A California appeals court has ruled that Yuri Shefler, the billionaire owner of the Stolichnaya vodka empire, must face questioning in Brad Pitt's lawsuit concerning the sale of Angelina Jolie's stake in their Chateau Miraval vineyard. The decision reverses a lower court's finding that Shefler, based in Switzerland, had insufficient involvement in the $64 million deal to be subject to California jurisdiction.
The ruling represents a significant legal victory for Pitt in his ongoing dispute with his ex-wife over the Provençal estate, which they purchased together and where they married in 2014. Pitt claims that Jolie sold her 50 percent share to Shefler's company in September 2021 without his consent, violating an alleged agreement that neither party would sell their stake to a third party without the other's approval. Jolie's legal team has denied the existence of such a deal.
The appellate court found that Shefler, through his company SPI Group, had purposefully availed himself of California jurisdiction. The court cited Shefler's personal guarantee of $39 million for Jolie's installment payments, direct communications with Jolie, and the involvement of his representatives in negotiations. Internal emails also showed Shefler's staff referring to him as "The Founder" and "Mr. S" during the transaction, indicating his active role. The purchase of Nouvel LLC, the California-based entity through which Jolie held her Miraval interest, from a California resident, and agreements governed by California law, were also key factors in the court's decision.
"It defies credulity that Shefler, a sophisticated businessman, would risk almost $40 million on a transaction about which he knew nothing and with which he had no involvement," the court stated. The ruling allows Shefler to be included in the ongoing legal proceedings, which could lead to a court showdown involving both Jolie and Pitt.
Pitt initially sued Jolie in February 2022. Jolie, in turn, has accused Pitt of engaging in a "vindictive war" that has devalued the estate and prevented her company from participating in its management. She has also stated in court filings that she and her children have not visited Miraval since their split due to its association with painful events.
The case is currently scheduled for trial on February 1, 2027, with mediation ordered for October 28. Shefler had previously opposed Pitt's attempts to depose him, citing his Swiss residency, an argument that is now significantly weakened by the appeals court's decision. Representatives for Shefler did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Jolie's attorney, Paul Murphy, stated that the ruling "has no impact on the merits of the case, and certainly has no impact on Ms Jolie’s case," adding that she looks forward to defeating the case at trial so the family can focus on healing.