Maddox Jolie-Pitt, the eldest son of Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has filed a petition to legally remove “Pitt” from his surname, according to court documents obtained by multiple media outlets .
The 24-year-old has requested that his name be changed to Maddox Chivan Jolie, citing “personal” reasons for the legal modification . The request has not yet been approved by a judge .
Who is Maddox Jolie-Pitt?
Maddox is the eldest of Jolie and Pitt’s six children. He was born on August 5, 2001, in Cambodia . Jolie adopted him from an orphanage in 2002 while she was filming Tomb Raider in the country . At the time, she was married to actor Billy Bob Thornton, but she adopted Maddox as a single parent .
After Jolie began a relationship with Pitt in 2005, the actor formally adopted Maddox and his sister Zahara in 2006. A Los Angeles judge approved a petition to change their last names to Jolie-Pitt that same year .
A pattern of distancing from the Pitt name
Maddox is not the first of Jolie and Pitt’s children to distance themselves from their father’s surname.
- Shiloh Jolie, 20, filed to legally change her name to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie on her 18th birthday in May 2024. A judge approved the request three months later .
- Zahara Jolie, 21, was introduced as “Zahara Marley Jolie” during her graduation ceremony at Spelman College in May 2026, despite the program listing her as Jolie-Pitt .
- Vivienne Jolie, 17, was credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for The Outsiders, the Broadway musical she helped her mother produce .
Maddox’s professional work with Jolie
Maddox has worked behind the scenes on several of his mother’s projects. He served as a production assistant on the 2024 Netflix film Maria, where he was credited as Maddox Jolie-Pitt .
However, when he worked as an assistant director on Jolie’s recent film Couture, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, his name appeared in the credits as Maddox Jolie . This marked the first time he publicly used the modified name in a professional capacity.
Beyond film production, Maddox studied biochemistry at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea . He is also reportedly training to become a pilot, following in his mother’s footsteps .
Strained father-son relationship
The name change requests come amid reports of a strained relationship between Pitt and his children following his acrimonious split from Jolie in 2016. Their divorce was finalized in December 2024 .
Maddox notably testified in the custody proceedings between his parents, siding with his mother . A representative for Pitt told PEOPLE that the actor would not comment on Maddox’s filing .
What’s next
Maddox’s request is pending before a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. If approved, his legal name will officially become Maddox Chivan Jolie . Given the pattern of approval for his siblings’ similar petitions, the request is expected to be granted.
