Brad Pitt: "Vineyard Sale Is Retaliation for Jolie's Custody Battle"

Purchased jointly for 37 billion won in 2008
Custody dispute and lawsuit after divorce in 2019

Hollywood actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, once known as the 'couple of the century,' are embroiled in a messy custody battle, and recently Pitt claimed that Jolie's sale of their jointly owned vineyard shares was an act of 'revenge' against him.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who were the "couple of the century."

On the 2nd (local time), CNN reported that Pitt submitted documents to the court arguing that the sale of the vineyard shares was unjust as he continues his lawsuit seeking damages against Jolie for selling her stake in the wine vineyard.

Pitt's side claims that Jolie sold her vineyard shares in retaliation after receiving an unfavorable ruling in the 2021 child custody case, stating, "Jolie's actions were deliberately intended to harm Pitt and unjustly enrich herself."

Actor Brad Pitt.

The story is as follows. In 2008, Pitt and Jolie jointly purchased the vineyard 'Chateau Miraval' in southern France for $28.4 million (approximately 37.2 billion KRW). Pitt led the purchase, contributing 60% of the investment, while Jolie covered 40%. They were married in the chapel attached to the vineyard in 2014, and Pitt continued to invest afterward, developing the site into a ros? wine production area worth millions of dollars.

The thriving business faced a crisis due to their divorce. The couple legally divorced in April 2019, and in January 2021, Jolie notified Pitt of her intention to dispose of her vineyard shares. Jolie cited that the alcohol business did not align with her views as the reason. Jolie's shares were transferred to the wine division of Stoli Group, a liquor company operated by Russian businessman Yuri Shefler.

Pitt filed a lawsuit against Jolie in February last year, seeking compensation for damages caused by the sale of the vineyard shares. Citing their agreement at the time of marriage not to sell vineyard shares without mutual consent, Pitt's side argued that the transaction was an "illegal sale."

Actor Angelina Jolie.

Pitt and Jolie are also continuing their custody battle. Jolie claims sole custody of their five children, while Pitt insists on joint custody, leading to a confrontation. In May 2021, a judge provisionally granted Pitt joint custody, but Jolie filed a lawsuit with the appellate court seeking to disqualify the judge, claiming unfair arbitration. Subsequently, the California appellate court accepted Jolie's request, disqualified the judge, and the dispute between the two sides continues.

Pitt's side argues that the timing of Jolie's sale of the vineyard shares in October 2021 coincided with a point when she was disadvantaged in the custody case due to the judge's decision, and that she deliberately sold the shares to retaliate and cause Pitt financial harm.