Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s ownership of the Château Miraval estate began as a romantic venture and has since cascaded into a protracted legal battle. This stunning 1,200-acre estate in Provence, once a picturesque retreat for the couple, has become a focal point of their tumultuous divorce. As their dispute unfolds, it highlights the intersection of personal relationships and business interests.
Château Miraval: A Dream Turned Controversial
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie first visited Château Miraval in 2008. This historic estate, spanning 1,200 acres in the village of Correns, Provence, is rich in natural beauty, featuring olive groves, pine forests, and private lakes, all centered around a 35-room stone château amidst terraced vineyards.
Initially, the couple leased the property, with an option to buy. Subsequent court filings revealed that Brad owned 60% through his company, Mondo Bongo, while Angelina owned 40% via her company, Nouvel. They later exercised their option to purchase the estate for $28.4 million, with contributions reflective of their ownership stakes: Jolie contributed 40% and Pitt 60%.
In 2013, Pitt sold 10% of his stake to Jolie for one Euro, resulting in equal ownership. The following year, they exchanged vows at the estate, cementing its significance in their relationship.
Chateau Miraval (MICHEL GANGNE/AFP via Getty Images)
Miraval Rosé: A Brand in Bloom
When they acquired the estate, the vineyard, Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé, was already operational. However, Pitt and Jolie transformed it into a luxury brand, collaborating with the Perrin family—famed vintners behind Château de Beaucastel. This partnership gave rise to Miraval Rosé in 2013, achieving widespread acclaim and quickly becoming a staple in grocery stores around the globe.
Critics lauded its delicate pink hue and refined flavor, and bottles adorned with the “Jolie-Pitt & Perrin” label emerged as symbols of status. For years, Miraval epitomized the allure of “Brangelina,” artfully blending romance with commercial success.
Legal Fallout Following the Breakup
However, the charm of Miraval was overshadowed by personal turmoil. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016 after a private jet incident, marking the end of their 12-year relationship and two-year marriage. This initiated a series of contentious legal disputes encompassing custody, finances, and property ownership, with Château Miraval at the center of their disagreements.
In 2021, Jolie sold her 50% stake in Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, part of the Stoli Group. Pitt contends this sale breached an understood agreement that neither party would sell their shares without the other’s consent, a claim Jolie denies, insisting no such binding agreement existed. What began as a romantic venture devolved into a full-blown corporate conflict spanning continents.
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The $35 Million Lawsuit
Recently, the winery dispute resurfaced in a significant way. On October 29, Pitt’s legal team filed a comprehensive 286-page document in Los Angeles Superior Court as part of his ongoing lawsuit against Jolie. This filing includes a variety of emails spanning nearly two decades, detailing business negotiations and personal matters.
One email dated November 22, 2023, from Jolie’s lawyer to Pitt’s team noted:
“We note that the burdensome nature of any production is a matter of [Pitt’s] own creation — he is suing for $35 million in damages. As a result, he has to incur the expense of producing the documents that will show (or not show) those damages.”
This acknowledgment marked the first indication from Jolie’s team regarding the scope of Pitt’s financial claims, which concern alleged economic damages and reputational harm attributed to her sale of shares.
Pitt’s attorneys assert that the sale undermined Miraval’s operations and constituted a hostile takeover that stripped him of control over the brand he developed. Conversely, Jolie maintains the sale was legitimate and rooted in her desire to disentangle from their joint business interests, claiming she divested only after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement pertaining to their marriage and the 2016 jet incident.
Pitt’s legal team argues that Jolie’s actions were malicious and assert that internal communications reveal intent to harm his financial interests.
Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images
Ongoing Legal Battles and Discovery Issues
Pitt’s concerns extend to Jolie’s private communications, which he believes are crucial for substantiating his claims. His legal team is pushing the court to mandate the release of hundreds of emails and texts, asserting they prove her intent to diminish the value of Château Miraval.
Jolie’s representatives argue these communications are protected by attorney-client privilege. One particular email from May 2021 has garnered attention, with Jolie expressing anxiety over her mounting pressures and requesting more support in her personal and professional life.
Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, accused Pitt of misusing legal discovery to intrude into her privileged communications, labeling his claims as speculative attempts to exert control over her. Meanwhile, Pitt’s side maintains the emails could demonstrate that Jolie’s sale was designed to harm him personally and financially.
A court hearing regarding the discovery dispute is scheduled for December 17, 2025, with a full trial on the $35 million claim set for February 2027, nearly five years after Pitt filed his initial lawsuit.
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