When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie briefly acquired the Miraval estate in 2008, the two stars probably never imagined that the property and its wine activities would find themselves at the center of a guerilla war before the courts a few years later. Their separation will also have less trigger.
The affair at the Chateau Miraval where “Brangelina” got married in 2014 is the epitome of an American-style divorce that, through a domino effect, transformed into a financial-legal mess worthy of a fantasy scenario with drawers.
processes in three countries
Miraval Estate.(Photo Doc Patrice Lepoiry).
The last two episodes turn to Brad Pitt’s advantage. Even though twists and turns are possible. In a ruling handed down on December 21, the Nimes Court of Appeal quashed a process aimed at questioning the management and governance of the estate.
And, according to American media Page six, the Luxembourg court restored the actor’s position as majority shareholder in the front company controlling Château Miraval SA. A provisional measure, pending judgment on merits.
Another court decision is also expected in a few weeks in California where several complaints have been filed by both sides.
Setup of companies
How to navigate this maze of processes? All are based on the shareholding of Quimicum Holding Company, a company under Luxembourg law that owns Château Miraval SA. The Quimicum company is owned by two entities based in Los Angeles: Mondo Bongo, created by Brad Pitt, and Novel LLC, founded by Angelina Jolie.
To finance the acquisition of the Miraval estate, one invested 15 million euros and the other 10 million, or 60% and 40% of the operation amount, respectively.
Shortly before the couple’s wedding, Brad Pitt nevertheless sold 10% of Quimicum’s capital to Angelina Jolie, so that each would own 50% of the Chateau Miraval parent company.
The symbolic euro
After the divorce, against the background of a dispute over child custody, Angelina Jolie decided to part with her share in favor of Russian (foreign) vodka magnate Yuri Scheffler. It was the spark that took the conflict out of an already complicated family dimension.
The new owner of Novell LLC has thus imposed himself on Brad Pitt, whom he condemns “ control“On Miraval’s wine activities. The Russian billionaire’s lawyers also obtained in 2022 that documents would be seized from Pitt’s partners in Vaucluse”. Management errors“. That’s it.” Citizen search” which has just been dismissed by the Nimes Court of Appeal.
The situation between the two “partners” is so tense that temporary administrators were appointed in 2023 to keep SARL Quimicum and its subsidiary Château Miraval SA “running”.
For his part, Brad Pitt has taken legal action in California and Luxembourg, hoping to cancel Angelina Jolie’s sale of Novell LLC to Yuri Scheffler. According to the complainant, the actress could not sell her shares without his consent. At the very least, he wants to invalidate Pitt’s transfer of 10% of Quimicum to Jolie… just one euro. The compensation was never paid, he contends in his complaints.
