Brad Pitt Wins Key Legal Round Against Angelina Jolie in Winery Dispute

Brad Pitt has secured a significant legal victory in his ongoing dispute with ex-wife Angelina Jolie over their French winery, Château Miraval. Although their divorce was finalized in late 2024, the legal battle continues, with this week's ruling marking a key development. A California court granted Pitt's request to compel testimony from key figures within the Stoli Group. This conglomerate, which owns Tenute del Mondo, purchased Jolie's stake in the winery in 2021. Pitt's legal team contends that Stoli executives possess crucial information regarding the transaction. They argue that Jolie sold her share despite a prior agreement stipulating that neither party could sell their stake without first offering it to the other.

The court's decision represents a substantial step forward for Pitt. This follows an earlier attempt in June 2025 where Pitt sought to depose Alexey Oliynik, a Stoli Group member, but the executive cited his residency in Switzerland to avoid testifying in the U.S. The new order mandates that Oliynik and other qualified individuals from Tenute del Mondo BV and Nouvel LLC, the company through which Jolie executed the sale, must provide testimony in London by September 30. This ruling aims to shed light on the negotiation process and the circumstances surrounding the sale.

Adding to Jolie's legal challenges, the California Court of Appeal on June 24 overturned a previous decision concerning Yuri Shefler, the Russian billionaire who controls the Stoli Group. Shefler had claimed his involvement in the operation was minimal. However, the appellate court deemed it "implausible" that an experienced businessman would invest approximately $40 million in such a large acquisition without detailed knowledge of its execution. A hearing is scheduled for July 8 to determine if Shefler will also be required to testify. Sources close to Pitt stated this victory "is one more step towards transparency" and that Shefler "was a partner Angelina chose knowingly that Brad did not want him involved in the business."