Angelina Jolie is preparing to leave Los Angeles behind, with plans to relocate abroad once her youngest children reach adulthood this summer. The actress and humanitarian has made clear she no longer feels at home in the United States, offering a pointed critique of the country’s current direction.
The 50-year-old star has long intended to leave Los Angeles but remained due to custody arrangements with ex-husband Brad Pitt. That obligation shifts in July when her twins, Vivienne and Knox, turn 18 years old on July 12, marking their legal adulthood and clearing the path for an international move she has contemplated for years.
A source confirmed that Jolie never wanted to live in Los Angeles full-time and stayed only because of the custody arrangement with Pitt. With her youngest children approaching their 18th birthday, the actress is eyeing several locations abroad and will be very happy when she is able to leave Los Angeles, according to the source.
Jolie’s departure plans include preparing to sell her Los Angeles home, a historic property she purchased in 2017 for $24.5 million. The sprawling estate spans 11,000 square feet and features six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, representing one of the city’s most notable residential properties.
The home carries significant Hollywood history. Director Cecil B. DeMille originally acquired the property in 1916, living there for nearly four decades until his death in 1959. Charlie Chaplin also resided in the neighboring house, which DeMille later purchased and combined into the current estate, creating a unified property with deep ties to cinema’s golden age.
Speaking at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain, Jolie delivered a statement that captured her feelings about the nation. The actress explained that while she loves her country, she finds herself unable to recognize it at this time.
During a festival appearance, Jolie expanded on her worldview, saying her perspective is equal, united, and international. She emphasized that anything anywhere that divides or limits personal expressions and freedoms from anyone is very dangerous.
The actress has maintained an international lifestyle throughout her career, with family and friends spread across the globe. Her discomfort with living in Los Angeles extends beyond political concerns to fundamental questions about quality of life for her six children. In a 2024 interview, Jolie said that when you have a big family, you want them to have privacy, peace, and safety.
Jolie confirmed she will spend a lot of time in Cambodia after relocating and will visit family members wherever they may be in the world. The Southeast Asian nation holds profound personal significance for the actress, who adopted her eldest son, Maddox, from Cambodia in 2002.
Jolie explained that Cambodia was the country that made her aware of refugees and made her a mom.
The actress described a moment in 2001 while participating in a school program in Samlout, playing blocks on the floor with a child, when she thought clearly that her son was there. A few months later, she met Maddox at an orphanage. Jolie considers Cambodia her home in her heart.
Jolie purchased a home in Cambodia in 2003, solidifying her connection to the country that transformed her life and career trajectory. During her relationship with Pitt, she went on to adopt Zahara and Pax, both of whom Pitt also adopted. The former couple shares three biological children as well: Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox.
Jolie and Pitt reached a divorce settlement in December 2024, concluding an eight-year divorce battle that began with their separation in September 2016. The prolonged legal proceedings kept Jolie tethered to Los Angeles far longer than she desired, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The actress has been outspoken about U.S. policy in the past. Her advocacy work has reinforced her international perspective through her humanitarian efforts, as she has traveled extensively to conflict zones and refugee camps worldwide, experiences she credits with shaping her understanding of shared humanity across borders.
Regarding adoption, Jolie has consistently emphasized that her decisions were driven by personal conviction rather than humanitarian image. She told an interviewer that when she was growing up, she wanted to adopt because she was aware there were kids without parents. She does not see adoption as a sacrifice but rather as a gift, believing that everyone involved is lucky to have each other.
The actress once reflected on how her diverse family provides perspectives she and Pitt took decades to understand. Looking at Shiloh, who physically resembles both parents as children, Jolie wondered how much her children would know by age six that took her and Pitt into their 30s and 40s to figure out. She described giving her children the childhood she always wished she had.
With her twins approaching 18, Jolie’s long-deferred plans to live internationally are finally moving forward. Sources indicate she is making preparations to finalize some minor improvements to her historic Los Angeles estate before listing it for sale. The move represents not just a change of address but a fundamental shift in how one of Hollywood’s most recognized figures chooses to live.
Beyond Cambodia, Jolie is considering locations in Europe and New York as she maps out her post-Los Angeles life. The decision reflects her stated belief that privacy, peace, and safety for children require an environment different from what Los Angeles currently offers.
As the July milestone approaches, Jolie appears ready to close her Los Angeles chapter permanently. Her departure will mark the end of a Hollywood residency maintained largely out of legal necessity rather than personal choice, allowing her to pursue the internationally focused life she has long envisioned for herself and her family.