It’s been a decade since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from her fellow Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt in 2016.
A bitter battle followed that stretched out for eight long years. Indeed, their divorce was not finalized until December of 2024. To this day, Jolie and Pitt are still battling each other in court over their French vineyard, Château Miraval.
Now, Jolie is being accused of “dragging out” this lawsuit over the winery. She’s allegedly doing this in a desperate attempt to “stay tied” to Pitt.
Jolie Accused Of ‘Dragging Out’ Lawsuit
Jolie, 50, and Pitt, 62, are currently embroiled in a lawsuit over the $164 million vineyard. The lawsuit was filed by Pitt in 2022. It centers on Jolie selling her share of the winery to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler. Pitt alleges that this violated an agreement that they’d made not to sell their shares of the winery unless they both agreed to do so.
Jolie has indicated in recent filings that she is content with a September 2027 trial date. Indeed, she resisted Pitt’s push to begin proceedings earlier in April of that year.
“There is a feeling among those watching this closely that Angelina’s current approach leans more toward stretching out the process than actively working toward any meaningful resolution. And for people familiar with how these disputes have unfolded, it is not entirely unexpected,” an insider told Radar Online.
“It creates an impression that progress is being dragged out by Angeline rather than encouraged in terms of progressing things. And it appears she’s doing it just so she can stay tied to Brad,” the source continued. “There is a belief within Brad’s circle that the dispute has moved beyond the practical matter of the winery itself. The sense is that prolonging the case keeps a formal connection between them in place. And that is why it continues to be extended. From their perspective, it feels less like a legal necessity and more like something being drawn out deliberately.”
Pitt’s ‘Frustration’ Over Lawsuit
Pitt has complained about this prolonged dispute in court filings. Indeed, he alleges that it has cost him years of “the quiet enjoyment of his home in France.” He’s also argued that the passage of time is hurting the case, as key witnesses are aging. According to him, one has even died.
“There is a clear and growing frustration on Brad’s side about how prolonged this process has become,” said a source close to Pitt. “From his perspective, what should have been resolved far sooner has instead turned into an extended legal standoff, and he is keen to bring it to a close rather than remain caught up in ongoing and repetitive litigation.”
Jolie, however, has claimed that further delays in proceeding won’t hurt the case. She’s alleged in court documents of her own that Pitt had failed to provide evidence demonstrating how the timeline has impacted his use of the property.
“From her point of view, the priority is making sure every aspect of the case is addressed thoroughly and with the appropriate level of care,” said a source close to Jolie. “She does not see a modest extension to the timeline as altering the core arguments in any meaningful way, but rather as allowing the process to unfold in a way that is fair and properly considered.”
Pitt filed this lawsuit against Jolie back in 2022. He claimed that when she sold her stake in Château Miraval, she breached a contract that they had made. According to him, this contract involved them each agreeing not to sell their share of the vineyard without permission from the other.
Pitt And Jolie’s History
Pitt and Jolie met on the set of the 2005 movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith. At the time, Pitt was still married to the former Friends star Jennifer Aniston. They soon split and he immediately began dating Jolie.
Pitt and Jolie went on to marry in 2014 in a ceremony at their winery in rural France. Jolie then filed for divorce just over two years later in 2016. She filed for divorce days after an alleged altercation on a private jet flight. There, Jolie alleges that Pitt was abusive to her and their six children. It is believed that most if not all of the children are estranged from Pitt to this day.
Another source close to the case admitted that the lawsuit over the French vineyard is “deeply personal.”
“While the dispute is rooted in intricate legal and financial arguments, those involved recognize that there is a deeply personal dimension running alongside it,” the insider said. “This goes beyond a straightforward commercial disagreement, with the history between the two continuing to shape how the situation is unfolding.”
Another source added, “There is a widespread feeling among those close to the situation that this ongoing dispute continues to loom heavily over their lives, even years after the relationship itself came to an end, with its impact still being felt across both their personal and family spheres.”
This is clearly a very messy situation for everyone involved. Here’s hoping that Jolie and Pitt can eventually put this lawsuit behind them so that they can each move on with their respective lives.