Brad Pitt has won a legal victory in the ongoing dispute over the ownership and sale of the French winery Chateau Miraval, which he owned with his ex-wife. Angelina Jolie.According to the June 17 court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the Supreme Court of California accepted the request that Pitt’s legal team wants to compel the members of the Stoli Group. Pitt’s lawyers said that the investors and the company, knew firsthand about Jolie’s 2021 sale of her property from Chateau Miraval to Tenute del Mondo.
The court sets a date for delivery
New legal documents issued in June state that the depositions of Oliynik, together with “relevant persons” from Tenute del Mondo BV and Nouvel LLC – Jolie’s company, sold to Tenute del Mondo – should be held in London on September 30.On June 24, the California Court of Appeal reversed the original decision regarding Yuri Shefler’s involvement in the Chateau Miraval operation. According to People, the court, in its decision, rejected Shefler’s claims that he had a “minor share” in the sale. It said, “It defies belief that Shefler, a leading businessman, could invest nearly $40 million in a venture he knew nothing about and did nothing about.“A hearing on Pitt’s bid to compel members of Stoli’s group, including Alexey Oliynik, to testify about the sale is scheduled for July 8.
Brad Pitt’s legal team for the winery business
The Stoli group is headed by Yuri Shefler, a Russian-born billionaire living in Switzerland. In 2023, Pitt sued Jolie, seeking damages for selling his interest in the winery to what his legal documents described as Shefler’s “Russia-affiliated spirits conglomerate.”Pitt’s legal team also said that the Stoli Group “has been repeatedly attacked in connection with Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the policy of homosexuality.” The filing also said that Jolie’s sale would “jeopardize the business reputation that Pitt has so carefully built.”Earlier, Pitt tried to remove the head of Stoli Group Alexey Oliynik, who allegedly refused to hand over documents or attend interviews, saying he could not be forced to do so because he lives in Switzerland.
Brad Pitt’s team responds to the court’s decision
A source close to Pitt told PEOPLE, “This win is another step forward in showing what happened.” The source added that Shefler “was a friend [Jolie] he decided knowing that his friend Brad didn’t want to be involved in the business. “A source close to Pitt said that Jolie agreed that Pitt would have the “right of first refusal” before the sale but later sold her price to Shefler.
Angelina Jolie’s lawyer responds
In response to the recent court rulings, Jolie’s attorney told PEOPLE that the rulings “have no effect on the merits of this case, and they do not affect Ms. Jolie’s story. Meanwhile, Ms. Jolie is just hoping to win the case next year so her family can focus on healing and moving forward.A source close to Jolie also said she sold her stake to Stoli because she believed the company would help grow the business to benefit their children who are expected to inherit Pitt’s stake in the future. The source added, “The reality is that Pitt’s selfishness and desire to control things got in the way. Brad refused to work with Stoli because Angie chose them, not him.
About Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s fight at Chateau Miraval
Pitt and Jolie’s legal battle over Chateau Miraval began in February 2022 after Pitt claimed that Jolie had sold his share of the winery without his permission, even though they had agreed not to sell it without someone else’s permission. Jolie later filed a counterclaim, accusing Pitt of waging a “revenge war” after she filed for divorce in 2016. The couple finalized the divorce in December 2024.