Does Angelina Jolie still own Miraval? Brad Pitt accuses ex-wife of 'hostile takeover' of family winery in France
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: New accusations of a "hostile takeover" have escalated the legal dispute between Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over Chateau Miraval. Pitt and Jolie are allegedly making further allegations against one another in fresh legal docs, including their ongoing dispute over who owns the winery in France, Chateau Miraval. In the most recent brutal complaint, Pitt claims that Jolie and her allies attempted to seize control of the company.
The former couple co-owned Chateau Miraval, a vineyard in Provence, South of France, which has now taken center stage in their high-profile conflict. In the most recent twist, Pitt accused his ex-wife of selling her part to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler despite their mutual agreement not to do so without the other's permission. In 2008, the famous stars invested jointly in the gorgeous property. The dispute also involves Jolie's investment firm, Nouvel, which is being criticized by Pitt for the dubious transaction, as per The Blast.
Does Angelina Jolie still own Miraval?
According to a lawsuit Jolie filed in October 2022, she did offer Pitt the chance to buy out his stake in the winery, but he wouldn't do it unless she signed a nondisclosure agreement "that would have contractually prohibited her from speaking outside of court about Pitt’s physical and emotional abuse of her and their children." When the 'Salt' actress refused to do that, Pitt allegedly "walked away from the deal," as per Us Weekly.
Pitt filed an amended complaint in June 2023, claiming Jolie "vindictively" sold her stake in the winery as retaliation for the two's custody dispute and that he was never given the opportunity to match Shefler's offer, "which he has a contractual right to do" and "which he would have done" if given the chance. The 'Seven' actor continued by claiming that his ex-wife deliberately chose Russian businessman Shefler as the purchaser because his "personal network of ill-reputed professional associates" would "lasting harm to Miraval’s reputation."
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'Defendants have attempted a hostile takeover'
According to legal docs obtained by The Blast, Pitt now claims Jolie and her former investment firm, Nouvel, attempted a "hostile takeover of the business." The documents read: "Jolie and Nouvel were obligated not to sell interest in a private family home and wine business without (Brad’s) consent. They nevertheless did so, secretly, through a purported sale to Tenute del Mondo, an entity controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shetler. Defendants have since attempted a hostile takeover of the business."
In retaliation, Jolie said in a lawsuit obtained by The Blast that her ex-husband's actions were "frivolous, malicious, and part of a problematic pattern." She continued that they are seeking to have a judge rule that "Pitt’s allegations that he and Ms. Jolie had a secret, unwritten, unspoken contract for consent right on the sale of their interests in the property is directly contrary to the written record."
The latest development in this protracted conflict comes soon after Pitt was charged with acting like a "petulant child" who "looted" the vineyard the couple jointly purchased in 2008. In a lawsuit brought by Jolie's former investment firm, Nouvel, Pitt was also charged with spending millions of dollars on ostentatious projects at the vineyard, including upgrading the swimming pool and constructing a recording studio.
Currently, the ownership and purchase of Chateau Miraval are fraught with legal issues. In addition to their legal battles in Los Angeles, the famous ex-couple is now embroiled in a series of connected lawsuits in France, Luxembourg, and four other countries. This divorce seems to be going from bad to worse before it gets any better.