It seemed as if the day would never come. Then, on 30 December 2024, Brad Pitt and ex Angelina Jolie signed their divorce after more than eight years spent locked in a bitter legal battle. “There’s a huge sense of relief that it’s over,” a source shared at the latest Us Weekly the cover. “A weight has been lifted.”
Now Pitt, 61, is looking ahead. “Brad wants to get his life back on track and put this behind him,” says the source. “He can start again.” He is excited about his long-awaited race car move, F1released in June. Sources say he hopes to eventually rebuild his relationship with his six children (he and Jolie, 49, are parents to Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 18, and 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne ). And he’s going full speed ahead when it comes to his romance with his girlfriend of two years, a jewelery executive Ines de Ramon35, who, according to sources, was the catalyst for Pitt to finally make peace with Jolie. “Ines helped Brad move on,” says a second source, “and think about the divorce in a new light.”
Perfect match
Pitt and de Ramon seemed to hit it off from the start. They were first spotted together in late 2022 and made their red carpet debut in September wolves premiere. “She brings out the best in Brad,” a source told Us at the time. They reportedly spent the holidays together at his $40 million mansion in Carmel, California. (As us previously reported, de Ramon moved into Pitt’s LA home in early 2024.) With a busy career keeping his schedule full, the second source explains, “Ines has (brought him) a sense of calm and peace.”
Pitt leaned on her as he and Jolie continued to duke it out in court. In addition to ongoing custody issues, Pitt sued Jolie in 2022 over the sale of her share of the family vineyard, Château Miraval. Jolie countersued for $250 million and included in legal filings an alleged account of a 2016 incident aboard a private jet in which she claims an intoxicated Pitt physically and verbally abused her and the children. Pitt denied the fight turned physical and was released after investigations by the Department of Family Services and the FBI.
Pitt and de Ramon have a lot in common. De Ramon was going through her own divorce when she and Pitt got together — she and Vampire Diaries alum Paul Wesley split in 2022 after three years of marriage. “That’s something she and Brad bonded over,” says the second source. Adds the first source: “Ines has been helping Brad through this from the beginning. She has been his rock.”
Their romance is a breath of fresh air for Pitt. “He had an unstable relationship with Angelina and he doesn’t have that with Ines,” says the first source. “They are madly in love and work so well together. Brad is happier than ever.” In July, a source told Us that they enjoy “low-key date nights” at home, often cooking and watching movies together. “Brad loves how calm and smart Ines is.”
Positive influence
She actively encouraged Pitt to finalize the divorce with Jolie. “Ines is very zen and doesn’t like conflict or negativity. She wants Brad to find peace, forgiveness and move on,” a source said us in May. “From her perspective, it doesn’t make sense for him to hold all the hostility.”
Although Brad’s divorce is now official, the second source explains that Pitt and de Ramon are “not pushing for marriage. (Still), they are committed to each other and very serious.” While the actor is happy to focus on his future with the jewelry designer, the source explains that he “doesn’t necessarily need to get married again at this time.”
Healthy outlet
Work has been another break for Pitt. “He’s very passionate about (F1) and thinks it’s going to be a huge success,” says the second source, noting that the Oscar winner “has always been in love with Formula 1 and racing. He knew it would be a big challenge, which got him excited about the project.” The source added: “He is very focused on Ines and work. That’s what gets him through the tough times.”
Family Ties
Pitt is hopeful — but realistic — about reuniting with his children. Last May, Shiloh’s last name was legally given to Jolie. (Zahara and Vivienne also seem to use only Jolie.)
“Brad is not in contact with the older children. It’s a very sad situation for him,” says the second source. (In a purportedly resurfaced Instagram post that Pax posted on Father’s Day in 2020, he called the star a “world-class a-hole.”) According to a third source, Pitt maintains joint custody of Knox and Vivienne “but there is very limited time with them, especially because of filming for F1, which required travel.” The second source says that Pitt and the twins “don’t have a super close relationship,” adding, “He’s always reaching out and hoping that things will eventually work out one day.”
The actor is cautiously optimistic about keeping the peace with Jolie. Their ongoing struggle for Miraval continues; in November, a judge denied Jolie’s motions to stay while the case heads to trial. “Brad is relieved that the divorce is finalized. He closed that chapter years ago and I can’t believe it dragged on this long, but he knows there’s still more to come with Miraval,” the second source explains. “That was just a setback for him. However, he is happy to have it behind him.”
For more on Pitt, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue at Us Weekly.
With reporting by Andrea Simpson & Amanda Williams
