Brad Pitt Slams Angelina Jolie For Being 'Vindictive' With Sale Of Her Share In Winery

Amid their ongoing custody battle, Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have once again made headlines as the actor made a shocking claim, accusing his ex-wife of secretly scheming to sell her share of their French vineyard, Château Miraval, to a supposed Russian oligarch.

Pitt alleges that Jolie's actions were driven by a desire to "severely damage" him and "enrich herself" as revenge. In her counterclaim, she accused Pitt of trying to force her into selling to his own company on "unreasonable terms."

Read on for more details.

According to the "12 Years a Slave" actor's legal team, Jolie allegedly worked behind the scenes to orchestrate a secret sale of her portion of their Miraval vineyard to a Russian oligarch, per the Daily Mail. Pitt claims that this move was a calculated attempt to undermine him, personally and financially, following the fallout from their high-profile divorce and custody battle.

Miraval, located in the picturesque region of Correns, a village in the South of France, was purchased by the former couple in 2011 for $60 million and is known for producing the award-winning Miraval Rosé, attracting wine enthusiasts and celebrities alike.

According to the news outlet, the former couple had a "mutual and binding commitment" to their $160 million family business, and both agreed never to sell their share without the other's permission. Still, she sold 50% of her stake to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler in 2021.

Court documents obtained by the news outlet read, "As will be demonstrated at trial, Jolie's actions were unlawful, severely and intentionally damaging Pitt and unjustly enriching herself."

Pitt was allegedly blindsided by Jolie's actions regarding the sale of her share in Château Miraval, as he had no prior knowledge of her plan and only learned about it through a 2021 press release.

According to the Daily Mail, the actor pointed out that although he had first refusal rights on the "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" actress's share of the winery, she instead opted to secretly sell to Tenute del Mondo, a Russia-affiliated spirits company controlled by Yuri Shefler.

Pitt alleged that by doing so, she linked the Château Miraval to Russia, its homophobic laws, and the invasion of Ukraine - potentially tarnishing the reputation of its highly regarded rosé.

The former power couple's custody battle has been in the news for years, with numerous allegations and counter-allegations being thrown back and forth. Pitt and Jolie share six children; Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne, and have been embroiled in a complex legal dispute over custody arrangements since their separation in 2016.

Further details emerging from the publication regarding Pitt's connection to the Miraval vineyard business shed light on the significant investments he made and his contractual rights.

It was disclosed in the court filing that as part of their original agreement, the estranged couple committed to each other to uphold Miraval together, and if the time came, they would sell their interests separately only with the other's consent.

This provision would reportedly have allowed him the opportunity to purchase her stake before considering any outside offers. Pitt's legal team contends that Jolie's move to sell her portion of Miraval to a Russian oligarch without notifying or involving Pitt violates their agreement.

The filing went on to reveal that for the trust he had for his-then wife, he "devoted his time and his resources to renovating the estate and building a highly successful wine business."

It continued, "Jolie, though supportive of Pitt's efforts on behalf of the family, did none of the work necessary for Miraval's success. Instead, she allowed Pitt to pour money and sweat equity into the business in reliance on her promise to hold Miraval together, as well as the contractual rights her holding company Nouvel owed his."

According to the news outlet, Pitt's investment had exceeded Jolie's by nearly $50 million at the time of their separation.

The "Tomb Raider" star filed a counterclaim in response to Pitt's claims regarding the sale of her share in the Miraval vineyard and the other allegations hurled at her.

According to the Daily Mail, her legal team came forward with their claims, challenging Pitt's accusations and painting a different picture of the situation. She alleged that the actor tried to force her into selling her stake to his company Mondo Bongo on "unreasonable terms" and spreading lies that Shefler was "an ally of Vladimir Putin."

Jolie also asserted that Pitt hid assets and wasted the company's money on projects that weren't viable, including a swimming pool and an ornate staircase that was rebuilt four times.