At the heart of the multi-million dollar dispute over Brangelina Winery is a $1 payment.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's ongoing legal battle over their co-owned French winery, Chateau Miraval, has taken a surprising turn.
This complex case dubbed the "Wars of the Rosés," could hinge on a seemingly insignificant detail: a $1.08 (€1) payment.
Equal ownership and a symbolic transfer
Initially, Pitt held a majority stake (60%) in the winery, with Jolie owning the remaining 40%.
However, just before their 2014 wedding, Pitt transferred 10% ownership to Jolie, making them equal partners (50/50). This transfer was documented with a symbolic payment of one euro.
The dispute and the missing payment
Following their divorce, Jolie sold her 50% stake to Stoli Group. However, Pitt's lawyers now argue that the sale is invalid.
Their reasoning centers on the $1.08 payment.
According to them, Jolie never completed this symbolic payment, rendering the transfer of ownership incomplete. Furthermore, they argue that the euro was not fair value for the 10% stake.
Pitt's lawyers aim to void the sale
Based on this argument, Pitt's legal team is seeking to void Jolie's sale of her shares to Stoli Group. They claim she only held a 40% stake (not 50%) and therefore lacked the authority to sell half the winery.
Stoli Group remains unfazed
Stoli Group, the company that purchased Jolie's shares, maintains they are not concerned about the legal battle.
They have stated they have no reason to believe their purchase of 50% ownership is invalid.
Abuse allegations take center stage
A separate court filing by Jolie's team introduces a new twist. They allege that Brad Pitt's physical abuse of Angelina Jolie began even earlier than previously reported.
While initial accusations surfaced in 2022, these new documents claim a pattern of abuse existed prior to the infamous 2016 plane incident.
The legal battle continues
The winery dispute and abuse allegations highlight the ongoing complexities surrounding Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's divorce settlement.
It remains to be seen how the courts will rule on both these issues.
