Brad Pitt has hit back at ‘absurd’ claims he has been using Chateau Miraval as a ‘personal piggy bank’ after he was served a countersuit by the company his ex-wife Angelina Jolie is trying to sell her shares to.
The former couple has been embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over their co-ownership of the $500 million French winery, which they purchased in 2008.
On Monday, Pitt, 60, was served a countersuit by Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group, after he previously sued the company, claiming they did not have the right to receive Jolie's 50 per cent share in the winery.
The lawsuit accuses the actor and his company, Mondo Bongo, of misappropriating funds for use on personal projects, including a recording studio and an alleged $1 million for renovations on a swimming pool only Pitt can use.
‘The notion that Brad Pitt stole from Miraval is absurd and just shows the lengths to which Stoli will go,’ an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively. ‘It also exposes its hypocrisy.’
Brad Pitt has hit back at ‘absurd’ claims he has been using Chateau Miraval as a ‘personal piggy bank’
The actor, 60, bought the French winery with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie in 2008
Pitt was served a countersuit by the company Jolie, 48, (pictured) is trying to sell her shares to
The insiders assert that Chateau Miraval's success is directly attributable to Pitt's leadership, and the accusations of fund misuse are false, as they would undermine the winery's value.
‘Brad Pitt built Miraval and his connection to it is a key reason for its success,’ they continued.
‘Stoli recognized as much when it illegally bought Ms. Jolie’s interest in Miraval publicly stating how it hoped to partner with Mr. Pitt and how the music studio was great for the Miraval brand.
‘It is Stoli who is trying to take what they did not build and improperly glom onto Mr. Pitt’s well-earned fame.’
In new court documents, obtained by DailyMail.com, Tenute filed a claim against Pitt and Mondo Bongo, alleging they have been using Chateau Miraval like a 'personal piggy bank' to fund their projects for years.
Alongside the swimming pool and recording studio, other ventures include a cosmetics line and a gin brand.
'Pitt caused millions of its funds to be spent on projects that benefit him personally,' the suit alleges.
It goes on to claim: 'Worse yet, Pitt has diverted the company’s assets to his side businesses—which include a recording studio called Studio Miraval, a cosmetics line called Le Domaine, and a gin brand called The Gardener.'
One such project is a swimming pool only used by Pitt, which Tenute claims the actor spent more than $1 million in renovations on
'This theft has put millions of dollars in the pockets of Pitt's and Mondo Bongo’s business ventures, and has diverted dividends and loan repayments to them that otherwise would have been paid out to Tenute as one of the ultimate owners of Chateau Miraval.'
Tenute accuses Pitt and his company of concealing financial activity while hindering their involvement in the winery.
'Pitt and Mondo Bongo have turned Chateau Miraval into their personal piggy bank. They have entered into a series of transactions using Chateau Miraval's funds that have deprived Tenute of the profits and loan repayments to which it is entitled.'
Tenute — the wine-making arm of the international beverage company, Stoli Group — is asking for major damages.
Pitt had originally sought to buy Jolie out himself, to keep the winery 'in the family' should she want to opt out. But the deal collapsed amid acrimony.
He accused Jolie of breaching their purchase agreement when she sold her 50 per cent stake in Chateau Miraval to Russian oligarch, Yuri Shefler, in 2021, without his consent.
According to Jolie the earlier offer to sell it to Pitt for $54million imploded due to his demands.
When the then couple bought Miraval in 2008, Pitt took a 60 per cent stake in the winemaking enterprise and estate while Jolie took 40 per cent.
Pitt and the Maleficent star, 48, who have been legally separated since 2019, have been embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over their co-ownership of the French winery (pictured)
Brad accused Jolie of breaching their purchase agreement when she sold her 50 per cent stake to Russian oligarch, Yuri Shefler, in 2021, without his consent (pictured with their kids)
Pitt poured millions into the estate, riding the rosé wave, and expanding the business in an effort that saw sales grow 300 percent.
Soon the estate they purchased for an estimated $60million was worth closer to $164million.
By the time of their wedding, Jolie had 'stopped investing' according to previously filed court records – something that she has denied.
Still, Pitt transferred 10 per cent of his share to her by way of a wedding gift in December 2013 'for the sum of 1Euro [never paid]' so that by the time of their marriage in August 2014, they were 50/50 equal partners.
Meanwhile, as the war over the sale of the winery plods on, Pitt has landed several legal victories in recent months including a key judgement in Luxembourg which handed him back control of Chateau Miraval's award-winning vineyard pending further hearings.
Just last month he scored another win when LA Superior Court rejected Jolie's allegations that his suit was, 'frivolous, malicious, and part of a problematic pattern.'
Last month, DailyMail.com exclusively reported that the ongoing legal battle over the winery – dubbed 'the war of the rosés' – saw the Maleficent actress accuse 'controlling' ex Pitt of 'financially draining her.'
But while she seeks to claim her ex is 'bleeding her dry,' her fortunes have actually soared since their ten-year relationship ended in divorce after a two-year marriage.
