Angelina Jolie’s ex-company accuses Brad Pitt of having squandered the assets of the vineyard

Angelina Jolie’s former investment firm has accused Brad Pitt of waging a ‘vindictive war’ in a countersuit she filed against her ex-husband in an acrimonious battle over a French vineyard the American actors shared in the old days.

Nouvel LLC, Jolie’s former investment company that owns a stake in the Château Miraval vineyard, said in its counterclaim filed Tuesday that Pitt took control of the winery in southeastern France.

“Ever since his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce in 2016, Brad Pitt has been waging a war of revenge against her and Nouvel,” he said.

The lawsuit also accused Pitt of squandering the vineyard‘s assets on vanity projects and said he “looted” its valuable brands.

“Pitt froze Nouvel from Château Miraval and treats him as his personal fiefdom,” said Nouvel’s countersuit, which was filed in California state court in Los Angeles.

Nouvel is seeking at least $250 million in damages for Pitt’s “unlawful and oppressive conduct.” Jolie sold Nouvel last year.

Pitt sued Jolie and Nouvel in court in February, alleging that she illegally sold her stake in Chateau Miraval, where the Oscar-winning couple married in 2014, to an international liquor company.

Jolie and Pitt’s attorneys did not immediately respond to inquiries Thursday. Nouvel’s attorneys declined to comment.

Jolie and Pitt purchased the 1,300-acre Château Miraval in 2008. The vineyard is located in the village of Correns, between Marseille and Nice.

Nouvel said in the court filing that Jolie sought to sell her 50% stake to Pitt after their 2016 divorce, but failed to reach an agreement due to Pitt’s “unreasonable terms.”

Jolie sold Nouvel to liquor distributor Stoli Group in October 2021, but Pitt would not agree to give up his absolute control over it, according to the countersuit.

Pitt said in his lawsuit that he and Jolie agreed that they would never sell their interests in the vineyard without each other’s consent. The sale violated that agreement and deprived Pitt of his right of first refusal, he said.

Pitt also said Jolie was not entitled to “unearned windfall profits” from the sale because she stopped contributing to Chateau Miraval while Pitt “poured cash and equity” into the business. .