Exclusive pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's newborn twins have been released -
The pictures, bought for US$14 million ($19.3 million) by People magazine and British tabloid Hello!, debuted online on Monday.
The money paid for the snaps - more than double the US$6 million People paid for Jennifer Lopez' twins on a March cover - will go to a foundation created by Pitt and Jolie that largely focuses on helping children around the world.
People will feature Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon in an issue to hit newsstands today, as well as unveiling the first photo of the twins on its web site.
Particulars of how the bill will be split between the celebrity weekly and Hello! were not disclosed. It is the third time Pitt and Jolie have worked with the two magazines in exchange for a hefty donation to charity.
Even before the babies were born on July 12 in Nice, France, speculation began over which celeb magazine would come out on top of an inevitable bidding war. The couple ultimately chose a familiar route in its joint deal between People and London-based Hello! magazine.
Jolie and Pitt sold the US rights to the first shots of their daughter Shiloh, now 2 years old, in exchange for a reported $4 million donation. Hello! magazine obtained the British rights. And last year, the couple sold shots of their son Pax, then 3 years old, to Hello! and People.
Getty Images, which was involved in the deal for pictures of Shiloh and took those photos, was also involved this time around.
Getty co-founder and chief executive Jonathan Klein said his company was "delighted that all proceeds from these stunning images will once again be donated entirely to charity".
When People published six photos of Pitt, Jolie and baby Shiloh in June 2006, the issue sold 2.2 million copies, its biggest seller since its 4 million-selling 9/11 special, Media Week reported.
Jolie, 33, and Pitt, 44, established their foundation that year.
They donated $1 million in June to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict to help children affected by the war in Iraq.
Last year, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave more than $300,000 to support the International Rescue Committee's relief programme for Darfur refugees.
- AP
