Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, despite having ended their marriage, are now entrenched in a fiercely disputed Brad Pitt French winery legal battle, with a lengthy courtroom showdown looming over the French estate they once shared. Both parties anticipate a trial lasting over two weeks, underscoring the high stakes and tense emotions surrounding the future of the Miraval winery.
Trial Over Winery Ownership Approaches
US Weekly has shed light on the upcoming legal contest between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie regarding Chateau Miraval, their sprawling French estate. Although their divorce was finalized late last year, unresolved disputes about their joint ownership have reignited tensions. Pitt anticipates that a trial before a jury could commence soon, projecting it may span approximately 15 days. So far, no definitive date for the trial has been set, but the case is rapidly advancing through the courts.
Details of the Dispute and Complexities
According to court documents, Pitt identified the impending proceedings as highly complex, mainly because the case involves multiple foreign interests in the winery and intricate cross-border legal considerations. The conflict originated in 2022, after Pitt filed a lawsuit alleging that Jolie had unlawfully sold her shares in the estate without his permission. The couple originally purchased Miraval in 2008, intending to eventually pass the property down to their children and retain individual stakes, even after their separation in 2016.
In 2021, Jolie expressed her motivation for leaving the business, attributing it to a lack of mutual respect and, as stated in her own words,
“no interest in sharing the business,”
—Angelina Jolie, Ex-wife of Brad Pitt. At first, Pitt and Jolie had explored the possibility of Pitt acquiring Jolie’s share, but negotiations reportedly collapsed when Pitt sought a non-disparagement agreement, which Jolie claimed was meant to silence concerns about alleged abuse through an NDA.
The Involvement of Outside Parties and Ongoing Allegations
Pitt’s lawsuit further alleged that Jolie went on to sell her stake to Stoli Group, overseen by Yuri Shefler, a prominent Russian billionaire. He claims this sale took place without his authorization, counter to what he says were prior discussions about approval procedures, and that it might have paved the way for an aggressive move to take control of the Miraval estate. The dispute has drawn the attention of international business circles, as the involvement of Shefler and the Stoli Group complicates the legal and financial stakes.
Jolie, on the other hand, has vehemently rejected Pitt’s accusations, denying any breach of agreement or misconduct. She contends that there was never a binding contract obliging her to secure Pitt’s consent for the sale of her share in the property. As both sides prepare their legal teams for the impending trial, the situation remains heated and unresolved.
Potential Consequences and What Lies Ahead
The legal wrangling between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over the French winery is emblematic of the deep divisions that have continued beyond their divorce. The outcome could influence joint business ventures established during marriages, especially those involving cross-border assets and international stakeholders like Yuri Shefler. As a prolonged trial looms, industry observers are closely following the case for its broader implications in high-profile celebrity divorce settlements involving substantial business interests.
