Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt's Kids Have Changed A Lot Through The Years
It's no surprise that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children have emerged into the spotlight of Hollywood's glitz and glamour. However, Jolie and Pitt have proven that raising children in the public eye can result in kind, authentic, and passionate kids who want to make a difference. As most know, three of the Jolie-Pitts have been adopted, while three are the biological children of the now-divorced couple.
"Each is a beautiful way of becoming family," Jolie told Vogue in 2020. "What is important is to speak with openness about all of it and to share. 'Adoption' and 'orphanage' are positive words in our home. With my adopted children, I can't speak of pregnancy, but I speak with much detail and love about the journey to find them and what it was like to look in their eyes for the first time." Over the years, we've watched as Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne have grown and evolved before our eyes. From their early years spent traveling the world with their famous parents to their forays onto the red carpet and into the worlds of fashion and activism, the Jolie-Pitt children have never ceased to amaze us with their individuality, talent, and incredible style.
2002-2004: Maddox enters Angelina Jolie's life — and his mohawk haircut becomes iconic
Angelina Jolie adopted Maddox from Battambang, Cambodia, in 2002. Little Maddox captured Jolie's heart during her visit to the orphanage. "In 2001, I was in a school program in Samlout playing blocks on the floor with a little kid, and as clear as day, I thought: 'My son is here.' A few months later, I met baby Mad at an orphanage," Jolie told Vogue in 2020.
The "Maleficent" actor has often spoken about how becoming a mother in her 20s changed her life. "I was 26 when I became a mother," she said in a 2023 interview with Vogue. "My entire life changed. Having children saved me — and taught me to be in this world differently." Maddox's infectious smile and vibrant personality made him stand out, and Jolie knew he was meant to be her son. "He was clever, sharp, smart, a lovely kid, who smiled at people more than any of the other babies," Jolie's friend Sarath Mounh told the Daily Mail in 2021, adding that as soon as Maddox saw Jolie, he "got up instead of crying like all the other babies. He was smiling right at her; it touched her heart — that's why she chose Maddox." Maddox's arrival marked the beginning of Jolie's journey into motherhood and her dedication to providing a loving home for children in need. And in the early 2000s, nobody rocked a mohawk as effortlessly as Maddox did.
2005-2006: Zahara joins the family and Shiloh is born — the two sisters are only a year apart in age
In 2005, Zahara joined Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's family. Jolie adopted Zahara, a 6-month-old baby, from an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Shortly after, Pitt announced his intention to adopt Maddox and Zahara, and their surnames were changed to Jolie-Pitt. Reflecting on the experience of adopting children, Jolie shared with Vogue in 2020, "All adopted children come with a beautiful mystery of a world that is meeting yours. When they are from another race and foreign land, that mystery, that gift, is so full. For them, they must never lose touch with where they came from. They have roots that you do not." She added, "Honor them. Learn from them. It's the most amazing journey to share. They are not entering your world — you are entering each other's worlds."
Jolie also opened up about the challenges she faced during Shiloh's birth in Namibia in 2006, highlighting the lack of medical resources available there. "I needed a C-section, and I knew I was in breech because I had had the money to have an ultrasound," the actor said on BBC Radio 4's "Women's Hour" (via Refinery29). "So the amount of women that didn't know they were in breech, the amount of babies and complications when they got into labor, with one simple machine ..." Shining a spotlight on healthcare problems in developing countries helps give the people who live there a strong voice, and Jolie knows that. In 2006, Jolie and Pitt's family counted three children, but soon that number would double.
2007-2008: Three becomes six: Angelina Jolie adopts Pax and gives birth to twins Knox Léon and Vivienne Marcheline
In 2007, Angelina Jolie's family expanded when she and Brad Pitt adopted Pax Thien — who was 3 at the time — from an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Pax's addition to the family brought the total number of children to four. "You can imagine what courage it takes to be in all new surroundings with new people and a new language. He is very strong," Jolie said at the time (via CBS News). "He is a very serious, very sweet little boy."
Just over a year later, Jolie gave birth to twins Knox Léon and Vivienne Marcheline. The unexpected arrival of twins surprised the family, but Jolie and Pitt embraced the challenge. "We weren't expecting twins," Jolie revealed (via People). "So it did shock us, and we jumped to six [children] quickly. But we like a challenge."
2009-2010: Zahara and Shiloh have a noticeably different style
Early on, Zahara and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt showed the world that they were their own little fashion icons. Despite their young age, it was clear that the siblings had distinct personalities, and that was reflected in their unique style choices. Zahara's wardrobe was all about embracing her feminine side with glitter, florals, and all things girly. On the other hand, Shiloh marched to the beat of her own drum, favoring a more tomboyish look and mixing masculine style into her fashion.
"I don't think it's for the world to interpret anything. She likes to dress like a boy and wants her hair cut like a boy, and she wanted to be called 'John' for a while," Angelina Jolie said of Shiloh in 2010 (via the Daily Mail). "Some kids wear capes and want to be Superman, and she wants to be like her brothers. It's who she is. It's been a surprise to us and it's really interesting, but she's so much more than that — she's funny and sweet and pretty. But she does love a tie ..." Shiloh's preference for more masculine clothing only accentuated her unique and confident sense of self from a young age. And the fact that the two sisters have completely different styles only goes to prove that their parents allowed them to explore authenticity.
2011-2013: Angelina and Brad's kids travel the world with them as they grow
In the early 2010s, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's six children were the ultimate globetrotters. With their parents being international superstars, it's no surprise that the Jolie-Pitt kids were constantly on the move, accompanying their parents on their travels around the world. The family of eight was often spotted at airports, whether they were jetting off for work or pleasure, and their individual styles could always be distinguished even when they were wearing casual and comfy clothing. These frequent sightings gave fans a glimpse into the Jolie-Pitts' jet-setting lifestyle.
"I have six very individual human beings in my home. I am so excited about all the different stages and feelings, and curiosities that they go through. Why wouldn't you be? We're supposed to help them figure out who they are. And you can't figure out who they are if you don't enthusiastically develop with them," Jolie later said to People in 2021, reflecting on the happiness that watching her children grow and develop brings her. These years allowed the Jolie-Pitt kids to experience the world and discover who they are — all with the support of their parents.
2014-2015: The older kids begin attending events with their parents, showcasing their individual styles
In the mid-2010s, the older Jolie-Pitt kids stepped into the limelight, making their red-carpet debut alongside their famous parents. As they attended industry events and movie premieres, it was even clearer that they were developing their own unique sense of style. Angelina Jolie shared her experience of having her kids by her side, saying, "It would be quite lonely if I was doing it all by myself. It's never fun to focus on yourself anyway. When you're all taking care of each other, and you're making a game out of it and being silly, it's nice for me as a mom. It's moments," (via Entertainment Tonight). For Jolie, watching her kids grow up and witnessing her daughters, in particular, embrace the glamour of the red carpet was a special experience. "I'm also watching my kids grow up and watching my daughter put on a beautiful dress and figure out the right heels and all that mom stuff. It just means a lot," the actor added.
However, it wasn't just the older kids who got in on the action; Vivienne made her big-screen debut alongside her mom in 2014's "Maleficent," playing the young Aurora. These years marked the beginning of the Jolie-Pitt kids stepping into their own spotlight, showing the world that they are way more than just the children of Hollywood royalty.
2016-2017: Angelina Jolie encourages her kids to wear whatever they like
In 2016, Maddox was 15, Pax was 13, Zahara was 11, Shiloh was 10, and the twins were 8 — all at different ages where clothes allowed them to express themselves and discover their personal style. And one thing about Angelina Jolie's parenting that has always been clear is that she consistently encourages her children to express themselves through their fashion and style choices — most evident in the fact that Shiloh rocked short locks for years as she underwent her own hair transformation. "I don't tell the kids how to dress. Even when they were little, I just put things in front of them," she admitted in 2023 (via Vogue). "Nobody has to go anywhere if they don't want to, and if they don't want to dress up, they don't have to." 2016 was undoubtedly a difficult year for the family, as it was marked by Jolie and Pitt's separation, which prompted the start of a legal battle that ended with their divorce being finalized in 2019.
Jolie's approach to parenting has always been about fostering independence and individuality in her children, and their clothing choices are no exception. "But because we live in our clothes, it is so much a part of who we are, and something that's important to explore, especially for young people. I've always wanted to take my family to a place where I can say: Does your clothing really represent you? Absolutely you? And do you love it?" Jolie said, talking about Atelier Jolie, the "creative collective for self-expression" that she founded.
2018-2019: Maddox is off to college while the rest of the children continue supporting their mother
In 2019, the family faced a significant milestone as Maddox, the oldest of the siblings, headed off to college. The first child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt got accepted to Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, and while he embarked on his new journey, the rest of the children continued to support their famous mother. "I leave today; today is the day I drop him off," Jolie said in a video which has since been removed from Instagram (via People). "I'm trying not to cry," the actor went on while looking at her oldest son.
Reflecting on Maddox's departure, Jolie expressed her pride and love for her son to Entertainment Tonight, saying, "I'm so happy for him that [Maddox has] grown up into such a good man. I say that 'cause he's smart and he's doing his work, but he's also wild. He's balanced in his teenage years." The Hollywood star also revealed a fun fact about Maddox, adding, "He got tattooed." With Maddox being the first to leave the nest, the rest of the Jolie-Pitt kids continued to navigate their own paths, slowly showing the world just how much they've grown.
2020-2021: Zahara and Shiloh are growing up and exploring new styles while wearing their mother's vintage pieces
Zahara and Shiloh continued to grow and explore new styles, and both have grown into gorgeous and smart young women. "My daughter is from Ethiopia ... And I have learned so much from her. She is my family, but she is an extraordinary African woman, and her connection to her country, her continent, is her own, and it's something I only stand back in awe of," Angelina Jolie shared in an interview for Time 100 Talk, speaking about her daughter Zahara. In 2021, a source for Life & Style revealed that the two sisters have bonded even more, with Zahara having a major influence on Shiloh and her style. "Shiloh loves music, dance, acting, and lately, thanks to her sister Zahara, fashion. It wasn't always like that, but now she loves dressing up in her mom's clothes," the source said, adding, "Zahara is the real fashionista in the family."
At the 2021 premiere for "Eternals," a movie their mother stars in, the two daughters wore gowns from Jolie's very own and ultra-stylish closet — Shiloh looked stunning in a Gabriela Hearst dress while Zahara wore a breathtaking Elie Saab gown, both of which the star has worn previously. In an interview with E! News, the mother of six revealed her excitement about her daughters diving into fashion. "I'm like, 'Oh my god, wear it and wear it better than me!' Take it, it's your turn.' I'm that mom," she said. These years were about self-discovery and experimentation for Zahara and Shiloh as they explored what the fashion world has to offer.
2022-2023: Zahara is off to college, and Angelina is all about introducing her children to activism
In 2022, Zahara got accepted to Spelman College, where she also joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. — the oldest Black sorority in the United States. Angelina Jolie honored the milestone in an Instagram post, while Brad Pitt also expressed his pride and excitement about Zahara's new chapter. "I'm so proud of her," he said to Vanity Fair. "She's so smart. She's going to flourish even more at college. It's an exciting and beautiful time to find her own way and pursue her interests. I'm so proud."
Meanwhile, Jolie began working with her children in 2022, as Pax and Maddox got jobs on the set of her movie "Without Blood." Jolie told People that year, "We work well together. When a film crew is at its best, it feels like a big family, so it felt natural." In 2023, she revealed to Vogue that her youngest son Knox adores vintage shopping and thrift stores. "I went vintage shopping with a few of them as well — I think Knox [13] was wearing all vintage [at the 2021 'Eternals' premiere]," the star admitted. "The cut was quite unusual, quite cool, I thought. I want them to be their own people." As a known humanitarian, Jolie has also been working on opening up her children to activism, and she brought daughter Zahara with her when she spoke in front of the Senate in Washington, D.C., advocating for domestic abuse victims. By always focusing on improving the world, Jolie is setting an example for her children to use their platform for positive change.
2024-Present: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children continue to follow their hearts
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children continue to carve their own paths, all while pursuing their individual passions. In 2023, Jolie hired Vivienne to be her assistant on the musical adaptation of "The Outsiders" on Broadway, which had its opening night on April 11, 2024. "Viv reminds me of my mother [actor and producer Marcheline Bertrand] in that she isn't focused on being the center of attention but in being a support to other creatives," Jolie shared (via Page Six). "She's very thoughtful and serious about theatre and working hard to best understand how to contribute."
In addition to supporting her children's creative endeavors, Jolie is focused on raising her kids to be confident and positive about their bodies and is also instilling independence in them. "... I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds," she said in 2020 (via Vogue). "In fact, they are six very brave, very strong young people." Growing up as children of Hollywood stars comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, and while many kids in the spotlight have gone down paths of fulfilling the public's expectations, it's clear that the clan have been raised to be true to themselves."They're pretty great people," the star told People in 2021, "and because there's so many of them, I think they've had a very significant effect on each other." As the Jolie-Pitt children continue to grow and explore their interests, one thing is clear: They are a talented and close-knit family who support each other no matter what — and we can't wait to see what the future holds for each of them individually!