Brad Pitt Is Accused of Misusing Winery as His 'Personal Piggy Bank' in New Countersuit
The ongoing legal dispute over Château Miraval, the French winery formerly co-owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has taken a new turn. Tenute del Mondo, the company that acquired Jolie’s shares, is countersuing Pitt and his company Mondo Bongo for €20 million in damages, alleging financial mismanagement and misuse of winery funds.
Key Allegations:
- Misuse of Funds: Tenute del Mondo claims that Pitt diverted funds from Château Miraval for personal expenses, including over $1 million on renovations for a private swimming pool.
- Diversion to Side Businesses: The countersuit alleges Pitt used Château Miraval’s assets and funds to support various side ventures, benefiting personally while depriving Tenute of profits and loan repayments.
- Lack of Transparency: Pitt and Mondo Bongo are accused of blocking Tenute, Jolie, and Nouvel from participating in the winery’s operations and withholding financial information.
Pitt's Position: A source close to the litigation calls the allegations "absurd," arguing that Pitt’s connection to Miraval is integral to its success. The source accuses Stoli Group, Tenute’s parent company, of attempting to capitalize on Pitt’s fame without contributing to the winery's development.
Background: The legal conflict began when Pitt filed a lawsuit in 2022, contending that Jolie’s sale of her stake to Tenute violated an agreement requiring mutual consent for any sale. Jolie’s legal team argues that Pitt’s insistence on a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was the stumbling block, which she refused to sign.
Claims for Damages: Tenute del Mondo seeks a jury trial and demands repayment of €20 million in loans provided by Jolie to support the winery’s operations.
The Château Miraval dispute underscores the complexities of business entanglements following high-profile divorces, with both sides presenting starkly different narratives about the management and future of the renowned winery.
