Angelina Jolie’s former company has filed a $250 million lawsuit against her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, accusing him of seizing control of their shared wine business, Chateau Miraval, as retaliation amid their divorce and custody battles.
The lawsuit follows Pitt’s legal action against Jolie, claiming she unlawfully sold her shares in Chateau Miraval, the renowned wine brand and French estate they co-owned. Jolie sold her stake, held by her company Nouvel, to the beverage giant Stoli in October last year.
Nouvel’s lawsuit alleges that Pitt attempted to secretly transfer assets from Chateau Miraval to his friends and other entities, spending millions on personal projects, including a swimming pool and a recording studio.
The company also claims Pitt gave away half of the company’s trademarks to a friend for free. According to Nouvel, Pitt’s actions ensured Jolie would never benefit from Chateau Miraval’s significant profits.
The lawsuit states, “In retaliation for the divorce and custody proceedings, Pitt embarked on a multi-faceted, years-long campaign to seize control of Chateau Miraval and appropriate the company’s assets for his benefit and that of his own companies and friends.”
The sprawling Chateau Miraval estate in the South of France covers 1,300 acres of grounds and vineyards, featuring 35 rooms. Nouvel asserts that Jolie initially intended to sell her stake to Pitt following their 2016 divorce filing, but Pitt allegedly demanded gag clauses about their disputes be included in the contract.
Further, the lawsuit claims Pitt refused to collaborate with Stoli, the new co-owner, and falsely portrayed the vodka brand’s head, Yuri Shefler, as an ally of Vladimir Putin.
Initially, Pitt and Jolie purchased the estate for $25 million, with Pitt’s company, Mondo Bongo, owning 60% and Nouvel holding 40%. Nouvel now argues that Pitt voluntarily transferred 10% of his shares to Jolie in 2013, but Pitt’s lawsuit in Luxembourg contends that the transfer was invalid.
Pitt’s legal filing states, “Jolie has sought to force Pitt into partnership with a stranger, and worse yet, a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions.”
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