When it comes to Hollywood romance, few stories captivate audiences quite like Angelina Jolie’s journey through love and marriage. The Oscar-winning actress, humanitarian, and mother of six has walked down the aisle three times, each relationship shaping her into the powerhouse woman we know today.
Let’s take a heartfelt look at the men who once held the title of Angelina Jolie’s husband and how these relationships influenced one of Hollywood’s most fascinating icons.
Table of Contents
Angelina Jolie’s Marriages at a Glance
| Husband | Marriage Duration | How They Met | Notable Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonny Lee Miller | 1996-1999 (3 years) | “Hackers” film set (1995) | Angelina wore a white shirt with his name written in her blood |
| Billy Bob Thornton | 2000-2003 (3 years) | “Pushing Tin” film set (1999) | Famous for wearing vials of each other’s blood |
| Brad Pitt | 2014-2019 (5 years)* | “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” film set (2004) | Known as “Brangelina,” parents to six children |
The British Charmer: Jonny Lee Miller (1996-1999)
Every love story has a beginning, and for Angelina, it started on the set of the cyber-thriller “Hackers” in 1995. At just 20 years old, she met British actor Jonny Lee Miller, sparking a romance that felt raw and authentic.
Their 1996 wedding was quintessentially Angelina—unconventional and unforgettable. She wore black rubber pants and a white T-shirt with Jonny’s name scrawled across it in her own blood. It was edgy, it was different, and it was pure early-90s rebellion.
Despite their divorce in 1999, the two maintained a beautiful friendship that’s rare in Hollywood. Fast forward to 2021, and Angelina was spotted visiting Jonny’s New York apartment multiple times, proving that sometimes the best relationships evolve into lasting friendships. They even shared dinner in Los Angeles that October, showing the world that mature, respectful post-marriage relationships are possible.
Why It Matters: This relationship taught Angelina that love doesn’t always mean forever, but respect can last a lifetime.
The Wild Years: Billy Bob Thornton (2000-2003)
If Angelina’s first marriage was unconventional, her second was downright eccentric. Enter Billy Bob Thornton—actor, musician, and a man 20 years her senior. The couple met while filming “Pushing Tin” in 1999 and married in 2000.
This relationship became tabloid gold. The infamous vials of each other’s blood worn around their necks became a symbol of their intense, all-consuming passion. It was Hollywood gothic romance at its finest (or most bizarre, depending on your perspective).
During this marriage, Angelina made a life-changing decision: she adopted seven-month-old Maddox from Cambodia in March 2002 as a single parent. Just three months later, she and Billy Bob separated, divorcing in 2003.
The Silver Lining: While the marriage didn’t last, it marked the beginning of Angelina’s journey as a mother—a role that would become her most important.
Billy Bob, a talented musician who played drums for blues rock band Tres Hombres, went on to marry six times total. He’s continued his music career, releasing albums like “Private Radio” and “Beautiful Door.”
The Epic Romance: Brad Pitt (2014-2019)
Then came the relationship that defined a generation: Brangelina.
Angelina met Brad Pitt on the set of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” in 2004. At the time, Brad was married to Jennifer Aniston, making their romance one of Hollywood’s most controversial. By 2005, Brad and Angelina were publicly together, and the media couldn’t get enough.
What made this relationship different was the family they built together. Here’s their beautiful blended family:
- Maddox (adopted 2002, Cambodia) – Brad later adopted him
- Zahara (adopted 2005, Ethiopia)
- Shiloh (biological daughter, born 2006)
- Pax (adopted 2007, Vietnam)
- Knox & Vivienne (biological twins, born 2008)
For nearly a decade, they were Hollywood royalty—attending red carpets, doing humanitarian work together, and raising six children. They finally married in 2014 in an intimate ceremony at their French estate, Château Miraval.
The Heartbreak: In September 2016, Angelina filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, shocking fans worldwide. The divorce was finalized in 2019, but custody battles and legal disputes continued, reminding us that even fairy tales have complicated endings.
Beyond the Marriages: Angelina’s True Legacy
While her relationships made headlines, Angelina Jolie’s real story is about so much more. She’s won an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards for performances in films like “Girl, Interrupted,” “Changeling,” and “Maleficent.”
More importantly, she’s dedicated her life to humanitarian causes, working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on behalf of displaced people worldwide. She’s an advocate for refugees, human rights, and women’s empowerment—causes deeply personal to her as a mother of adopted children from different countries.
Her experiences with love, loss, motherhood, and divorce haven’t diminished her—they’ve made her stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.
What We Can Learn from Angelina’s Journey
Angelina Jolie’s romantic history teaches us that:
- Love takes different forms – Not every relationship needs to last forever to be meaningful
- Growth matters more than perfection – Each marriage taught her something valuable
- Motherhood transforms – Her children became her greatest accomplishment
- Independence is powerful – She’s thrived as a single woman between and after marriages
- Respect transcends romance – Maintaining friendships with exes shows maturity
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Was Angelina Jolie’s Most Famous Husband?
Brad Pitt was undoubtedly Angelina’s most famous husband. Their relationship, dubbed “Brangelina” by the media, dominated headlines for over a decade. Together from 2005 and married in 2014, they became one of Hollywood’s most powerful couples before their divorce in 2019. Their relationship was significant not just for its celebrity status but because they built a family of six children together, three adopted internationally and three biological.
Is Angelina Jolie Still Friends With Her Ex-Husbands?
Yes, Angelina maintains friendly relationships with her ex-husbands, particularly Jonny Lee Miller. In 2021, she was spotted visiting his New York apartment multiple times and they shared dinner in Los Angeles, demonstrating a mature, lasting friendship. She’s also spoken publicly about maintaining amicable relationships with Billy Bob Thornton. While her relationship with Brad Pitt has been complicated by custody disputes, both have expressed commitment to co-parenting their six children in a healthy environment.
