Angelina Jolie’s lawsuit against Brad Pitt over their winery is actually a countersuit: Pitt sued first in February 2022, alleging Jolie breached an implied agreement not to sell her half of Château Miraval without his consent, and Jolie fired back through her holding company Nouvel with a cross-complaint seeking at least $350 million in damages.1Courthouse News Service. Nouvel Miraval Cross-Complaint The case, William B. Pitt v. Angelina Jolie (No. 22STCV06081), is pending in Los Angeles Superior Court, and a trial is expected sometime in 2027. It is separate from the couple’s divorce, which was finalized in December 2024.2People. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Finalize Divorce Settlement
How the Dispute Started
Pitt and Jolie owned Château Miraval, a French wine estate in Correns, on a 50/50 split after Pitt gifted Jolie an additional 10 percent when they married in 2014. That gift is now itself contested: Pitt argues the transfer was never enforceable and should revert to him, and a Luxembourg court has placed the shares in escrow pending resolution.3Robb Report. Brad Pitt’s Château Miraval Stake
In early 2021, the couple were negotiating a deal in which Pitt would buy Jolie’s half for $54.5 million. According to Jolie’s court filings, the talks fell apart in March 2021 after Pitt demanded she sign an expansive nondisclosure agreement that would have barred anyone involved from making statements that could “disparage, defame, or compromise the goodwill, name, brand or reputation” of Miraval or its shareholders for at least four years.4Los Angeles Times. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Miraval Winery Lawsuit NDA5NPR. Brad Pitt Choked One of His Children, Angelina Jolie Says in a Court Filing6CNN. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt FBI Report
In October 2021, Jolie sold her stake to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Luxembourg-based Stoli Group controlled by Russian-born businessman Yuri Shefler.7Wine Spectator. Angelina Jolie Sells Her Stake in Château Miraval Pitt’s side says he learned about the sale through the press.8NewsNation. Angelina Jolie Legal Battle With Brad Pitt Over Winery
What Pitt Is Suing For
Pitt filed suit in February 2022, alleging the sale to Stoli breached an implied agreement between him and Jolie that neither would sell without the other’s consent. He is seeking roughly $35 million in damages.9People. Brad Pitt Email Alleging Suing Angelina Jolie Over Winery Sale
Jolie moved to dismiss the case in December 2023. Judge Lia Martin tossed seven of Pitt’s nine claims but allowed two theories to move forward: breach of an implied-in-fact contract, and breach of a quasi-contract. Those are the claims heading to trial.10Courthouse News Service. Brad Pitt Winery Fight Against Angelina Jolie Pruned but Alive
What Jolie Is Suing For
Jolie’s countersuit, brought through Nouvel, seeks at least $350 million and alleges that Pitt and his business partner Marc Perrin took control of the winery after the couple’s separation, cut Nouvel out of management, and used company funds on projects that had no legitimate business purpose. The specific allegations include:
- More than $1 million on swimming pool renovations, nearly $1 million a year on stone wall rebuilding, roughly €3 million on “garment work,” and a staircase reportedly rebuilt four times.1Courthouse News Service. Nouvel Miraval Cross-Complaint
- Registering the Miraval trademarks globally under a subsidiary and attempting to transfer 50 percent ownership of them to Perrin’s family company for free. Nouvel calls the trademarks the estate’s “most valuable assets.”11MyNewsLA. Judge Says Nouvel Can Proceed With Most Claims vs. Brad Pitt
- Transferring three shares of the winemaking subsidiary to the Perrin family in June 2023, making them the controlling shareholder without consulting Nouvel.1Courthouse News Service. Nouvel Miraval Cross-Complaint
Nouvel has also targeted a September 2023 ten-year exclusive U.S. and French distribution deal Miraval signed with Campari Group, subpoenaing Campari America in July 2024 for records about how the deal was negotiated and whether Pitt influenced its terms.12The Drinks Business. Miraval Signs Exclusive Deal With the Campari Group13Wine Spectator. Campari Caught in Miraval Fight
In March 2024, Judge Martin allowed Nouvel to proceed on four claims, including tortious interference and trespass to chattels, while dismissing two that relied on Luxembourg law.11MyNewsLA. Judge Says Nouvel Can Proceed With Most Claims vs. Brad Pitt
Recent Rulings
The last two years have been dominated by fights over what each side has to hand over.
Jolie’s NDAs
In April 2024, a court ordered Jolie to turn over eight years of nondisclosure agreements she had either signed or requested from others. Pitt’s team argued the documents would show his 2021 NDA was routine; Jolie’s attorney Paul Murphy said the ruling actually confirmed unconscionability was central to the case.14E! Online. Angelina Jolie Ordered to Turn Over 8 Years’ Worth of NDAs
Pitt’s Abuse-Related Documents
In November 2024, a California judge ordered Pitt to produce documents and communications that Jolie says will show he tried to cover up alleged domestic violence against her and their children.15Law360. Pitt Ordered to Disclose Docs Jolie Says Will Prove Abuse
Jolie’s Privileged Emails
In December 2025, a trial judge ordered Jolie to turn over unredacted versions of 22 communications between her and her non-attorney representatives about the sale, agreeing with Pitt that they might show she had been “disingenuous since the start.”16People. Brad Pitt Scores Legal Win in Winery Battle17TMZ. Angelina Jolie Not Required to Give Brad Pitt Confidential Emails18People. Angelina Jolie Wins Legal Bid to Block Release of Her Private Messages19USA Today. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Winery Battle Messages Ruling
Stoli’s Former General Counsel
On May 28, 2026, a Michigan judge ruled that Stoli’s lawyers had improperly blocked former general counsel Todd Culyba from answering 33 questions during a December deposition, holding that attorney-client privilege did not extend to the “business aspects” of Jolie’s sale. Culyba was ordered to sit for a new deposition. The questions focused on Shefler’s involvement in the transaction.20Page Six. Brad Pitt Scores Big Win in Legal Battle With Ex Angelina Jolie Over Château Miraval
When Trial Will Happen
A trial on Pitt’s surviving breach-of-contract claims is expected in 2027, but the parties have not agreed on a date. Pitt’s team has pushed for April 2027, arguing that “time is of the essence” because key witnesses are becoming unavailable: Jolie’s former business manager Terry Bird has died, and her transactional lawyer Laurent Schummer is reportedly too ill to testify.21AOL (Associated Press). Brad Pitt Accuses Angelina Jolie of Delay Jolie’s side wants September 2027, citing incomplete international discovery and unfinished depositions.22Chosun Biz. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Château Miraval Trial Scheduling Jolie’s countersuit will also need resolution. As of mid-2026, no trial date has been finalized.