Angelina Jolie stated she is "looking forward" to an upcoming trial with ex-husband Brad Pitt concerning their French winery, Chateau Miraval, as Pitt has recently achieved significant legal successes in the dispute. A California Superior Court has allowed Pitt to depose members of the Stoli Group, run by billionaire Yuri Shefler, who purchased Jolie's share of the vineyard.
The court's decision, detailed in a June 17 filing, mandates that depositions for Stoli Group executive Alexey Oliynik and other "persons most qualified" must occur by September 30 in London. Jolie's legal team maintained that Pitt's recent legal wins "have made no impact on the merits of the case" and that Jolie is "looking forward to defeating the case at trial next year."
A California Court of Appeal reversed a lower court's decision that had previously allowed Shefler to avoid the lawsuit by claiming limited involvement in the $64 million deal. The appeals court found that Shefler had "purposefully availed himself" of California jurisdiction, citing his personal guarantee of $39 million to secure Jolie's installment payments. Internal emails and letters also indicated Shefler's direct involvement in the transaction, referring to him as "The Founder" and "Mr. S."
Pitt initially sued Jolie in February 2022, alleging she had sold her half of the winery without his consent, contrary to an alleged agreement that neither party would sell their share to a third party without mutual approval. Jolie's side has denied the existence of such a deal. Pitt's lawsuit claimed Shefler orchestrated the purchase to facilitate a breach of his rights.
Shefler had purchased Nouvel LLC, the entity through which Jolie held her Miraval interest, from a California resident. The purchase agreement and preceding exclusivity agreement were governed by California law, with California forum-selection clauses. The court ruled that Shefler's contacts with California in purchasing a California company from a California resident caused the injury to another California resident and company that is the subject of the lawsuit.
Jolie's cross-complaint accuses Pitt of waging a "vindictive war" that has devalued the winery and prevented her company from participating in its management.
The case, which involves a combined estate valuation of approximately $164 million, is scheduled for trial on February 1, 2027. Mediation has been ordered for October 28. Pitt and Jolie were married from 2014 to 2016, with their divorce finalized in 2019. While they reached a divorce settlement in late 2024, the dispute over Chateau Miraval continues.