Brad Pitt Files New Claims in Ongoing Battle with Angelina Jolie Over Her ‘Secret’ Sale of Their French Winery

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's legal drama with Château Miraval continues.

Newly filed court documents obtained by The Messenger allege that Pitt was surprised when he learned his ex-wife had sold her 50-percent stake in their French vineyard.

Pitt's attorneys stated in court docs that Jolie "secretly purported" to sell her stake in the family business to Russia-affiliated spirits conglomerate Stoli Group, which is controlled by billionaire Yuri Shefler. 

"Pitt learned of Jolie's putative sale to Stoli by way of a press release announcing that Stoli was 'thrilled to have a position alongside Brad Pitt as curators' of Miravel rosé," per court documents. "Jolie also sought to inflict harm on Pitt. Jolie knew that Pitt would object to Stoli as an owner of Miraval and that Shefler and his affiliates would try to interfere in the home and business Pitt built." 

The Messenger has reached out to Pitt and Jolie's attorneys for comment.

Pitt's team also claimed the former couple had a "mutual and binding commitment" to the $160 million Château Miraval business and both agreed never to sell their share without the other's permission. 

Additionally, the filing stated, "Jolie collaborated in secret with Shefler and his associates to pursue and then consummate the purported sale, ensuring Pitt would be kept in the dark as Stoli and Jolie knowingly violated Pitt's and [his company] Mondo Bongo's contractual rights and forced a stranger into Pitt's family home."

"As will be demonstrated at trial," the court documents noted, "Jolie's actions were unlawful, severely and intentionally damaging Pitt and unjustly enriching herself."

The filing concluded, "Through this unlawful and secretive sale, Jolie has jeopardized the decade-long winemaking partnership that Pitt built with [business partner Marc] Perrin, and forced Pitt into business with an unreliable stranger whom she knew he would not accept."

A source close to Jolie tells The Messenger that Pitt suing his ex-wife is "hard to understand because he is well aware the children have not felt able to return to the house in France for almost seven years now due to the events that led to Ms Jolie filing for divorce."

Jolie filed for divorce following a family plane ride in 2016, during which Pitt allegedly "choked one of the children and struck another in the face," among other claims made in legal papers filed by Jolie in October 2022, per the New York Times.

Pitt's legal team denied allegations of abuse, and after an investigation, federal authorities did not bring criminal charges against Pitt.

The source adds, "Ms. Jolie had no interest in speaking about what happened, in fact she has not done so even once, and instead she devoted her life to helping the children heal." 

Château Miraval, a luxury villa near Correns, France, served as a family retreat for the former couple and their six kids. In fact, the pair held their 2014 wedding at the location.

The couple initially bought a controlling stake in the vineyard in 2008. But the property has since become a hot topic in their ongoing divorce battle after Jolie sold her interests in October 2021.