Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are at war over their winery.
In February, Pitt filed a lawsuit against Jolie over what she claims was “illegal” the 2008 sale of her stake in Chateau Miraval, a country estate and winery in the south of France.
In a countersuit filed this week, obtained by Jee News, Jolie accuses ex-husband Brad Pitt of “waging a vendetta against her” and “hijacking” the lucrative winery business. have been that they ever shared.
Pitt and Jolie were married at the property in 2014 and will spend the holidays there as a family, according to Pitt’s suit.
Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in September 2016 after a heated confrontation on a private jet that was investigated by the FBI.
After he did so, Jolie’s lawsuit, filed on behalf of his former company Nouvel LLC, alleged that Pitt “and his associates” intended to “injure” Jolie and Nouvel. took “illegal and malicious actions”, “diminishing its investment and depriving it of its proper role in the management of Chateau Miraval, a world-renowned producer of rosé wine.”
Jolie is seeking at least $250 million in damages.
Jee News has reached out to representatives for Pitt and Jolie for comment.
The countersuit said Pitt “masterminded a hitherto successful scheme to seize control of Chateau Miraval” and mishandled trademark registrations that had “disastrous financial consequences” for Novell.
“Pitt has frozen Novel out of Chateau Miravel and considers it his personal fiefdom,” the suit states.
It also says Pitt, “began a multi-pronged, years-long campaign to gain control of Chateau Miraval and appropriate the company’s assets for the benefit of himself and his companies and friends.”
In his lawsuit, Pitt alleged that Jolie “did nothing to promote the growth” of the business, which he turned into a “multi-million dollar international success story.”
Jolie’s countersuit disputes this, saying that “Pitt refused to give Jolie or Novell equal access to Chateau Miraval’s records or an equal voice over management,” effectively “holding its net worth.” took the most important part hostage.”
Jolie exited the business in October 2021, selling Novell and its stake in Miraval to Teniot del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group, controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Scheffler.
Pitt’s lawsuit alleges that the sale was illegal because he and Jolie agreed when they bought Chateau Miravel that neither would sell without the other’s consent. But Jolie’s countersuit alleges that she made the sale after negotiations between Jolie and Pitt in which Pitt was to sell the novel “to prevent Jolie from speaking publicly about the events.” was designed to cause the breakup of their marriage.”
“Pitt knew that much of Jolie’s wealth and liquidity was tied up in Novell and used that fact to try to force Jolie to agree to her unreasonable terms,” ​​her countersuit says. .
Pitt’s lawsuit did not specify the amount sought for damages but included a request for “relief that the court deems just and proper.”
Pitt and Jolie’s marriage was dissolved in 2019, but their legal battle over property and custody of their minor children continues.
A California appeals court ruled last year that a retired judge hired by both sides to arbitrate the custody dispute should be disqualified because of undisclosed ties to Pitt’s lawyers.
In 2020, Jolie told Vogue India that she separated from Pitt for the sake of their children.
Pitt told GQ in 2017 that he had quit drinking after “boozing” too much the previous year.
In a June 2022 interview with British GQ, he recently spoke about his search for peace.
“I’ve always felt alone in my life,” he told the publication, “growing up alone as a kid, even alone, and it wasn’t really until recently that I embraced my friends and family more.” be.”
