It’s the kind of baggage that would make or break any relationship.
A protracted and increasingly bitter divorce battle that continues to drag out in court, as an ugly and very public rift between a father and his children deepens.
But for Brad Pitt, 60, and girlfriend Ines de Ramon, his ongoing legal woes with ex-wife Angelina Jolie and his estrangement from his kids have only strengthened their relationship, DailyMail.com can reveal.
In fact, when it comes to love, the twice-divorced dad-of-six seems to be happier than ever, and isn’t swearing off the idea of a third marriage or having more children with his lady love.
The Bullet Train star is said to be ‘on board’ with starting over with de Ramon and has even told friends the jewelry designer, 34, would make a ‘wonderful mother,’ according to a friend of the star.
Brad Pitt, 60, is said to be ‘in it for the long run’ with girlfriend Ines de Ramon, 34, insiders tell DailyMail.com
The couple, pictured on a romantic stroll on the beach in Santa Barbara last month, are going strong despite Pitt’s ongoing legal battle with ex-wife Angelina Jolie and growing rift with his children
A friend of Pitt told DailyMail.com: ‘It’s devastating for Brad that he basically had no relationship with his kids, but Ines has been a real source of comfort and it’s actually brought them closer together.
‘Having more kids in his life is not out of the question. Ines is young and Brad said he’s 100% on board if she wants to have kids. He loves the idea of building a life with Ines and nothing is off the table.’
‘Brad said Ines would be a wonderful mother. She’s patient, easy going and as a great sense of humor.
‘In other words, their relationship is smooth sailing and drama free. He’s in it with Ines for the long run,’ the friend added.
Pitt’s strained relationship with his children as well as his acrimonious split from ex-wife Angelina Jolie was thrust into the spotlight again after it was revealed his daughter Shiloh filed to drop her father’s last name on her 18th birthday.
Last week, a source close to the Oscar winner said his erasure from his daughter’s life is just another indication that he has ‘lost his children,’ according to People.
But even as Pitt has been dogged by family drama and lingering divorce issues in recent months, his relationship with de Ramon has only intensified.
The couple, who have been linked romantically since late 2022, were reported to have moved in together in February this year.
And last month, the loved-up pair were snapped in a rare but intimate outing as they enjoyed a romantic morning stroll on the beach in Santa Barbara.
Brad and Angelina remain locked in a bitter legal battle years after their 2016 split
Despite the drama, friends say the Bullet Train actor is not swearing off starting a family with his new lady love. The two are pictured together celebrating Pitt’s 60th birthday in Paris last December
Meanwhile, Pitt’s relationship with the six children he shares with ex Angelina Jolie has become increasingly fraught, with the kids dropping ‘Pitt’ from their names, according to People. Jolie is seen with daughters Zahara (L) and Shiloh (R) in 2021 in Rome
At one point, the two-time Oscar winner even wrapped his arm around his live-in girlfriend and was seen pulling her close during their walk.
The Hollywood heartthrob shares four daughters and two sons with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, 49.
Notably, Pitt was already in the process of legally adopting a daughter who had been a part of his life for months before he and then-partner Jolie had announced she was pregnant with Shiloh in January 2006.
Jolie had traveled to Ethiopia to adopted her first daughter Zahara, 19, in July 2005, and Pitt had come with her on the trip.
‘He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name,’ the source claimed. ‘He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter.’
They added that the distance between Pitt and his six children — Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara; Shiloh; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15 — ‘pains him.’
However, they noted that ‘he’s still happy with Ines [de Ramon],’ his girlfriend.
Another source described as close to Pitt told the publication that the Tree Of Life star ‘still loves all of his kids tremendously.’
Pitt (pictured with three of his children and his parents in 2014) shares four daughters and two sons with his ex-wife
Pitt’s strained relationship with his children as well as his acrimonious split from ex-wife was thrust into the spotlight again after it was revealed his daughter Shiloh filed to drop her father’s last name on her 18th birthday
‘This whole process has been very hard for the whole family,’ they added.
If Shiloh’s request is granted — and there is no indication that it would not be — she will subsequently go simply by ‘Shiloh Jolie,’ rather than her original full name, ‘Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.’
People previously reported that Pitt’s youngest daughter Vivienne — who served as her mother Angelina Jolie’s assistant when she produced the Broadways musical adaptation of The Outsiders — had listed her name as ‘Vivienne Jolie’ in the Playbill for the show.
It is unclear if Vivienne has legally changed her name, but the minor would likely need either parental consent or extenuating circumstances to be allowed to do so before turning 18.
Zahara previously introduced herself as ‘Zahara Marley Jolie’ when she joined the Mu Pi chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College late last year.
Pitt and Jolie’s oldest sons, Maddox and Pax, have reportedly not publicly used their father’s last name in years, and both have been openly antagonistic toward him.