In a recent update regarding her tumultuous divorce from Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie has disclosed significant details that highlight the ongoing legal challenges between the former couple. After enduring a lengthy and challenging eight-year legal battle, Jolie and Pitt finalized their divorce in December 2024. However, their legal disputes are far from over, as they continue to face off over their shared ownership of the French winery, Château Miraval.
In newly filed legal documents on October 6, Jolie expressed the emotional toll that the events leading to her separation from Pitt took on her and their children. She stated, “The events leading to my need to separate from my ex-husband were emotionally difficult for me and our children.” Jolie's decision to file for divorce came in 2016, just five days after she accused Pitt of being physically and verbally abusive while under the influence during a private flight from France to California—claims that Pitt has vehemently denied.
Following her decision to end the marriage, Jolie claims she allowed Pitt to maintain control and “full residency” of Château Miraval and their Los Angeles home without any financial compensation. She hoped this gesture would “make him calmer in his dealings with me after a difficult and traumatic period.” She further elaborated that, to this day, neither she nor their six children—Maddox, 24; Pax, 21; Zahara, 20; Shiloh, 19; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 17—have returned to the property due to its painful associations with their divorce.
In the aftermath of their split, several of the couple’s children have chosen to drop Pitt’s last name, with Zahara being the first, followed by Vivienne and Shiloh. Jolie reported that she “immediately began to look for a new house for me and our children” after the separation, initially renting a home while seeking a more permanent solution. She aimed to purchase a property close to Pitt’s residence to ensure he remained an active part of their children’s lives. Despite her intentions, Jolie noted that her “savings were up in Miraval,” and she had not requested alimony or any financial support from Pitt during this transition.
Pitt’s representatives have not commented on Jolie’s recent revelations. However, a source close to Pitt suggested that Jolie's disclosures are merely distractions from the primary issue at hand, stating: “This is a commercial dispute that has nothing to do with the divorce proceedings.” This source accused Jolie of conflating the two matters to justify the sale of Château Miraval.
In 2021, Jolie sold her $64 million stake in the French winery to SPI Group owner Yuri Shefler, which led to Pitt filing a lawsuit against her in February 2022. Pitt claims Jolie violated a prior agreement that prohibited either party from selling their stake without the other's approval. This legal confrontation has spawned a new saga involving allegations of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and other contentious claims.
Pitt has sought to depose Alexey Oliynik, a member of the SPI Group, asserting that Oliynik possesses critical information regarding Jolie’s negotiations that could support his claims in the ongoing legal case. However, Oliynik contends that he cannot be compelled to participate in the California court proceedings due to his residency in Switzerland. As of now, a judge has yet to make a ruling on this matter.
The SPI Group has not responded to requests for comment from media outlets, including the Daily Beast. The ongoing legal disputes between Jolie and Pitt continue to draw public interest, highlighting the complexities of their separation and the challenges they face in co-parenting their children amid legal strife.
