Brad Pitt made a candid confession about his sobriety journey, revealing that he has returned to drinking after seven years of abstinence from alcohol. In a wide-ranging interview with Esquire published Monday, the 62-year-old actor opened up about ending his strict sobriety while discussing personal struggles he encountered amid his prolonged divorce and estrangement from his children.
When the interviewer asked whether the wine being offered was only for guests at Pitt’s twelve-million-dollar Los Angeles home, the actor answered directly: “I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” he said with a laugh. Describing his current relationship with alcohol, he explained that he has adopted a more controlled approach, stating, “In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, ‘Yep, nope, not good for me.’ Not in big quantities.” He clarified that while he can have a few glasses of wine, he knows his limits. “I have to be professional about it,” he said.
The shift marks a notable change for an actor who has long been public about his recovery journey. In 2019, Pitt revealed that he had joined a twelve-step Alcoholics Anonymous program following his separation from Angelina Jolie in 2016. That split came shortly after a contentious plane incident in which Jolie accused Pitt of physical assault and verbal abuse toward her and their six children. Pitt was investigated by both the FBI and Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services but was never charged.
During the same Esquire interview, Pitt addressed a darker chapter in his personal life, revealing that he experienced a period of suicidal ideation while navigating what he cryptically referred to as “family stuff” following his divorce. “I was never suicidal in any way,” he began, describing his typical disposition. “In fact, if I have any afflictions, it’s probably being a congenial optimist.” However, he acknowledged that there was one significant exception. “I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period,” he explained. “And in that one little period, I just thought—I just couldn’t—just didn’t see a way out.”
He described the emotional pain as overwhelming. “The pain was so oppressive that—I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel—I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief,” he said. “And I thought, ‘Oh, okay, now I understand’—I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain.” He emphasized, however, that survival instincts took over. “But I also think we have incredible survival instincts. And for me, that immediately kicked in.”
When pressed about whether his dark thoughts were connected to issues with his children, Pitt declined to elaborate. “Family stuff,” he replied simply. “We could leave it at that.” He did acknowledge the difficulty of his circumstances, concluding, “This s*** ain’t easy. And you’re talking to a guy who won the lottery.”
Pitt’s personal struggles have unfolded against the backdrop of a prolonged and contentious legal battle with Jolie. The couple parted ways in 2016 following the alleged plane incident and reached a divorce settlement in December 2024 after eight years of litigation. During that time, their six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne—have reportedly dropped his last name, either legally or informally, reflecting the strain in their relationships.
In 2025, Pitt opened up further about his recovery process during an appearance on Dax Shepard’s podcast, “Armchair Expert,” where he reflected on his early days in AA. He recalled being “pretty much on my knees” and said he was “trying anything and everyone, anything anyone threw at me.” He described the experience as transformative, noting that witnessing the openness and vulnerability in the meetings gave him permission to be honest himself. “It gives you permission to go, ‘OK, I’m gonna step out on this edge and see what happens.’ And then I really grew to love it,” he said.
The actor has since moved forward with his life. He has been dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon since late 2022, and the couple has been spotted together at various public events, including film premieres and sports venues. Sources close to the couple have described their relationship as solid and committed, with de Ramon reportedly providing a stabilizing presence following his tumultuous divorce.
Pitt’s candid disclosures in the Esquire interview represent a rare moment of vulnerability for an actor known for his privacy. His willingness to discuss both his return to drinking and his mental health struggles offers an unfiltered look at the challenges he has faced in recent years, even as he continues to navigate his career and personal relationships in the spotlight.