Bitter dispute drags on between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over French winery

By Kelsi Karruli

Pitt notched another legal win with a motion to depose members of Stoli Group.

An aerial view taken in 2008 shows Chateau Miraval, the vineyard estate later purchased by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Actor Brad Pitt has notched another legal victory in his ongoing dispute with ex-wife Angelina Jolie over Château Miraval, the French winery that they co-owned during their marriage.

Pitt, 62, and Jolie, 51, have been locked in a very bitter battle over the property since 2022, when the "Ocean's Eleven" actor filed a lawsuit against his Jolie after she made the decision to sell her stake in the estate.

Now, the actor appears to have taken one step closer to a resolution after the Superior Court in California granted a motion filed by his legal team to compel members of Stoli Group, the alcohol company that bought Jolie's stake, to submit to deposition in the case.

Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt in 2015.

The former couple signed a long-term lease on the extraordinary wine estate in 2008, four years before purchasing it for an estimated $60 million. In 2014, they then held their wedding on the 1,200 acre property, which is located in Provence.

However, when the couple split in 2016, the winery became wrapped up in their very contentious divorce battle; though they finalized their divorce in 2024, the feud over the vineyard has continued-and was in fact heightened in 2021, when Jolie received permission from a judge to sell her share in the property to the Stoli Group's wine division, Tenute del Mondo.

Though the final sale price has never been revealed, the vineyard was valued at $164 million when the deal took place.

The following year, Pitt filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife, alleging that she had violated an agreement that prevented either party from selling their stake in the vineyard without the other person's consent.

Jolie fired back with a countersuit several months later, accusing the "Ocean's Eleven" actor of carrying out what she described as a "vindictive war against" her in the years following their 2016 split after two years of marriage.

Chateau Miraval in southeastern France.

According to court documents filed on June 17, a California judge approved a request from Pitt's legal team to compel depositions from individuals connected to the Stoli Group.

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The 62-year-old actor has claimed that the representatives of the spirits company have key information about Jolie's sale of her stake in the French winery.

Pitt's legal team previously attempted to depose Stoli executive Alexey Oliynik in 2025, claiming that he had relevant information pertaining to the Jolie deal.

However, the exec reportedly declined to hand over the materials. Instead, he stayed put at his property in Switzerland, meaning he was outside the court's jurisdiction.

The Stoli Group is controlled by billionaire businessman Yuri Shefler, who was born in Russia and is now based in Switzerland.

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During the former couple's legal dispute in 2023, Pitt filed a lawsuit seeking compensation over Jolie's decision to sell her stake to what his attorneys described in court filings as a spirits company with ties to Russia.

In those filings, Pitt's legal team argued that the Stoli Group had faced multiple consumer boycotts tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as criticism over anti-LGBTQ legislation.

They also claimed Jolie's sale threatened the reputation and value of the winery business that Pitt had spent years developing.

Jolie later pushed back in her own court filings, disputing Pitt's characterization of Shefler.

Her legal team described the businessman as a Russian-born exile and outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing that Pitt's claims amounted to an inaccurate and xenophobic attempt to discredit him.

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More recent filings submitted in June state that Oliynik, along with designated representatives from Tenute del Mondo B.V. and Nouvel LLC-the company Jolie sold to Tenute del Mondo-must appear for depositions in London no later than Sept. 30.

On June 24, California's Court of Appeals also reversed an earlier ruling related to Shefler's role in the Château Miraval transaction.

In its decision, the court rejected his assertion that he played only a limited part in the deal, writing, "It defies credulity that Shefler, a sophisticated businessman, would risk almost $40 million on a transaction about which he knew nothing and with which he had no involvement."

A separate hearing to consider Pitt's request to compel Shefler's deposition is scheduled for July 8.

"This win is another step towards transparency over what took place," a source close to Pitt told People, adding that Shefler "was a partner [Jolie] chose knowing it was a partner Brad did not want involved in the business."

A separate insider claimed Jolie had previously agreed that Pitt would have the first opportunity to purchase her stake before it was sold, but alleged she ultimately moved forward with the sale to Shefler regardless.

According to the source, the latest court decisions pave the way for Stoli Group representatives-including potentially Shefler himself-to testify about how the transaction came together, saying they "will have to explain exactly how the deal was orchestrated."

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Jolie's attorney, however, told People that the latest court decisions do not alter the substance of the lawsuit or strengthen Pitt's claims.

"No impact on the merits of the case, and certainly has no impact on Ms. Jolie's case," the attorney said, adding that Jolie is "just looking forward to defeating the case at trial next year so that their family can finally focus their energies on healing and moving on."

A source close to the "Maria" actress also defended her decision to sell her stake, saying the choice was driven by business considerations.

According to the insider, Jolie believed Stoli would serve as a strong global distribution partner capable of expanding the winery for the long-term benefit of the couple's children, who are expected to inherit Pitt's ownership interest.

The source further alleged, "The truth is that Pitt's ego and obsession for control got in the way. Brad refused to work with Stoli simply because Angie chose them, not him."

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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07-06-26 0501ET