Brad Pitt secures legal win in ongoing Château Miraval dispute

Nearly a decade after their separation, Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie remain locked in legal disputes over Château Miraval, the French winery they once owned together. Although the former couple finalised their divorce in late 2024, court battles surrounding the estate continue to unfold.

The latest development comes from Michigan, where Brad Pitt secured a ruling in a dispute linked to Jolie’s 2021 sale of her stake in the winery. According to reports, a judge ordered Todd Culyba, former general counsel of the Stoli Group, to sit for another deposition after he previously declined to answer dozens of questions concerning the transaction.

Pitt’s legal team has sought details regarding the sale of Jolie’s share of Château Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, a company associated with the Stoli Group. The judge reportedly ruled that attorney-client privilege could not be used to avoid answering questions related to the business aspects of the deal.

The dispute dates back to 2022, when Pitt filed a lawsuit alleging that Jolie sold her interest in the winery without his consent, despite what he claims was an agreement between them. Jolie has consistently denied the existence of such an agreement.

The ruling follows a recent legal victory for Jolie in California. Earlier this month, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected Pitt’s request for access to a series of confidential emails connected to the winery sale, finding that attorney-client privilege protected the documents.

Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, described the decision as a significant win, arguing that Pitt had failed to establish sufficient legal grounds to obtain the communications. The ruling, however, was issued without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of future requests under different legal arguments.

Separately, Pitt is also facing a trademark dispute involving his skincare brand Beau Domaine. Malibu-based skincare company Beau D has filed a lawsuit claiming the brand name is too similar to its own and may cause consumer confusion. The company is seeking financial damages and an injunction against the continued use of the Beau Domaine name.

Meanwhile, public attention has increasingly shifted towards the former couple’s children. Recent reports suggest that several of their children have chosen to distance themselves from the Pitt surname. Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt has reportedly sought to legally remove Pitt from his name, following similar decisions by siblings Shiloh, Zahara, and Vivienne in recent years.