Brad Pitt is being countersued by Tenute del Mondo for allegedly misappropriating funds from Chateau Miraval, the winery he co-owns with his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie. This legal action follows Pitt’s previous lawsuit against Tenute del Mondo, claiming they had no right to receive Jolie’s shares in the winery.
Pitt, 60, and Jolie, 48, have been embroiled in a bitter legal battle over the $500 million French winery, which they purchased together in 2008. The latest development sees Tenute del Mondo accusing Pitt and his company, Mondo Bongo, of using Chateau Miraval as a “personal piggy bank” to fund projects benefiting Pitt personally. These projects include a $1 million renovation of a swimming pool used exclusively by Pitt, as well as ventures like a recording studio, a cosmetics line, and a gin brand.
The court documents, obtained by DailyMail.com, allege that Pitt’s misuse of funds has funneled millions of dollars into his and Mondo Bongo’s business ventures, depriving Tenute of profits and loan repayments they were entitled to as part owners of Chateau Miraval. They claim that Pitt and his company have concealed financial activities and hindered Tenute’s involvement in the winery, making their participation nearly impossible.
Sources close to Pitt argue that Tenute’s interest in Chateau Miraval was primarily due to Pitt’s name recognition, which they now attempt to “smear.” These insiders maintain that the winery’s success is attributable to Pitt’s leadership, and the accusations of fund misuse are unfounded, as they would undermine the value of Chateau Miraval.
The legal feud between Pitt and Jolie has intensified in recent months. Jolie’s lawyers have called Pitt’s request for NDAs “abusive,” accusing him of trying to silence her from discussing allegations of his abusive behavior towards her and their children. This claim stems from an incident on a flight from France to California in 2016, which Jolie’s lawyers say marked the first time Pitt physically abused their children.
Jolie’s legal team argues that handing over NDAs she signed with third parties would violate their privacy, revealing contracts related to her compensation or payments made to others. They also contend that Pitt’s demand for an “onerous” and “expansive” NDA, covering his personal misconduct, was unfair and led to the collapse of a potential deal for Jolie to sell her stake to him.
Instead, Jolie sold her shares to a subsidiary of the Stoli Group, a move Pitt opposed, alleging she unfairly sold the stake out from under him. Jolie claims that Pitt’s initial offer to buy her out for $54 million fell apart due to his demands.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, sources close to Pitt highlight Jolie’s financial stability, noting that her fortunes have soared since their divorce. Jolie has recently signed an eight-year lease for a Manhattan property, formerly owned by Andy Warhol, to promote her fashion label, Atelier Jolie.
Pitt originally sought to buy out Jolie’s share of Chateau Miraval to keep the winery “in the family.” However, their deal fell through amid increasing acrimony. Pitt accused Jolie of breaching their purchase agreement by selling her stake without his consent. Jolie, in turn, argued that Pitt’s demands were unreasonable.
Chateau Miraval, a 1,200-acre estate and vineyard in the south of France, has significantly increased in value due to Pitt’s investments. While Jolie claims to have stopped investing by the time of their wedding, court records show that Pitt transferred 10 percent of his share to her as a wedding gift, making them equal partners.
As the legal battle continues, Pitt has secured several legal victories, including a key judgment in Luxembourg that returned control of Chateau Miraval’s vineyard to him pending further hearings. Last month, an LA Superior Court rejected Jolie’s allegations that Pitt’s lawsuit was frivolous and malicious.