People Magazine choosing to put Brad Pitt on their Oscar-coverage issue is still an interesting choice. It’s clear that people within Hollywood still like him a lot and that he’s been crowned Hollywood’s Prom King. I also think it’s interesting that his campaign was so successful without Brad really needing to do a big whitewash on this past. He wasn’t out there, claiming that nothing ever happened on the plane in 2016. There wasn’t a “whitewash.” He just deflected to his drinking problem and how he went through AA and how he’s been sober for a while now. In interviews leading up to the awards season, he seemed contemplative and humbled by the plane incident and divorce drama. Then when the awards came rolling in, suddenly he was making jokes about the situation and even thanking his children – three of whom have no desire to see him – in his Oscar speech. So… there it is. We’re now supposed to believe that Brad Pitt, Oscar winner, has a great relationship with his kids and everything is totally fine now.

After a challenging few years, Brad Pitt’s Oscar win on Feb. 9 proved the actor is back on top and that his career is hotter than ever.

“He has been enjoying a little slower personal life. It has worked wonders,” a source tells PEOPLE. “We can see that it has shot him to the top professionally.”

In 2016 Pitt, 56, and Angelina Jolie, 44, split after two years of marriage and 12 years together. The pair are parents to Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 13, and 11-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. The breakup took a toll on Pitt, who stepped back from the spotlight to work on himself and admitted his drinking had contributed to his troubles at home. He spent time in a men’s Alcoholics Anonymous group and began to turn his life around by focusing on his health and his kids.

“He is a new man,” a source tells PEOPLE in the new cover story. “He is happy, loves his kids, and relishes his quiet time at home.”

Pitt has been spending increasing time with his kids. Adds a longtime colleague, “Things are going much more smoothly, and he is infinitely happier.”

[From People]

“The breakup took a toll on Pitt…” Poor Brad, right? I’m sure the divorce took a toll on Angelina as well, especially since she was the one getting the court to order Brad into rehab and therapy and she was the one taking care of their children. But hey, Brad’s a new man now. And it’s all thanks to his “slower personal life.” He didn’t even have to roll out a new girlfriend for his Oscar campaign! But I bet he gets a new girlfriend this year!

Photos courtesy of WENN.