That's more than three times the rumored US$4.1 million deal for big sister Shiloh's baby photos in 2006. People has said the rumored numbers for both deals, as well as those for other famous babies that have adorned its pages, are excessive. But it has declined to elaborate.

The sum involved has developed into an international guessing game. Rumored price tags for Hollywood baby photos are often wildly inaccurate, and Radar magazine recently reported that celebrity publications are not above stoking the hype in order to boost newsstand sales and website traffic.

The Internet debut is a teaser for a 19-page spread that will hit newsstands yesterday.

The proud mamma papa and twins were dressed in white, and the babies had no distinguishing characteristics. A smaller photo in the corner showed Shiloh holding her new sister.

In a blurb that accompanied the cover photo, Jolie was quoted as saying the couple's family life at a sprawling French chateau was "chaos, but we are managing it and having a wonderful time."

In addition to the twins and Shiloh, the couple has three adopted children. Jolie, 33, and Pitt, 44, are one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples, dubbed "Brangelina" by the celebrity press.

The shoot was conducted by photo agency Getty Images, with People acquiring North American rights to the photos, and British gossip magazine Hello! all other territories. The Pitts have said they will donate the proceeds to charity.