The years-long and bruising court fight between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over the future of their French winery, Chateau Miraval, will intensify as the case goes to trial. A Los Angeles judge recently denied Jolie’s motion to throw out the case. And the feud will now continue to play out in court. The trial could last well into 2026, according to people with knowledge of the case.
This winery has been a subject of tussle between Pitt and Jolie ever since the couple divorced in 2016, valued at USD 500 million.After years of negotiations, the expected settlement now seems unlikely. Reports say both stars will testify in court and be deposed, which may further expose details of their troubled relationship.
What began as a business dispute has evolved into one with a labyrinth of intricacies over time. In 2008, Pitt and Jolie bought Chateau Miraval when they were married, and they raised their children on the estate. At the time of the purchase, Pitt had 60 percent of the estate, while Jolie had 40 percent. However, just before marrying in 2014, Pitt gave Jolie 10% of his portion to make them equal partners at a 50/50 split.
The battle began when Jolie sold half her shares to Stoli Group-which is a subsidiary of Stoli Group company-without consulting Pitt. Pitt reacted by filing a lawsuit arguing that their agreement. Included giving him the right of first refusal to buy her shares, which he says Jolie violated; now he is asking the court to void the sale of her shares to Stoli.
She has responded, in turn, that he wants her to sign an ironclad nondisclosure agreement. That would muzzle her from speaking about past alleged improprieties. Jolie insists that Pitt’s motive is not purely business but, instead, “personally” motivated. The sides have become increasingly personal in filings, adding drama to an already dramatic case.
Yet, despite those personal elements, Pitt’s lawyers maintain it’s a “straightforward business dispute.” Moreover, they claimed that personal issues raised by Jolie’s side have complicated and delayed the case.
Meanwhile, the Stoli Group, which bought Jolie’s shares, is seeking to dismiss the case. The court will hold a hearing on that request in March 2024, when it may assign a trial date.
Legal experts say the complexity of the case could drag the trial into 2026. The legal fight is not merely over money but has also become a symbol of the couple’s once-shared dream. What had started out as a romantic gesture-to raise their children in a vineyard-has now turned into a long. And expensive fight that could last for years.
ANI