Another one of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children has made headlines by publicly renouncing their father’s surname. The trend began in November 2023, when the couple’s adopted daughter Zahara officially dropped the Pitt name. Shortly after, their youngest daughter Vivienne followed suit. Now, their adopted son Maddox has taken the same step, marking the latest twist in the family’s ongoing story.
The 24-year-old Maddox has quietly been carving his own path in the film industry. He worked as an assistant director on the drama Couture, which stars his mother, 50-year-old Angelina Jolie. In the film, Jolie portrays an American director diagnosed with breast cancer just as she arrives in France to shoot a music video for a Paris fashion show. Maddox’s role behind the camera allowed him to gain valuable industry experience while staying connected to his mother’s professional world.
The film recently premiered in French cinemas, and viewers were surprised to see Maddox listed in the end credits as “Maddox Jolie,” omitting the Pitt surname entirely. Earlier, at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere in September of last year, production notes already reflected the same choice, signaling a deliberate step toward forging his own identity.
This development comes amid the backdrop of the former Hollywood power couple’s high-profile and often painful divorce. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie share six children: 24-year-old Maddox, 22-year-old Pax, 21-year-old Zahara, 19-year-old Shiloh, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. Over the years, the children have increasingly been seen accompanying their mother to events and participating in projects she is involved with, reflecting a close family bond despite the split.
Observers note that the decisions by Maddox, Zahara, and Vivienne to drop the Pitt surname may signal more than just a personal preference—it could be a reflection of growing independence and a desire to define themselves outside the shadow of Hollywood fame. While the family continues to navigate the public eye, each child seems to be taking steps to establish their own identity, both personally and professionally, in a world that watches their every move.
