts.
• Vivienne Marcheline Jolie (Biological Twin)
  • Born: July 12, 2008, in Nice, France.
  • Current Age: 17.
  • Status: Twin sister to Knox. Vivienne has shown a keen interest in theater and has been working alongside her mother. She was credited as a producer assistant on the Broadway musical adaptation of S.E. Hinton's *The Outsiders*. Significantly, her credit in the playbill was listed as "Vivienne Jolie," indicating she, too, has publicly dropped her father's surname.

The Growing Trend: Why Three Children Are Dropping the 'Pitt' Surname

The most compelling and recent development in the Jolie-Pitt family saga is the clear and consistent pattern of the children publicly or legally dropping their father’s last name. While the reasons are deeply personal and rooted in the family’s private history, the public actions of Shiloh, Vivienne, and Zahara speak volumes about the current state of their relationships.

Shiloh's decision to file a legal name change on her 18th birthday was a powerful, symbolic act of independence. Legal experts note that filing such a petition immediately upon reaching adulthood suggests a long-held, firm desire to sever the legal connection to the name. This move followed her sister Vivienne's public choice to be credited as "Vivienne Jolie" for her work on *The Outsiders* Broadway production.

Zahara has also been using "Zahara Marley Jolie" in her college and sorority life, further cementing the trend. This collective choice by three children—two adopted and one biological—to distance themselves from the name suggests a unified front and a shared perspective on the family’s post-divorce dynamic. While Brad Pitt is reportedly saddened by these developments, sources close to the actor indicate he remains committed to repairing his strained relationships with his children.

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The Complex Reality of Brad Pitt's Relationship with His Older Children

The relationship between Brad Pitt and his six children has been described as "strained" and "estranged" for several years, a direct consequence of the tumultuous 2016 separation and the ensuing custody battle. The older children, in particular Maddox and Pax, have reportedly maintained little to no contact with their father.

The ongoing legal battles have kept the family’s private turmoil in the public eye, affecting the children’s ability to move forward. The children, now young adults, have consistently sided with their mother, Angelina Jolie, throughout the years of litigation. Pax, for instance, reportedly posted a harsh message about his father on social media in the past, though it was not a public post.

While the oldest children are making definitive choices about their public and legal identities, the younger twins, Knox and Vivienne, remain minors at age 17. Their public actions have been more subtle, such as Vivienne's name use in the Broadway playbill. The hope remains that as the children continue to mature and the legal disputes eventually settle, a pathway for reconciliation may emerge, but for now, the rift within one of Hollywood's most famous families appears to be widening.

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Future Paths: College, Careers, and Independence

Beyond the legal and family drama, the Jolie-Pitt children are carving out diverse and independent paths for themselves, demonstrating intellectual curiosity and artistic flair that echoes both of their parents’ creative spirits. This focus on individual pursuits is a key theme in their young adult lives.

Zahara’s enrollment at Spelman College highlights her commitment to higher education and connection to a rich cultural institution. Maddox continues his studies in South Korea, focusing on biochemistry. Pax's burgeoning career as an artist, albeit under a pseudonym, shows a dedication to the visual arts, while Shiloh's passion for dance and movement is well-documented.

Vivienne’s role as a production assistant on a major Broadway show, working directly with her mother, suggests an interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects of theater and film, potentially following in her mother's footsteps as a producer. Collectively, the siblings are focused on their education, artistic expression, and establishing their own identities separate from the 'Brangelina' legacy, often choosing to use the surname 'Jolie' as they step into the spotlight of their own making.