Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s legal battle over the Chateau Miraval winery has taken a new turn, as Pitt’s legal team is now demanding access to Jolie’s private messages with key individuals involved in the controversial sale of her stake. Once celebrated as Hollywood’s golden couple, their post-divorce relationship has become increasingly contentious, with this lawsuit marking one of the most high-profile disputes stemming from their shared assets.
The central issue revolves around Jolie’s 2021 sale of her share in the French estate and winery to the Stoli Group, owned by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler. Pitt claims that Jolie made the sale without his consent and in violation of their alleged agreement to consult each other before selling their respective interests. He has maintained that he had always opposed a deal with Stoli and believes Jolie made the move out of malice.
Now, Pitt’s legal team is pressing for all of Jolie’s communication records with Stoli Group executive Alexey Oliynik. They argue that these records are vital to the case, potentially revealing Jolie’s intent behind the sale and whether she knowingly went against Pitt’s wishes. The new court filings describe the request as “easily meeting the standard for discoverability,” emphasizing that it directly relates to the actor’s claims that Jolie acted with deliberate spite.
However, things are far from straightforward. Oliynik, a Swiss national, has reportedly declined to appear in U.S. court, citing his foreign residency as protection from subpoena. This international element could complicate the case further, especially if key testimonies or communications are withheld due to jurisdictional limitations.
This development comes a year after Jolie’s own legal team attempted to obtain documents related to a different controversy — the infamous 2016 plane incident involving Pitt, Jolie, and their children. At the time, Pitt’s side called her request an “intrusive” fishing expedition designed to reignite public interest in a private matter. They claimed Pitt had already agreed to release enough material to detail the events that occurred on that flight, which allegedly played a role in the couple’s split.
Brad Pitt originally filed the lawsuit in 2022, accusing his ex-wife of breaching their mutual understanding regarding Chateau Miraval. With both parties standing firm and key international players unwilling to cooperate, the case appears to be moving toward a complex trial. Though no official trial date has been set, it is expected to span at least two weeks, and with new evidence requests coming in, the proceedings promise to reveal even more about one of the most public celebrity disputes in recent years.
