The 38-year-old actress-director collected the honour in presence of her fiance Brad Pitt and son Maddox, reported E!online.
The 'Salt' star choked back tears as she received the award.
"My love. Your support and your guidance make everything I do possible. I'm not going to cry, I promise," Jolie said to Maddox from the stage.
"I'm not going to embarrass you. You and your brothers and sisters are my happiness and there is no greater honour in this world than being your mom," she added.
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.
Honorary Oscars were also handed out to Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin and costume designer Piero Tosi.