Brad Pitt hates Santa Claus.

The 48-year-old actor was devastated to discover Santa wasn't real when he was a child and still feels betrayed so doesn't encourage his own kids - Maddox, 11, Pax, eight, Zahara, seven, Shiloh, six, and four-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne - to believe.

He told E! News: ''I'm not a real big on the whole Santa thing.

''I thought it was a huge act of betrayal when I was a kid. I didn't like that. When I found out the truth, I was like, 'Why, why, why would you lie to me, why?'

''So what I tell them is some people believe it's Santa, and some people believe it's parents, and you get to believe whatever you want.''

Brad also admitted he can be too strict with his sons.

While the 'Killing Them Softly' actor says he is a soft touch when it comes to his daughters with Angelina Jolie, he is harder on the boys.

He told USAtoday.com: ''I'm more of a disciplinarian with the boys. The girls do no wrong, of course. Mom's a little more equal in her dishing.''