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According to lawyers suing Brad Pitt, the actor has allegedly “looted” the Château Miraval vineyard in Provence, which he co-owned with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie. They claim that Pitt spent millions of dollars on renovations for the swimming pool and a recording studio, and that he owes Nouvel, a company through which Jolie previously owned a stake in the winery, more than $350 million. They further allege that Pitt and his partners have engaged in actions to retain control of Miraval while stripping it of its assets.
The ongoing legal feud between the Hollywood stars dates back to their divorce in 2016, which was marked by acrimonious circumstances. Jolie accused Pitt of a drunken attack on her and their children during a private flight to the US. Pitt, on the other hand, has denied the assault allegations and accused Jolie of attempting to damage his reputation. He claims that Jolie sold Nouvel, which contained her share of Miraval, without his knowledge to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler’s Stoli Group for $64 million in 2021.
The lawsuits over the vineyard have revealed the depth of the couple’s domestic dispute. The couple purchased Château Miraval for €25 million in 2008 and established a successful rosé brand with the help of winemaker Marc Perrin, generating over €15 million in profits in 2022. Nouvel’s lawyers now claim that Pitt has seized de facto control of the vineyard, freezing out Shefler’s Stoli by refusing to appoint neutral directors to the board of the Luxembourg-based entity operating the vineyard.
Pitt’s lawyers have chosen not to comment on the allegations, while Perrin’s team has yet to respond to a request for comment. People familiar with Pitt’s strategy have dismissed the claims as absurd and argue that the investments made on the property have benefited the business. They highlight the fact that Miraval’s rosé was recently ranked the best in Provence by Le Figaro magazine.
Pitt’s lawyers had previously accused Shefler and Stoli of attempting a hostile takeover of the vineyard. Pitt insists that he still owns 60% of the estate, claiming that he only transferred 10% to Jolie in 2013.
Nouvel’s legal team claims that Jolie initially tried to sell her share of Miraval to Pitt but backed out when he made the deal contingent on her signing a non-disparagement agreement.
Furthermore, they allege that Pitt has wasted millions on vanity projects, including extensive swimming pool renovations, repeatedly rebuilding a staircase, and restoring a recording studio. They also claim that he spends almost a million euros annually to rebuild stone walls using stone masons from Croatia and close to €3 million on unspecified expenses.
In their latest filing, Shefler’s company accuses Pitt’s team of launching a xenophobic smear campaign against Shefler himself. They claim that Shefler, who has criticized the Kremlin and stood up for LGBT rights, has been forced into exile. Pitt’s lawyers had previously raised concerns about Stoli’s ownership due to Shefler’s alleged links to Russian and Saudi Arabian state actors.
Nouvel alleges that Pitt transferred half the value of Miraval’s trademarks to Perrin without the permission of Jolie’s former holding company, which is also a joint-owner. The trademarks were registered in anticipation of a potential joint venture with luxury goods group LVMH, although the deal never materialized.
LVMH recently acquired a majority stake in Château Minuty in Provence and had previously gained a controlling interest in another local rosé winery, Château d’Esclans, in 2019.
Responding to claims that Jolie did not contribute to the success of Miraval, Nouvel’s lawyers argue that it was Jolie and Pitt’s endorsement that made the brand successful, surpassing the competing rosés produced by the Perrin family.
They dispute that Pitt, who is known for his work as an actor and producer, has a deep understanding of viticulture, stating that he deals in illusions rather than dirt and grapes.
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