Grapes of wrath as Jolie sues Pitt for ‘wasted’ winery profits

Angelina Jolie has filled a $370m lawsuit over claims ex-husband Brad Pitt wasted profits from their French winery in retaliation for their bitter divorce.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in London in 2014. Picture: Getty Images

Brad Pitt squandered the profits from the French winery he shared with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie and tried to “seize control” of the business while seeking revenge for their bitter divorce, according to a lawsuit.

Nouvel, a company founded by the actress, has filed a £217m ($370m) claim against Pitt, accusing him of wasting vast sums on vanity projects, including more than $1.48m on a swimming pool.

The Oscar-winning actor attempted to exploit Jolie’s financial stake in the winery in an attempt to force her to sign a “hush clause” preventing her from publicly discussing their acrimonious split, it is alleged.

The former “golden couple” of Hollywood separated in 2016 and have been locked in a years-long custody battle over four of their six children, with the other two having reached adulthood.

Pitt, 58, and Jolie, 47, bought the 526ha Chateau Miraval in Provence in 2008 and jointly invested millions of dollars into it, according to the court papers filed in Los Angeles and reported by the website Page Six. In June, it was reported that they bought the winery, which produces acclaimed rose wines, for $51m and is now worth an estimated $208m.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt bought the 526ha Chateau Miraval in Provence in 2008 and jointly invested millions of dollars into it. Picture: Getty Images

Pitt has accused Jolie of selling her half of the business to a British billionaire of “poisonous intentions” in violation of an agreement not to sell their stake without the other’s consent.

In her court filing in Los Angeles, Jolie claimed Pitt and his friends orchestrated a campaign to gain control of the winery “in retaliation for the divorce and custody proceedings” to make sure “Jolie would never see a dime” of the profits. He allegedly moved assets from Chateau Miraval to companies owned by him and his business partners, “thereby devaluing Jolie’s interest”.

Pitt, the star of numerous films including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ocean’s Eleven, has refused to work with Yuri Shefler, the founder of Stoli Group, the new co-owner of the winery, and it is alleged he has spread lies about the billionaire including that he is an “ally of Vladimir Putin”.

According to the lawsuit, Pitt “squandered tens of millions of Chateau Miraval’s money on vanity projects that have little, if any, business justification”.

They include a swimming pool and “a single staircase at the chateau to be built and rebuilt a total of four times after he [Pitt] was unhappy with the first three attempts”.

The actor and film producer married Jolie, whose films include Maleficent, in 2014 with a ceremony at Chateau Miraval. She filed for divorce in 2016 and said it was “for the health of the family”.

Representatives for Pitt had not on Wednesday responded to a request for comment from The Times.

– The Times