Brad Pitt has shared more details about the fallout from Angelina Jolie’s sale of her stake in their jointly owned Château Miraval winery, a key point of contention amid their ongoing legal battles. Although the couple finalized their divorce, disputes over the French estate continue to dominate headlines.
A source close to Pitt described Jolie’s 2021 decision to sell her 50 percent share of Château Miraval as a calculated move to “punish” her former husband.
“Brad built an extraordinary, increasingly valuable business, and she chose to deliberately disregard their agreement,” the insider told PEOPLE. Pitt’s 2022 lawsuit claimed that Jolie’s sale to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of Stoli Group, violated a mutual understanding that required both parties’ consent before any such transaction.
According to the source, “Instead of completing negotiations for him to buy her out, she sold to a total stranger not aligned with the company’s vision, taking the money for herself and punishing him.” Jolie, however, denied the existence of any binding agreement, arguing in her countersuit that there was no “secret, unwritten, unspoken contract” requiring mutual consent for the sale.
The legal dispute took a pivotal turn in November 2023 when a court rejected Jolie’s motions to dismiss Pitt’s lawsuit. The court cited potential evidence of a written agreement between the former couple, bolstering Pitt’s claims.
A source close to Pitt hailed the ruling as a significant victory, stating it “demonstrates the legitimacy of his claims.” Another insider alleged that Jolie’s actions caused “tremendous collateral damage to those in and around the family.”
Conversely, a source from Jolie’s side expressed hope that Pitt can now “move on” and suggested the ongoing lawsuit hinders peace and healing within the family. Jolie has also accused Pitt of waging a “vindictive war” through his legal actions.
Pitt and Jolie, who share six children, separated in 2016 after 12 years together. While their divorce is legally settled, the Château Miraval dispute underscores the unresolved tensions between the former couple. For now, the legal battle continues to serve as a reminder of the lingering complexities of their relationship and its impact on those around them.