The $35 Million War: 5 Shocking New Twists In The Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Legal Battle (2025 Update)

The legal battle between Hollywood exes Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie continues to intensify, transforming a high-profile divorce into one of the most protracted and expensive celebrity legal wars in modern history. As of December 10, 2025, the central conflict has shifted from child custody—though that remains contentious—to a high-stakes financial dispute over their former French estate and winery, Château Miraval. New court filings reveal a fresh wave of aggressive demands and a multi-million dollar lawsuit that is set to dominate headlines throughout the coming year. The couple may have been declared legally single in 2019, and their divorce settlement finalized in 2024, but the legal firestorm surrounding shared assets and custody arrangements is far from over. The latest developments focus squarely on the $35 million lawsuit filed by Pitt against Jolie, accusing her of a "vindictive" sale of her stake in their beloved winery, an action that has dragged a Russian oligarch into the fray and forced the revelation of private communications.

Complete Profiles: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Biography

The former power couple, affectionately known as "Brangelina," met on the set of the film Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2004, sparking a global media frenzy that followed their every move, from their humanitarian work to their expanding family.

Brad Pitt

• Full Name: William Bradley Pitt
• Born: December 18, 1963 (Age 61 as of late 2025)
• Birthplace: Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.
• Spouses: Jennifer Aniston (m. 2000; div. 2005), Angelina Jolie (m. 2014; div. 2024)
• Notable Films: Fight Club, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Moneyball, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Se7en.
• Awards: Two Academy Awards (one for acting, one for producing), two Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award.
• Current Focus: Acting, producing, and pursuing his legal cases. He has recently been involved in the F1 film project.

Angelina Jolie

• Full Name: Angelina Jolie Voight
• Born: June 4, 1975 (Age 50 as of late 2025)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Spouses: Jonny Lee Miller (m. 1996; div. 1999), Billy Bob Thornton (m. 2000; div. 2003), Brad Pitt (m. 2014; div. 2024)
• Notable Films: Girl, Interrupted, Maleficent, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Changeling.
• Awards: One Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
• Current Focus: Acting, directing, and humanitarian work, particularly as a Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The $35 Million Battle for Château Miraval

The most aggressive and financially significant front in the ongoing legal war is the ownership of Château Miraval, their sprawling French country estate and vineyard located in Correns, Var, France. Pitt and Jolie purchased the controlling stake in the property in 2008 and were married there in 2014.

The 'Vindictive' Sale to a Russian Oligarch

The dispute began in 2021 when Jolie sold her 50% stake in the winery to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group controlled by Russian businessman Yuri Shefler. Pitt’s legal team claims this sale was "vindictive" and done in secret, violating an alleged agreement that neither party would sell their interest without the other's consent. Pitt's lawsuit seeks $35 million in damages, arguing that Jolie's actions have harmed the reputation of the luxury brand he helped build. The core of his argument is that he poured time, money, and passion into making Château Miraval a globally respected producer of rosé wine.

New Twist: The Demand for Private Communications

In late 2024, Pitt’s legal team escalated the fight by filing new motions demanding Jolie turn over all private communications related to the sale. This legal maneuver aims to prove that Jolie deliberately planned the sale to Shefler to cause Pitt harm and violate their partnership agreement. Jolie's camp has countered with allegations that Pitt is abusing legal privilege and engaging in a "problematic pattern" of control. The Miraval case is now set to head to a full trial in 2025, ensuring this financial drama will continue to unfold publicly.

Brangelina's Six: A Look at the Jolie-Pitt Children Today

The custody of their six children—three adopted and three biological—has been the most emotionally charged aspect of the divorce since Jolie first filed in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple was initially granted joint custody in 2021, but the legal wrangling over arrangements continues. Pitt has consistently requested joint legal and physical custody. Here are the Jolie-Pitt children and their approximate ages as of late 2025:

• Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt: Age 23. (Adopted from Cambodia)
• Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt: Age 21. (Adopted from Vietnam)
• Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt: Age 19. (Adopted from Ethiopia)
• Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt: Age 19. (Biological daughter)
• Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt: Age 16. (Biological son, twin)
• Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt: Age 16. (Biological daughter, twin)

Multiple reports suggest that Pitt has "made several efforts to reconnect" with his children, especially as the older children reach adulthood and the legal landscape shifts. The custody battle, while officially part of the finalized divorce, still sees legal motions and appeals, particularly concerning the use of a private judge, a point of contention Jolie has previously opposed.

The Protracted Legal Saga: A Timeline of Conflict (2016–2025)

The length of the Jolie-Pitt legal separation—from filing to finalization—spanned eight years, a testament to the complexity of their shared assets and the intensity of the custody dispute.

2016: The Initial Filing and Abuse Allegations

Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016 following an alleged altercation on a private jet, where Pitt was accused of becoming violent with her and their children. This event was the catalyst for the separation and immediately complicated the custody process, leading to an FBI investigation which ultimately closed without charges.

22019: Legally Single Status

A significant milestone was reached when a judge granted the couple a "bifurcated judgment," declaring them legally single while financial and custody issues remained unresolved. This allowed both actors to move forward with their lives, though the legal war continued to rage behind the scenes.

2021: Temporary Joint Custody Granted

After years of legal back-and-forth, a private judge granted Pitt and Jolie joint custody of their minor children. This decision was later challenged by Jolie and ultimately overturned on a technicality related to the judge's appointment, reigniting the custody fight.

2024: Divorce Finalization

The long-awaited divorce settlement was officially finalized in late 2024, eight years after the initial filing. While the settlement addressed the end of their marriage, it did not resolve all the financial and custody details, which are now being fought in separate courtrooms.

2025: The Miraval Trial Looms

The primary focus for 2025 is the impending trial over Château Miraval. Pitt is pushing hard for evidence, claiming Jolie's sale was a malicious attempt to seize control of the winery and damage his business interests. The outcome of this $35 million lawsuit will be a defining moment, either bringing a close to the financial disputes or opening a new chapter of appeals and legal wrangling. The ongoing legal battles confirm that the "Brangelina" saga is not a divorce but a prolonged, multi-front war. With the winery dispute heading to trial and custody issues still surfacing, the two global superstars remain locked in a bitter struggle, proving that even after eight years, the final curtain has yet to fall.