Angelina Jolie is preparing for her upcoming civil trial with Brad Pitt over the disputed sale of Château Miraval following a recent court ruling that favoured the actor. A California Superior Court granted Pitt’s motion to compel depositions from members of the business that acquired the winery, in a decision dated June 17.According to PEOPLE magazine, the ruling represents another development in the lengthy legal battle between the former spouses over the wine estate, which has become one of Hollywood’s most contentious property disputes. A lawyer for Jolie responded to the court decision by emphasising her client’s focus on the upcoming trial and her determination to resolve the matter.
Brad Pitt’s court victory regarding depositions
Pitt’s legal team successfully argued that executives from the company that purchased Château Miraval possessed direct knowledge of Jolie’s 2021 sale of her stake in the winery. The court ruled that these people were required to give depositions even though they are located outside the United States.In June 2025, Pitt had been trying to depose an executive at the acquiring firm, but court documents said the man had declined to turn over documents or appear for questioning under the guise that he was a resident of Switzerland. The newly issued ruling overrode these objections, determining that the depositions must take place in London by September 30.
Brad Pitt’s legal team secured a ruling allowing depositions from executives linked to the controversial Château Miraval sale.Image credit (Instagram)
The broader context of Pitt’s allegations
Pitt initiated his lawsuit against Jolie in 2023, seeking damages related to the sale of her share in Château Miraval to the company’s wine division. In his legal filings, Pitt alleged that the transaction involved a “Russia-affiliated spirits conglomerate” and posed risks to the reputation of the business he had helped establish. His legal team emphasised concerns about boycotts tied to the company’s Russian ownership and allegations regarding anti-LGBTQ legislation.The executive Pitt sought to depose is a high-ranking official within the company. The business itself is controlled by a Russian expatriate billionaire who resides in Switzerland. New court documents reveal that “persons most qualified” from the entities involved in the transaction structure will also be required to testify in depositions.
Court of Appeal ruling on the billionaire’s involvement
On June 24, a California Court of Appeals issued a separate ruling regarding the businessman who runs the company. The appellate court reversed part of a prior decision, finding it “defies credulity” that he would risk nearly $40 million on a transaction in which he had no involvement. A hearing on a motion to compel his deposition is scheduled for July 8.
Angelina Jolie’s response and legal strategy
Jolie’s legal representation responded to the recent rulings by downplaying their significance to the overall case. “The rulings have made no impact on the merits of the case, and certainly have no impact on Ms Jolie’s case,” her lawyer told the publication on June 25. “At this point, Ms Jolie is just looking forward to defeating the case at trial next year so that their family can finally focus their energies on healing and moving on.“
Angelina Jolie’s legal team insists the recent rulings have not affected the merits of her case ahead of next year’s trial.Image credit (Instagram)
In her court filings, Jolie has characterised Pitt’s descriptions of the businessman as a “xenophobic, untrue smear campaign.” Her legal team has maintained that her motivations for the sale were purely business-oriented and beneficial to the couple’s children, who stood to inherit Pitt’s portion of the estate.
Competing narratives about the sale
A source close to Jolie provided context for her decision-making regarding the sale. “She did not sell to the company for any reason other than she expected it to be an excellent world-wide distribution partner who could help grow the business for the benefit of their children, who stood to inherit Brad’s portion,” the insider said.The same source attributed conflict in the business relationship to Pitt’s personal dynamics. “The truth is that Pitt’s ego and obsession for control got in the way. Brad refused to work with the company simply because Angie chose them, not him,” the source stated.
Brad Pitt’s perspective on the ruling
A separate source close to Pitt characterised the court decision differently, framing it as progress toward understanding what occurred. “The court victory is another step towards transparency over what took place,” the insider told the outlet. The source alleged that the businessman “was a partner Jolie chose, knowing it was a partner Brad did not want involved in the business.”According to this account, Jolie had initially agreed that Pitt would have “first right of refusal” before any sale of her stake, but proceeded with the transaction without his approval. “The recent rulings mean company members, possibly including the businessman, will have to explain exactly how the deal was orchestrated,” the source said.
The original dispute and divorce settlement
The legal battle over Château Miraval commenced in February 2022, when Pitt filed a complaint alleging that Jolie had sold her share despite a prior agreement requiring mutual consent for any such transaction. Jolie responded with a countersuit in September 2022, claiming that the actor had been “waging a vindictive war against” her since she filed for divorce in 2016 following two years of marriage.The couple, who share six children together, reached a divorce settlement in December 2024 though the property dispute has continued independently.
