Maddox Jolie-Pitt is Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s eldest child. Born in Cambodia in 2001, he has worked behind the scenes in film and is now seeking to legally change his name to Maddox Chivan Jolie.
Quick Facts About Maddox Jolie-Pitt
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt |
| Date of birth | August 5, 2001 |
| Age | 25 as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Cambodia |
| Parents | Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt |
| Siblings | Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne |
| Education | Yonsei University in South Korea |
| Known for | Film production and assistant directing |
| Requested legal name | Maddox Chivan Jolie |
| Current legal status | Name change pending as of September 12, 2026 |
Who Is Maddox Jolie-Pitt?
Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt is Angelina Jolie’s eldest child and the first of her six children. Jolie adopted him from Cambodia in 2002 when he was seven months old. Brad Pitt later adopted Maddox as well, and he became part of the family publicly known as the Jolie-Pitts.
Maddox was born on August 5, 2001, making him 25 years old as of September 2026. His Cambodian background has remained an important part of his connection to his mother and her work.
That connection became especially visible through First They Killed My Father, the 2017 Netflix film directed by Jolie and based on Loung Ung’s memoir about life under the Khmer Rouge. Maddox was credited as an executive producer, giving him an early behind-the-scenes role in filmmaking.
Where Did Maddox Go to College?
In 2019, Maddox enrolled at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Yonhap reported that he planned to study biochemistry through Yonsei’s Underwood International College. The university confirmed his admission, while reports at the time said he had also been learning Korean before starting classes.
His university education initially pointed toward a scientific career rather than a conventional Hollywood path. Public reporting does not establish a current degree status, so it is safer not to describe him as having graduated or to claim a current academic specialization without stronger evidence.
What Does Maddox Jolie-Pitt Do for a Living?
Maddox has developed experience behind the camera rather than pursuing a high-profile acting career.
His film credits include executive producing First They Killed My Father. He also worked in production on Maria, the 2024 biographical drama starring Angelina Jolie as opera singer Maria Callas.
More recently, Maddox worked as an assistant director on his mother’s film Couture. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 and opened in French theaters in February 2026.
Angelina Jolie also said in a September 2026 interview that Maddox is pursuing an interest in aviation and becoming a pilot. That gives his career path a more unusual shape: he has gained practical film experience while exploring an interest outside entertainment.
Why Is Maddox Jolie-Pitt Dropping “Pitt” From His Name?
The biggest recent development involving Maddox is his legal request to remove “Pitt” from his surname.
Court documents show that Maddox filed a petition seeking to change his legal name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. The petition was filed in Los Angeles County in May 2026.
The move was preceded by a professional change. In the credits for Couture, he was listed as Maddox Jolie, rather than Maddox Jolie-Pitt. People reported that the change was also notable because he had previously been credited as Maddox Jolie-Pitt on Maria.
However, the legal change was not complete as of September 12, 2026. California’s adult name-change process generally involves filing a petition, publishing notice in a newspaper, and receiving a court order.
Maddox completed the required newspaper-publication step, and the court notice states that his hearing is scheduled for September 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Until the court grants the petition and issues the order, Maddox Jolie-Pitt remains his legal name.
Is Maddox Still Legally a Jolie-Pitt?
As of September 12, 2026, yes.
Maddox has requested the legal name Maddox Chivan Jolie, and he has already used Maddox Jolie professionally. But his court petition is still pending, with the hearing scheduled for September 14.
This distinction matters because celebrity coverage can sometimes describe a pending name change as though it has already been finalized. California Courts explains that a legal name change becomes effective through a court order after the required process is completed.
Maddox Jolie-Pitt and His Family
Maddox is the oldest of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s six children. His younger siblings are Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne.
His name-change request follows similar public or legal moves by some of his siblings. Shiloh legally changed her name in 2024, while Zahara and Vivienne have also been publicly associated with the Jolie surname.
The family has remained largely private in recent years, especially as the children have become adults. That makes Maddox’s professional credits and court filing unusually visible moments in an otherwise private life.
Maddox’s Connection to Cambodia
Cambodia is more than a biographical detail for Maddox. It is also closely tied to his family’s history and to one of the most significant films he worked on.
Jolie’s First They Killed My Father was filmed in Cambodia and tells the story of Loung Ung’s childhood during the Khmer Rouge era. Maddox’s role as an executive producer placed him directly inside a project dealing with the history and culture of his birth country.
Jolie has previously described the experience as meaningful for Maddox because it allowed him to engage with his Cambodian heritage on his own terms rather than being pushed into a particular identity.
What Is Maddox Jolie-Pitt Doing Now?
As of September 2026, Maddox appears to be building a life that combines film work with interests outside Hollywood.
He has recent experience as an assistant director, is interested in aviation, and remains a relatively private figure compared with his famous parents. His upcoming legal hearing could also establish whether his requested legal name becomes Maddox Chivan Jolie.
For now, the most accurate description is simple: Maddox Jolie-Pitt is a 25-year-old film-production professional and Angelina Jolie’s eldest child whose legal name change remains pending.
FAQs (text + Valid FAQs schema JSON-LD)
Is Maddox Jolie-Pitt 25 years old?
Yes. Maddox was born on August 5, 2001, so he is 25 years old as of September 2026.
What is Maddox Jolie-Pitt’s new name?
Maddox has petitioned the Los Angeles County Superior Court to change his legal name from Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. The request had not yet been finalized as of September 12, 2026.
What does Maddox Jolie-Pitt do?
Maddox has worked behind the scenes in film, including as an executive producer on First They Killed My Father and as an assistant director on Couture. Angelina Jolie also said in September 2026 that he is pursuing an interest in aviation.
Where did Maddox Jolie-Pitt go to college?
Maddox enrolled at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019. Yonhap reported that he planned to study biochemistry through the university’s Underwood International College.
Source list
- Yonhap News Agency: “Angelina Jolie’s son to attend South Korea’s Yonsei University”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
- California Courts: “Adult name change”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
- California Courts: “Publish your request adult”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
- Los Angeles Daily Journal: “Order to Show Cause for Change of Name: Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
- People: “Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s Son Maddox Drops Pitt from Last Name in Credits of Mom’s New Movie ‘Couture’”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
- People: “Angelina Jolie Says While It’s ‘Nice for Me’ to Work Alongside Her Kids, She’s ‘Just Mom’ Around Them”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
- The Independent: “Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s son Maddox drops ‘Pitt’ from name in credits of his mother’s new film”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
- American Film Institute: “First They Killed My Father”, Access Date: September 12, 2026
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I am an independent writer and digital researcher tracking everyday trends, tech shifts, and modern culture across the US. I focus on cutting through internet noise to bring you crisp, honest stories and practical takeaways you can actually use.
