Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie is reportedly making plans to leave the United States and base herself in Europe, seeking greater privacy away from the long-running public and legal drama with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt.
The Drive for Privacy Across the Atlantic
According to claims from a long-time friend, the 50-year-old actress and humanitarian intends to swap Los Angeles for a European base, while also spending time in New York. The primary motive, as cited by friend and actor Jae Benjamin in a report by PageSix, is to secure "more privacy" for herself and her six children following years of intense public scrutiny.
"She can’t get far enough away from the drama … the only way to take a break is to get out," Benjamin stated. He described Jolie as wanting to "decompress" and focus solely on projects that align with her passions, calling her a "wonderful, talented and giving woman."
A Lengthy Legal Battle Over a French Winery
This potential move comes against the backdrop of a protracted and bitter legal dispute between the former spouses, centred on their co-owned French vineyard and home, Chateau Miraval. The couple purchased the estate in 2011 for approximately $60 million during happier times.
Following their separation in 2016 and divorce finalisation in 2019, a major point of contention has been the sale of Jolie's stake in the business. Pitt has argued in court that they had a mutual pact never to sell their shares without the other's consent, a claim Jolie has denied. The Bullet Train star filed a lawsuit alleging his ex-wife breached this agreement when she sold her share to a third party.
The legal conflict escalated recently when Pitt, 62, scored a procedural victory. In December, a Los Angeles court ruled that Jolie must hand over un-redacted versions of private messages related to the case. The court gave her 45 days to comply, as Pitt's legal team believes these communications may challenge her account of the sale's intentions.
Long-Awaited Plans to Relocate
Jolie has previously hinted at her desire to leave the US, linking the timing to her children's ages. She told The Hollywood Reporter that she was in Los Angeles due to the divorce arrangements but stated, "as soon as they’re 18, I’ll be able to leave." Her youngest children, twins Knox and Vivienne, turn 18 in July 2026.
The actress, who shares children Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 19, and the twins with Pitt, had earlier said she moved to LA so the children could be closer to their father. Now, with that chapter evolving, a transatlantic shift appears to be on the cards.
The former couple's relationship began on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith in 2005, a period when Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston. After his divorce from Aniston, he married Jolie in a 2014 ceremony, though the pair separated just two years later.
Representatives for both Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been approached for comment regarding the relocation reports.
