Movie superstars Pitt and Jolie, once the highest-profile couple in Hollywoodbought a majority stake of the vineyards of Chateau Miravalin the south of France, and there they were married six years later.
But they dissolved their marriage in 2016 and have remained locked in court battles ever since, including over custody rights to their six children.
Last October Jolie sold her stake to “a Luxembourg-based liquor manufacturer controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler,” says the legal document from Pit’s representatives obtained by the police. AFP.
Pitt’s lawsuit alleges that Jolie broke the terms of their original agreement by not offering her the right of first refusal.
“Jolie long ago stopped contributing to Miraval, while Pitt poured money and sweat into the wine business, turning it into the rising company it is today.“, states the lawsuit.
The brief describes the vineyard as a “small unprofitable wine business” that “needed renovation” before the couple bought it in 2008.
Pitt and Jolie paid for their part “approximately 25 million euros“, about 28.3 million dollars. The actor contributed 60% and Jolie the remaining 40%.
But Brad Pitt went on to pay for the renovations “in a manner grossly disproportionate to his relative ownership interest,” with the understanding that Jolie would not back out of the investment without his consent, the suit alleges.
The actor brought in Marc Perrin, one of France’s leading winemakers, to help transform the business into a leading rosé wine producer, but “Jolie was not involved in these efforts,” he continues.
Revenue reportedly grew from about $3 million in 2013 to more than $50 million last year.
Representatives for Jolie did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AFP.