Brad Pitt has officially filed a $35 million lawsuit against his ex-wife Angelina Jolie, reigniting one of Hollywood’s most bitter legal battles — and this time, newly revealed private emails between the pair are shedding light on just how personal their feud has become. The case, centered around the sale of their shared French vineyard, Château Miraval, has exposed intimate messages that insiders describe as “heartbreaking and explosive.”
According to documents obtained by Daily Mail, Pitt’s legal team accuses Jolie of deliberately trying to “inflict harm” by selling her share of the estate to a Russian billionaire linked to Vladimir Putin — a move Pitt claims was designed to undermine his control of the winery they once called their “family dream.”
The 60-year-old actor’s legal filing, submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court this week, alleges that Jolie secretly sold her stake in Miraval in 2021 to a company owned by Yuri Shefler, the oligarch behind the Stolichnaya vodka brand. Pitt claims he only discovered the sale through the press, calling it a “calculated betrayal.”
But what has captivated the public most are the private emails Jolie sent before the deal, which have now been entered into evidence. In one message dated January 2021, Jolie reportedly told Pitt she could “no longer be involved in a business that’s centered around alcohol” and that she “couldn’t continue in good conscience” after what she described as “painful reminders” tied to their relationship.
“This is not about revenge — it’s about reclaiming what he built,” source close to Pitt says. @Variety
Sources close to the actor told People that the emails hit Pitt hard. “He saw that vineyard as part of their family legacy — a place for their kids. Reading those messages broke him,” one insider said. “It wasn’t just about money. It was about trust.”
In the emails, Jolie reportedly wrote, “I see how the business has become something that brings you joy, but for me, it represents control and pain.” The note ends with a chilling line: “I hope you can find peace with this place, because I never will.”
The couple, who met on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005 and married in 2014, divorced two years later after a highly publicized split that included allegations of physical altercations aboard a private jet — allegations Pitt has consistently denied. Since then, their custody battle over six children has remained tense, with court filings often exposing more private correspondence.
Legal analyst Lisa Green told reporters that the latest suit is “as much about reputation as it is restitution.” She explained, “By selling to a Russian oligarch during global sanctions, Jolie put Pitt in an impossible position. He’s fighting not just for control, but for his name.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Jolie have pushed back, insisting she had every right to sell her share. One friend told The Hollywood Reporter that Pitt “refused to buy her out” despite multiple offers. “She tried to resolve it privately,” the source said. “He dragged it through the courts. She was done being held hostage by that vineyard.”
“Brad Pitt suing Angelina Jolie again — and this time, emails reveal the heartbreak behind it.” @THR
In one particularly emotional email, Jolie described Miraval as “a business built on love and dreams that died long ago.” She added, “Even now, when I walk through that house, I feel the ghosts of what we were trying to save.”
Insiders say the correspondence has “humanized both sides” of a feud that has long been painted in legal and financial terms. “You can feel her pain,” said a source familiar with the court filings. “And you can feel his frustration. It’s tragic, honestly.”
Pitt, who still runs the winery with a small team of partners, has invested millions in rebuilding its brand and launching a new champagne label, Fleur de Miraval. He has accused Jolie of selling her share “to a stranger who intended to tarnish the brand out of spite.” His team has also suggested that Shefler’s involvement could jeopardize the vineyard’s distribution in certain markets because of its alleged links to Russia.
For now, the $35 million lawsuit seeks damages and a reversal of Jolie’s sale. “He’s not backing down,” one source told TMZ. “He wants Miraval back — and he wants accountability.”
“Pitt’s lawyers are calling this the most personal business war in Hollywood history.” @Variety
Jolie’s representatives have remained tight-lipped but are expected to file a motion to dismiss the case in the coming weeks. In a brief statement shared with Rolling Stone, her lawyer said, “Ms. Jolie stands by her decision and the truth will prevail in court.”
The lawsuit marks yet another chapter in a saga that has spanned nearly a decade — from red carpet glamour to private heartbreak. Fans, once captivated by their love story, now watch with disbelief as the former couple tear at what remains of their shared life.
As one former friend told Entertainment Weekly, “They built a life together out of passion, art, and ambition. Now all that’s left are lawyers, bitterness, and ghosts in a vineyard.”