American actor and film producer, William Bradley Pitt is accusing his ex-wife Angelina Jolie of intentionally trying to inflict harm on him and his interests in their co-owned winery by selling her share of their wine company to a rival investor.
In new legal docs filed in Los Angeles, Brad Pitt’s lawyers claim Angelina Jolie sold her stake in their winery to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler in an effort to damage Pitt’s involvement in the company.
He said her decision to sell her share to a Russian oligarch forced him into partnership with a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions.
Alleging that she knew and intended that Shefler and his affiliates would try to control the business Pitt had built and to undermine Pitt’s investment in the wine company.
The couple who share six kids purchased a controlling interest in Chateau Miraval SA, a French company comprising a home and vineyard in the south of France, in 2008 and got married there six years later.
After the couple divorced in 2019, Jolie was cleared to sell her share in 2021 for one hundred and sixty-four million dollars before their wider financial settlement was finalized.
Pitt says he and his former wife agreed not to sell their stakes in the venue without the permission of the other.
In legal documents, it’s alleged that Jolie sold her share to to a Luxembourg-based spirits manufacturer controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler, without Pitt’s knowledge.
The lawsuit claims the sale helped launch a “hostile” takeover of the wine business that the actor had “carefully built”.
Pitt’s lawyers said that under his stewardship, the business had grown into a “multimillion-dollar international success story” though Jolie had “contributed nothing”.
“Jolie knew and intended that Shefler and his affiliates would try to control the business Pitt had built and to undermine Pitt’s investment in Miraval.”
It added that Shefler “has gained notoriety through cut-throat business tactics and dubious professional associations” and the association with him “jeopardises the reputation of the brand Pitt so carefully built”.
“All of this is the direct result of Jolie’s unlawful and tortious conduct.
“In violation of the parties’ agreement, Jolie has sought to force Pitt into partnership with a stranger, and worse yet, a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions.”
The Miraval estate was bought by the couple for around 25 million euros (£21.3m).
Pitt is said to have contributed 60% to the purchase price, with Jolie paying the remaining 40%.
Lawyers also said the wine business at the property continues to flourish and “though she benefited from Miraval’s success, Jolie had no involvement in these efforts”.
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Source: BBC News
