Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Still Locked in ¥5.5 Billion Winery Lawsuit Despite Finalized Divorce

The lawsuit over the sale of shares in a French winery jointly owned by Brad Pitt (61) and his ex-wife Angelina Jolie (50) is dragging on and showing signs of turning into a quagmire.

In addition, the possibility that the two could run into each other in London has emerged, highlighting their “fateful battle” that continues even after their divorce.

Pitt had filed a lawsuit claiming that Jolie sold her stake in the winery at Château Miraval in France without his consent. Recent court proceedings have revealed that the amount of damages Pitt is seeking from Jolie totals $35 million (about ¥5.486 billion), sparking fresh controversy.

This was reported by the U.S. magazine People, citing court documents that detailed email exchanges between the lawyers representing both sides.

According to previous reports by U.S. media, Pitt and Jolie purchased the winery at Château Miraval in the Provence region of France for about $60 million (approximately ¥10 billion) in 2011 while they were dating. Pitt produced wine using grapes grown in the vineyard on the vast estate, and their wines won awards at competitions. In 2012, the two were married in a chapel at an old castle on the Miraval estate, an event that attracted attention as a “wedding of the century” for the Hollywood power couple.

However, the situation changed drastically a few years later.

“In 2016, Jolie filed for divorce after Pitt allegedly became intoxicated and assaulted their eldest son, Maddox, on a private jet while the family was returning from London to the United States. Jolie then sold her own shares, which amounted to 50% of the winery. Pitt filed suit seeking damages, claiming that the unauthorized sale of the shares by Jolie made it difficult to operate the winery, and the legal battle has continued ever since,” said a Hollywood insider.

Pitt filed suit against Jolie in 2022, arguing in court that she had violated a prior agreement that neither party would sell their ownership interest in the property (the winery) without mutual consent. Although each owned 50% of the winery, Jolie sold her shares to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group, a global wine and spirits producer headquartered in Luxembourg. Pitt claims this caused damage to the continued operation of the winery.

In response, Jolie argued that she had proposed selling her shares to Pitt, but because he demanded that she sign a broad non-disclosure agreement (NDA), she instead sold them to Tenute del Mondo. She criticized the NDA as one that would have prohibited her from speaking publicly, particularly about the alleged incident in 2016 in which Pitt was accused of committing acts of violence against her and Maddox during a private jet flight.

Pitt’s side, however, countered that the NDA was a standard business-protection measure related to the winery and its sale. They further argued that Jolie’s sale of the shares to a third party was a retaliatory attempt by Jolie against Pitt during their divorce and custody battle.

Jolie’s lawyer, Paul Murphy, told the UK newspaper Daily Mail:

“This lawsuit once again proves that Mr. Pitt has harassed and tried to control Angelina Jolie for many years. We intend to make this clear at upcoming hearings.”

The two sides are in direct opposition, and the dispute shows every sign of becoming increasingly bogged down. The next court hearing is reportedly scheduled for December 17.

Amid this, yet another new grudge has surfaced. According to the U.S. outlet RadarOnline, the former couple are each considering moving to London around the same time. A source familiar with the two said:

“Pitt and Jolie might run into each other in London. Running into Pitt by chance would be the one thing she wants to avoid most. She is still carrying deep pain from the divorce and seems unable to forgive him.”

Regarding the rift between the two, the Hollywood insider mentioned earlier points out:

“The alleged verbal abuse and violence by Pitt toward his eldest son Maddox and Jolie on a private jet in 2016 caused a decisive rupture in their once-blissful relationship. That incident may still be casting a long shadow today.”

The couple have six children together—Maddox (24), Pax (21), Zahara (20), Shiloh (19), and twins Vivienne and Knox (17)—all of whom have been raised by Jolie since she filed for divorce and the couple separated in 2016.

Maddox sides with Jolie, and Pax is said to dislike Pitt. Around two years ago, three of their daughters—Zahara, Shiloh, and Vivienne—began dropping the Pitt surname, signaling a growing distance from their father. In terms of custody, Jolie effectively holds sole custody.

Pitt is currently living with Ines de Ramon, vice president of the Los Angeles–based jewelry brand Anita Ko, and is said to be considering marriage in the future.

Jolie, on the other hand, was rumored last August to be dating rapper and political activist Akala after the two were spotted leaving a hotel together in Venice, Italy, but there has been no further development since.

The marriage and divorce of this super couple have continued to dominate U.S. media headlines, and just when it seemed the divorce had been finalized, their exchanges in court over the winery have dragged on. Their “twisted love-hate drama” has become an unusual spectacle even in Hollywood.

In any case, attention is now focused on how the couple’s ¥5.5 billion lawsuit will ultimately be resolved.