Brad Pitt’s Love for Château Miraval Might Reveal Clues About Jolie Court Battle

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie parted ways in 2016, but their legal tussles continue over their former shared winery, Château Miraval. Pitt retains 50% ownership of the French estate, while Jolie sold her share to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group owned by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler, in 2021. Pitt, 60, has expressed dissatisfaction with Jolie’s decision, and his recent GQ interview might hint at why he’s so determined to win the court battle against her.

The cover story featuring Pitt and his Wolfs co-star George Clooney was set at Château Miraval in Correns, France. The article vividly described the setting with “the stone pots of lavender and rosemary” and “the Provençal sky, which is the same soft blue as it was when Matisse painted it.” This idyllic scene underscores why Pitt may be eager to fully own the property. Furthermore, the estate seems to be a cornerstone for his Hollywood friendships—most notably with Clooney, who appears to have taken Pitt’s side in his ongoing dispute with Jolie.

Clooney and his wife, Amal, have purchased a home near the vineyard, making them neighbors with Pitt in France. “Literally, I just drove from my house,” Clooney said during the interview. “I’ve been there for two years. I’ve never been here. It’s nine minutes.”

“During the pandemic,” Pitt added, commenting on how he learned about Clooney’s new property. “Online.”

“Yeah, online,” Clooney confirmed.

It seems Pitt is determined to own Château Miraval without any involvement from external investors. This has been the essence of Pitt and Jolie’s prolonged legal conflict, exacerbated by Pitt wanting to buy her share under certain conditions. Jolie claimed that Pitt wanted her to sign an NDA concerning the alleged 2016 domestic violence incident that ended their marriage. She refused, leading to her selling her share to Shefler and sparking ongoing legal battles.

Documents filed by Jolie in July 2023 revealed the contentious nature of the dispute. “Pitt is an actor, not a winemaker,” read the legal papers, as published by the Financial Times . “He deals in illusions, not dirt and grapes.” Jolie’s statements painted Pitt as a “petulant child” who spent millions on non-essential renovations like a recording studio and a $1 million swimming pool. “While he no doubt visited the vineyards to admire the work of the French laborers who actually made the business successful, Pitt is no vigneron,” the documents asserted.

For Pitt, Château Miraval seems to symbolize a status he wishes to maintain among his elite social circle. While Clooney boasts a villa on Lake Como, Pitt could claim ownership of Château Miraval. Yet, the lingering shadows of his tumultuous divorce with Jolie continue to taint this prized possession. Pitt may be prepared to fight to the bitter end for Château Miraval, but the question remains: at what personal and financial cost?

Source: GQ, Financial Times