This post has been updated since it was originally published on 06/13/2023.
Things just keep getting worse in the aftermath of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie‘s bombshell divorce.
It’s been less than a year since the Eternals actress filed a $250M counter-suit against the Bullet Train actor for trying to “seize control” of the French winery they bought in 2008 and even got married at, and 1 month since Brad fired back by filing legal documents in the case claiming that Angelina went against their original agreement and “vindictively” sold her share of the $30M French winery, Château Miraval, to get back at him following their bitter custody battle over their six children. Now, Angelina has upped the ante—by firing (and filing) back with court papers mocking Brad’s claims to have “built” their wine business, saying he has at most “visited the vineyards to admire the work of the French laborers who actually made the business.”
Angelina Jolie Sold Her 50% Stake In Château Miraval In 2021
In October 2021, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider star sold her 50% stake to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group, which is controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler. Pitt first filed his lawsuit over the sale in 2022, saying it was "unlawful" and went against their alleged initial agreement to never sell their share without the other’s permission. Jolie filed a countersuit, claiming that there was never any such agreement and that she sold her stake in order to have "financial independence" and "have some form of peace and closure to this deeply painful and traumatic chapter of her and their children’s lives."
Pitt had reportedly previously turned Shefler down, and then claimed that his "vindictive" ex-wife "collaborated in secret" with Shefler, to ensure he would be "kept in the dark" regarding the sale. Now that half of the winery in the South of France has been sold to a third party, Pitt says it defeats the purpose of buying the property as a "loving home for their six children."
As per Page Six, Angelina started to negotiate a buy-out option with her ex-husband back in 2019, and allegedly even agreed to divide the business up 68% to 38% in Pitt’s favor as he had invested more money and time into it than she had. However, things changed drastically after he was granted joint custody of their children (although the decision was later overturned) and as per the filings, she "no longer wanted to sell to Pitt" in the "wake of the adverse custody ruling."
"Her decision to terminate negotiations with Pitt was intentional and pretextual," the court documents claim. "As will be demonstrated at trial, Jolie’s actions were unlawful, severely and intentionally damaging Pitt and unjustly enriching herself."
Pitt also reportedly believes that his ex-wife purposely chose Shefler because she knew it would be bad for business given his ties to Vladimir Putin. "Stoli and Jolie have sought to force Pitt into a partnership with a stranger, and worse yet, a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions."
Court Papers Call Brad 'An Actor, Not A Winemaker'
Lawyers representing Angelina Jolie filed court papers on Monday seemingly poking fun at Brad Pitt's self-styled winemaking aspirations in the press—"I’m a farmer now," the actor told Wine Spectator in 2014, "I love learning about the land and which field is most suitable for which grape, the drama of September and October: Are we picking today? Where are the sugar levels? How is the acidity? Is it going to rain? It’s been a schooling for me."
According to lawyers for the Maleficent actress, however, Brad is an "actor, not a winemaker...he deals in illusions, not dirt and grapes."
Angelina's cross-complaint attempts to debunk Brad's allegations that she had sold off her share in the business to ruin her now-ex-husband's wine-farmer aspirations, calling the notion that he "built" the business "ludicrous." The statement reads, "During the years that he allegedly 'built' the business, he filmed and appeared in dozens of movies, not to mention making countless promotional appearances, jetting-setting [sic] around the world for movie premieres, and attending Hollywood parties." Jolie's representatives added, "While he no doubt visited the vineyards to admire the work of the French laborers who actually made the business successful, Pitt is no vigneron."
The counter-claim also alleges that the Inglorious Basterds actor "looted" the business by using millions of dollars in Château Miraval profits for his own gains, including a recording studio renovation project. The claim also states that Brad's business owes Angelina's company a cool $350 million in restitution.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were together for 12 years before the actress filed for divorce in 2016, alleging his abuse of herself and their children.
