In 2008 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie they bought the French company Chateau Miraval. After the divorce in 2019, the actress sold her shares to Russian Yuri Shefler. Her ex-husband did not like this fact.
Especially since the American media considered Shefler to be one of the oligarchs who have contacts with Vladimir Putin and support the government in the Kremlin, despite numerous reports that he is against the policy of the Russian president and conducts business far from his country.
In February last year, the star sued his ex-spouse, accusing her of illegally selling her shares and “deliberately destroying the vineyard's reputation.” The actors had previously agreed that they would never sell their shares in Chateau Miraval without the consent of the other party.
The documents filed in a Los Angeles court read: “Jolie carried out the sale without Pitt's knowledge, denying her ex-husband the right to co-ownership and rejecting the purchase offer. When selling the estate, she consciously acted in her own interest, transferring the property to Shefler and his associates, who will control now a business to which Pitt has committed himself and invested.”
Last summer, Jolie's lawyers managed to achieve a small victory – Pitt's representatives were obliged by the court to hand over documents and correspondence related to the vineyard, which they tried to avoid at all costs.
Brad Pitt is fighting for compensation and to invalidate the sale made by Jolie. “Her decision to break off negotiations with Pitt was intentional and pretextual,” the actor's lawyers claimed some time ago. “As will be presented at trial, Jolie's actions were unlawful, to the great detriment of Pitt, to unjustly enrich himself,” they added.
Pitt started a business worth several million dollars in Chateau Miraval, becoming one of the top producers of rosé wine. In turn, Jolie focuses not on money, but on the sentimental value of the property.
“This is the place where we got married, making vows over a plaque in memory of my mother. It was supposed to be a home for our children. I hoped I would grow old there. Even now it's hard to hold back my tears. I will always cherish the memory of those wonderful moments spent there ” – Angelina Jolie was supposed to say in court.
During the hearing held in February this year, Pitt triumphed. The court positively considered the actor's request to return 10%. shares, thanks to which he obtained a controlling stake. “It's the equivalent of a deposit. It's not a final decision, we're still waiting for the verdict. Brad will have control over the vineyard for the next year or two, depending on how long the trial takes,” a friend of the Oscar winner said in an interview with Page Six.
However, Jolie was to win the next battle in the vineyard war. The actress' lawyer has just released a statement according to which five of Pitt's seven claims have been dismissed.
“The judge dismissed most of Mr. Pitt's claims because they had no legal basis. It was never about business matters. In fact, this lawsuit is intended to cover up the numerous abuses and violence used by Mr. Pitt,” emphasized Paul Murphy, representing Angelina Jolie.
He thus referred to the shocking behind-the-scenes details of the breakup of the actors' relationship. The Oscar winner for “Interrupted Music Lesson” revealed that the actor abused alcohol and physically abused her and their children during their marriage.
Angelina Jolie hopes that her ex-husband will “stop attacking her mercilessly and join her to help their family heal their wounds in peace,” her lawyer noted.