Pop-art illustration for pitt v jolie miraval
Active CaseBreach of ContractWinery / $164M Dispute

Pitt v. Jolie

Brad Pitt sues Angelina Jolie over her sale of their jointly owned Château Miraval winery to a Stoli Group subsidiary without his consent - a $164 million dispute now fighting over trial dates as key witnesses disappear.

Filed2022
CourtL.A. Superior Court
TrialCurrently set Feb 2027; Jolie seeks Nov 2027
★ New · Related Case · Trademark Infringement
Palas v. Le Domaine — Brad Pitt’s skincare line sued for trademark infringement

Brandon Palas, founder of “Beau D.” men’s skincare (USPTO-registered since 2020), is suing Le Domaine — Brad Pitt’s luxury skincare line — in the Central District of California. The complaint alleges Pitt’s brand rebranded from “Le Domaine” to “Beau Domaine” in 2022, incorporating 100% of Palas’s “Beau D.” mark, creating a likelihood of confusion. Claims include trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and common law unfair competition. Settlement talks failed — Palas allegedly offered three options: rebrand, co-exist, or fund his rebranding.

Case No. 2:25-cv-11953-AB-PVC (C.D. Cal.) 📄 Complaint (PDF) → 🗃 CourtListener Docket →
★ May 28, 2026 · Pitt Win · Deposition Ruling
Pitt Wins Deposition Fight — Michigan judge orders Stoli’s ex-GC back to the chair

A Michigan judge ruled that lawyers for Stoli Group (Jolie’s buyer) improperly instructed former General Counsel Todd Culyba not to answer 33 questions during his December deposition. The court found the objections lacked legal basis and ordered Culyba back for a continued deposition. The questions relate to the circumstances of Jolie’s controversial 2021 sale of her Château Miraval stake — the transaction at the heart of this lawsuit.

► Next: June hearing on motions to compel depositions · Case No. 22STCV06081

★ Docket · Primary Sources
Case No. 22STCV06081
📂 LASC Portal →
LA Superior Court · Brad Pitt v. Angelina Jolie · Château Miraval
Parties
Plaintiff
Brad Pitt
Oscar-winning actor & producer · Co-owner of Château Miraval
v.
Defendant
Angelina Jolie
Oscar-winning actress & humanitarian · Former spouse (2014-2024)
Background

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie purchased Château Miraval, a 1,200-acre French estate and winery, in 2008 for $28.4 million. The property served as both a family home and a growing wine business. They married there in 2014.

After Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016 - days after an alleged altercation on a private jet - the couple's assets became contested. Their divorce was finalized in December 2024 after eight years, but the winery dispute remains unresolved.

In 2021, Jolie sold her 50% stake in Miraval to Tenute Del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group, without Pitt's approval. Pitt sued in 2022, claiming they had a mutual agreement that neither would sell without the other's consent. Jolie contends she was within her rights after private negotiations broke down.

The case has grown increasingly contentious. In early 2026, Pitt won a court ruling forcing Jolie to reveal private messages. A key witness - Jolie's former business manager - has died, and another is reportedly too ill to testify. Jolie is now requesting a 9-month trial delay to November 2027; Pitt is resisting, claiming evidence is disappearing.

Key Claims
  • 01Pitt alleges Jolie breached an agreement that neither would sell their Miraval stake without the other's consent when she sold to the Stoli Group.
  • 02Jolie's company has accused Pitt of running a "vindictive campaign" to "loot" the business since the 2016 divorce filing.
  • 03Pitt claims the winery business has "suffered" and been "stymied" by the dispute and Stoli's efforts to interfere with operations.
  • 04Jolie argues the case isn't ready for trial - depositions haven't begun, major discovery disputes remain, and the full list of parties isn't even finalized.
Why It Matters

This $164 million dispute sits at the intersection of divorce law, business partnerships, and international commerce. It will test how courts handle the sale of jointly owned luxury assets during divorce proceedings and could set precedent for how co-owned businesses are treated when one party sells to a third party without consent. Most of the Pitt-Jolie children have dropped Pitt's last name, adding a deeply personal dimension to what is already one of Hollywood's most bitter legal battles.