Brad Pitt’s legal team has made explosive claims that Angelina Jolie orchestrated a secret sale of her 50 percent stake in their prized French vineyard, Chateau Miraval, as part of a vindictive plot to harm him and benefit herself amid their bitter custody battle.
Newly filed documents allege that Pitt was blindsided when he discovered Jolie had sold her share to a “Russian oligarch” without his knowledge, as revealed in a press release.
According to Pitt’s lawyers, the former couple had a “mutual and binding commitment” to retain ownership of the $160 million Chateau Miraval business and agreed not to sell their stakes without each other’s consent.
However, Pitt was shocked to learn about Jolie’s clandestine sale through a public announcement in 2021, which introduced new business partners for him.
The filing claims that the buyer is associated with a Russia-linked vodka conglomerate led by a billionaire oligarch, who allegedly intends to exploit the Hollywood connection to whitewash his reputation.
The document filed in LA Superior Court argues that Jolie’s actions were not only unlawful but also deliberately aimed at inflicting severe damage on Pitt while unjustly enriching herself. The legal battle between Pitt, 59, and Jolie, 47, has been ongoing since their separation in 2016, with complex financial matters and custody arrangements still being resolved.
The dispute over Chateau Miraval, a luxurious estate and vineyard acquired jointly by the former couple for $60 million in 2011 and where they held their wedding three years later, has become the latest source of contention.
The once-celebrated marriage has deteriorated into an acrimonious exchange, with Pitt expressing anger over Jolie’s use of privileged court documents to repeat unproven allegations of domestic violence against him.
In a revised complaint filed this week, Pitt, known for his role in “Fight Club,” asserts that he had the right of first refusal to purchase Jolie’s share of the picturesque winery situated in the South of France village of Correns.
By selling her stake to Yuri Shefler instead, Jolie is accused of associating Chateau Miraval with Russia, including its homophobic laws and the invasion of Ukraine, potentially tarnishing the reputation of the highly regarded Miraval rosé wine.
In Jolie’s $250 counterclaim, she accuses Pitt of attempting to coerce her into selling to his company, Mondo Bongo, under unreasonable conditions, while spreading falsehoods about Shefler being an ally of Vladimir Putin. Additionally, Jolie alleges that Pitt concealed assets and misused the funds of the estate on vanity projects, such as a swimming pool and a rebuilt ornate staircase.
Pitt’s lawyers vehemently deny Jolie’s claims, asserting that the only accurate aspect of her cross-complaint is the couple’s initial intention to provide a loving home for their six children at Chateau Miraval.
They argue that Pitt invested significant time and resources into renovating the estate and building a highly successful wine business, while Jolie failed to contribute or fulfill her promise to maintain their joint ownership.
Pitt’s financial investment in Chateau Miraval reportedly exceeded Jolie’s by nearly $50 million by the time of their separation.
The legal battle surrounding Chateau Miraval adds another layer of complexity to the already protracted and contentious divorce proceedings between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. As both sides present their arguments and evidence in court, the resolution of their financial affairs and custody arrangements remains a subject of ongoing dispute.
