New Twist Emerges in Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Multi-Million Dollar Legal Battle

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s long-running legal battle over Château Miraval has taken another significant turn after a California court issued a ruling in the actor’s favor. According to newly released court documents, the California Superior Court has granted a motion filed by Pitt’s legal team, ordering members of the Stoli Group to sit for depositions in connection with Jolie’s 2021 sale of her stake in Château Miraval.

At the center of the dispute is Angelina Jolie’s decision to sell her interest in the renowned French estate and winery in southern France to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group. Brad Pitt argues that the company’s investors and representatives possess crucial firsthand knowledge of the negotiations and completion of the transaction, which could help clarify the circumstances surrounding the sale and the legal dispute that has stretched on for years.

Previously, Pitt had repeatedly sought to depose Alexey Oliynik, a figure believed to have played a direct role in the transaction. However, Oliynik declined to produce relevant documents or appear for questioning, arguing that, as a resident of Switzerland, he was beyond the jurisdiction of the California courts.

The Stoli Group is led by Russian-born billionaire Yuri Shefler. In legal filings submitted in 2023, Pitt alleged that Jolie sold her stake to a Russia-affiliated spirits conglomerate, claiming that the decision threatened the reputation of Château Miraval, a brand he says he spent years building and developing.

Jolie’s legal team firmly rejected those allegations. The actress argued that describing Yuri Shefler as a businessman tied to Russia amounted to “a xenophobic and completely untrue smear campaign,” emphasizing that Shefler has long lived in exile and has been an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to court filings submitted in June, Alexey Oliynik, along with the designated representatives of Tenute del Mondo B.V. and Nouvel LLC—the company Angelina Jolie sold her stake to—must appear for depositions in London before September 30.

Another significant development came on June 24, when the California Court of Appeal reversed an earlier decision regarding Yuri Shefler’s role in the Château Miraval transaction. The court concluded that although Shefler had claimed he played only a minimal role in the deal, “it defies credulity that a sophisticated businessman like Shefler would risk nearly $40 million on a transaction about which he knew nothing and in which he had no involvement.”

A hearing on the motion to compel Yuri Shefler’s deposition is scheduled for July 8.

A source close to Brad Pitt told PEOPLE, “This win is another step toward transparency over what actually took place.”

The source also claimed that Yuri Shefler “was a partner Angelina chose, knowing Brad did not want him involved in the business.”

Another insider close to the actor further alleged that Angelina Jolie had previously agreed Brad Pitt “would have the first right of refusal if she ever decided to sell her stake,” but ultimately “went ahead and sold it to Shefler anyway.”

According to the source, the latest court rulings mean that members of the Stoli Group—including Yuri Shefler, should he be compelled to testify—“will have to explain exactly how the deal was orchestrated.”

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie’s attorney insisted that the recent procedural rulings “have no impact on the merits of the case and certainly no impact on Ms. Jolie’s legal position.”

The lawyer added, “At this point, Ms. Jolie is simply looking forward to prevailing at trial next year so that the family can finally focus on healing and moving forward.”

A separate source close to Jolie also disputed Pitt’s version of events, saying the actress “did not sell her stake to Stoli for any reason other than her belief that the company would be an outstanding global distribution partner capable of growing the business for the benefit of their children, who stand to inherit Brad’s share in the future.”

The source continued, “The truth is that Brad’s ego and obsession with control got in the way. Brad refused to work with Stoli simply because Angie chose them, not him.”

The legal dispute between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie began in February 2022, when Pitt filed a lawsuit alleging that his former wife sold her interest in Château Miraval without his consent, despite an earlier agreement that neither party would transfer their ownership stake without the approval of the other.

In September of the same year, Jolie filed a countersuit, accusing Pitt of waging “a vindictive war” against her since she filed for divorce in 2016. Although the former couple finalized their divorce settlement in late 2024 after years of legal proceedings, their dispute over jointly owned assets remains unresolved.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were once regarded as one of Hollywood’s most influential power couples. They fell in love after starring together in Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005 and officially married in 2014 after nearly a decade together. They share six children—three biological and three adopted. Their marriage came to an end just two years after their wedding when Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, triggering years of legal battles over child custody, finances, and a multimillion-dollar shared estate.

Over the years, Château Miraval has remained one of the couple’s most valuable assets. Beyond serving as the venue for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s wedding, the sprawling estate in southern France has grown into an internationally acclaimed rosé wine brand. Pitt has been widely credited with playing an active role in developing the business, investing in both production and global marketing, while Jolie gradually stepped away from its operations following their separation.

Professionally, Brad Pitt continues to maintain his status as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. In addition to acclaimed performances in films such as Fight Club, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and the Ocean’s franchise, he has also enjoyed remarkable success as a producer through Plan B Entertainment. The production company has been behind several Academy Award-winning films, including 12 Years a Slave, Moonlight, and The Departed, further cementing Pitt’s reputation both in front of and behind the camera.

Angelina Jolie has likewise forged a distinct path following the end of their marriage. Alongside her acclaimed acting career, which includes performances in Girl, Interrupted, Maleficent, Changeling, and Maria, she has devoted much of her time to humanitarian work and previously served as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In recent years, the Oscar winner has focused more heavily on directing, producing, and human rights advocacy while prioritizing raising her children after years of highly publicized legal battles with her former husband.

Although Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have officially finalized their divorce, their relationship continues to attract intense public attention as the Château Miraval dispute remains unresolved. The upcoming depositions in London, along with the July hearing involving Yuri Shefler, are expected to mark another pivotal chapter in one of Hollywood’s most closely watched property disputes of the past decade.