Grapes of wrath! Angelina Jolie's former company sues Brad Pitt for $250MILLION claiming he 'stole' their French wine business from her and secretly moved assets to friends and vanity projects to ensure she'd 'never see a dime' of its profits
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- Published on Wednesday, 07 September 2022 06:57
- Written by Daily mail
Angelina Jolie's former company is suing Brad Pitt for $250million for allegedly stealing their wine business from her. A cross-complaint filed today by Nouvel LLC is a legal clap-back after Pitt sued Jolie claiming she illegally sold her stake in Chateau Miraval, a French castle and wine brand. Jolie held her shares of the wine company through her firm, Nouvel, but sold it to beverage giant Stoli last year. Nouvel's filing claims Pitt tried to 'secretly move assets' from their co-owned business to his friends and other companies, spent 'millions on vanity projects' including $1million on a swimming pool and more on a recording studio, and gave away half the company's trademarks to a friend for free. The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $250million. Jolie's former company claims Pitt's alleged scheme meant she would 'never see a dime' of Chateau Miraval's 'tens of millions of dollars in profits.' 'In retaliation for the divorce and custody proceedings, Pitt embarked on a multi-faceted, years-long campaign to seize control of Chateau Miraval and appropriate the company's assets for his benefit and that of his own companies and friends,' the lawsuit says. 'Appointing himself the rightful owner of Chateau Miraval, his twin objectives were to usurp the value of Jolie's company, Nouvel, and to obtain sole ownership of Chateau Miraval.' Nouvel's lawsuit claims that 'Ever since his former wife, Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce from him in 2016, Brad Pitt has been waging a vindictive war against her' and says the lawsuit aims to 'seek redress for the illegal and malicious actions of Pitt and his allies to injure Nouvel by devaluing its investments'. The suit says that she wanted to sell her half to him when they split, but Pittallegedly tried to add gag clauses about their fights in the contract. 'Pitt knew that much of Jolie's wealth and liquidity were tied up in Nouvel and used that fact to try to force Jolie to agree to his unreasonable terms,' it says. She eventually sold Nouvel, including her wine company stake, to international beverage company Stoli Group. The lawsuit claims Pitt refused to work with the new co-owner and spread 'lies' that its owner, Yuri Shefler' is 'an ally of Vladimir Putin' – when in fact the company has sued the Russian government and Shefler was allegedly the subject of a kidnap attempt orchestrated by the Kremlin. The lawsuit adds that Pitt's scheme to hive off the wine company 'was aided by his allies, including Chateau Miraval directors Gary Bradbury, Roland Venturini, and Warren Grant, and his business partners, Marc Perrin, Familles Perrin, and Miraval Provence.' 'Nouvel filed a criminal complaint in France against Bradbury and Venturini for putting Chateau Miraval's assets to a use that they know is against the interest of the corporation, in bad faith,' the document says.
Pitt's business associates are also the subject of a criminal complaint filed by Nouvel in France, according to the cross-complaint. Jolie and Pitt bought the chateau together in 2008 and used it as their 2014 wedding venue. The southern French castle has 35 rooms and 1,300 acres of grounds and vineyards. The couple bought it for $25million in 2008 by purchasing the Luxembourg company, Quimicum, in which it is held.Initially, Pitt's firm Mondo Bongo had 60% of the shares and Jolie's Nouvel had 40%. But Nouvel's lawsuit says that 'the couple always intended that Pitt and Jolie would be equal owners', and in 2013 Pitt 'voluntarily' transferred 10% of his shares to her. Pitt has launched a lawsuit in Luxembourg claiming that 10% transfer was invalid. That case is pending. They stayed business partners despite their divorce, until last year when Jolie sold her stake in October 2021 to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of Stoli Group. The two Hollywood stars each owned their half of the wine company through their own LLCs: Mondo Bongo LLC for Brad and Nouvel LLC for Angelina. Pitt sued her in June claiming that she 'sought to inflict harm' on him and that she had agreed not to sell her share without his consent. His lawsuit describes Chateau Miraval as 'one of the world's most highly regarded producers of rosé wine' and a 'multimillion-dollar global business'. He claims Jolie contributed 'nothing to Miraval's success' and that her buyer Shefler was 'bent on taking control of Miraval.' 'Jolie has sought to force Pitt into partnership with a stranger, and worse yet, a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions,' his lawsuit said. But according to Jolie's ex-company's counter-claim filed today in a Los Angeles court, that's just sour grapes. Her suit even accuses Pitt and his colleagues of profligate spending on the firm's dime. 'Pitt, Bradbury, and Venturini improperly diverted millions in dividends paid to Chateau Miraval from the Miraval Provence wine business to personal projects that lacked any legitimate business purpose, including spending over a million euros of the business' funds on a swimming pool and close to three million euros on 'garment works',' her lawsuit said.
'Pitt also spent Chateau Miraval's money on personal projects apparently for the benefit of Pitt and Mondo Bongo's other portfolio investments, including a recording studio on the Miraval estate, which Pitt structured so that Nouvel has no direct ownership interest.' Nouvel’s lawsuit claims that Jolie never saw ‘a dime’ of Chateau Miraval’s ‘tens of millions of dollars’ in profits. It claims Pitt and his associates instead ‘improperly diverted millions in dividends’ to ‘personal projects’ including a swimming pool, ‘garment work’ and a recording studio. ‘What Brad’s doing is out of spite for his ex wife,’ a source close to Nouvel told DailyMail.com. ‘Most of the world would consider this theft, although Nouvel aren’t claiming theft here. ‘He’s basically just seized control of Chateau Miraval and is doing whatever he wants, including spending the profits that should’ve gone up to Jolie when she owned Nouvel, wasting them on his own pet vanity projects.’ Jolie and Pitt - whose marriage collapsed in 2016 - are parents to six children. Aside from Maddox, now 21, they also share twins Knox and Vivienne, 14, as well as daughters Shiloh, 16, Zahara, 17, and son Pax, 18. Although Jolie reportedly still has custody of the children, Pitt 'pushes to see them as often as possible wherever they all are in the world,' the insider said. 'Brad cherishes every moment he gets with the kids. He loves being a parent and has tried to make the best of a tricky situation given how hostile it's been with Angelina.' Since Pitt and Jolie began squabbling over custody, Pax and Maddox have reached adulthood, and Zahara will join them in January. When his marriage disintegrated, Pitt quit drinking, and shortly thereafter he told GQ that before he dried out 'I can't remember a day since I got out of college where I wasn't boozing or had a spliff, or something.'
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source : Daily mail
Angelina Jolie and her son Pax, 18, shop for dog supplies in LA... after working together on her fifth directorial effort Without Blood
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- Published on Tuesday, 06 September 2022 06:30
- Written by Daily mail
Oscar winner Angelina Jolie and her son Pax Thien stopped by The Urban Pet in Los Angeles on Sunday to pick up a dog bed and other supplies. The 47-year-old LA native watched on as the Vietnamese-born 18-year-old hauled a $35 Precision Pet Products 'ProValu' two-door dog crate into their waiting black SUV. A bodyguard hovered over Angelina, who was dressed casually in a white T-shirt with black flared silky slacks and matching platform sandals.Pax - whom Angelina and estranged third husband Brad Pitt adopted in 2007 - sported an Awake NY paisley-purple cap with a beige T-shirt, black baggy pants, and white canvas shoes.Last month, Jolie told People that Pax 'worked hard' shooting stills on the Italian set of her fifth feature directorial effort Without Blood where he worked in the assistant director department.The trauma drama - starring Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir - is a big-screen adaptation of Alessandro Baricco's 2002 novel, which 'had a profound effect on' the Eternals action star. 'I read it right as I was going through the beginning of a very dark time in my life. I read it in the month that followed my divorce [in 2016],' Angelina told Variety last month.'This film raises different questions. There is no clear good and bad in this film, even though there is clearly bad, horrible, horrific and criminal behavior.' An FBI report from 2016 recently leaked where Jolie alleged that the 58-year-old Oscar winner assaulted her, poured a beer on her, and fought with their then 15-year-old son Maddox Chivan on a private plane. The former Hollywood wild child provided images of her injured hand and elbow to the FBI as part of the investigation, and the FBI/LA County Department of Children and Family Services cleared Pitt of any charges two months later. The couple formerly known as 'Brangelina' share joint custody of four underage children including 17-year-old daughter Zahara Marley, who's a freshman at Spelman College in Atlanta.Brad and Angelina are parents of 16-year-old daughter Shiloh Nouvel, who's spent the past few years learning dance from choreographer Hamilton Evans. Jolie and Pitt's youngest children are 14-year-old fraternal twins Vivienne and Knox, and their eldest 21-year-old son Maddox is attending Yonsei University in Seoul. The humanitarian and the Bullet Train action star famously tied the knot in 2014 after portraying a married couple on the 2004 set of spy flick Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which prompted his 2005 divorce from Jennifer Aniston.
source : Daily mail
Angelina Jolie looks angelic in a white frock as she shops for plants with son Knox, 14, in Los Angeles
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- Published on Monday, 29 August 2022 05:30
- Written by Daily mail
Angelina Jolie looked radiant as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Saturday with son Konx, 14, in Los Angeles.The 47-year-old movie star was dressed in a white sundress as she shopped for plants with the teen.Always effortlessly chic, the beauty teamed her outfit with a pair of dark-tinted aviator sunglasses. The veteran filmmaker's look boasted wide straps that were tightly scrunched with an elastic material.It was fitted around her chest before extending into a loose-fitting long skirt that cropped at her calves.The mother-of-six punctuated her weekend ensemble with a pair of white Valentino slip-on flats.She bared a multi-rowed tribal tattoo inked on her left arm as she spent on-on-one time with her son.The longtime entertainer wore her brunette locks in a center part with the luscious tressed blown straight.She carried a chic brown leather purse over her shoulder while scoping out greenery at a local retailer.Knox wore a graphic print t-shirt with black sweatpants and a pair of white and grey sneakers.It was recently revealed that Angelina was the 'Jane Doe' who sued the FBI after an investigation into her ex-husband Brad Pitt, 58, was closed.The inquire claimed he poured beer on her, injured her, and fought with son Maddox in 2016.A recent leaked FBI report offered further details regarding Pitt's behavior during the well-documented mid-air row with Jolie.The report, released earlier this month, alleges he told Jolie one of her adopted children 'looked like a f**king Columbine kid' and said she was 'ruining the family' during an argument aboard their private jet.Pitt's alleged comment appeared to be in reference to the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, which saw 12th grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murder twelve children and a teacher in Colorado.Jolie and Pitt - whose marriage collapsed in 2016 following the in-flight incident - are parents to six children. They share daughter Shiloh, 16, twins Knox and Vivienne, 14, daughter Zahara, 17, as well as sons Maddox, 21, and Pax, 18.Three of their children are adopted from abroad - Zahara from Ethiopia, Pax from Vietnam and Maddox from Cambodia - and Angelina gave birth to the other three.The leaked document claims that Pitt clashed with Maddox during an allegedly drunken rage that turned into a 'verbal and physical fight' between the A-list actors.
source : Daily mail
Ready to fight? Angelina Jolie flashes her taut tummy in Lara Croft-inspired tank top as she steps out in Beverly Hills amid ongoing divorce battle with ex Brad Pitt
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- Published on Friday, 26 August 2022 06:41
- Written by Daily mail
Angelina Jolie channeled her iconic Lara Croft style while leaving an office building in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.The Hollywood superstar, 47, flashed her taut tummy while sporting a cropped black tank top, reminiscent of the one her character wore in the popular action-adventure Tomb Raider films. The outing comes after it was recently revealed that the actress was the 'Jane Doe' who sued the FBI after an investigation into her ex-husband Brad Pitt was closed, claiming he poured beer on her, injured her, and fought with son Maddox in 2016.The Academy Award winner completed her look with a pair of low rise oversized black pants and chunky black sandals.The Maleficent star further accessorized her look with a pair of stylish oversized shades and wore a delicate gold necklace and matching earrings. Slung over her shoulder was a chic large quilted black Yves Saint Laurent tote bag with gold hardware.Jolie wore her long brunette tresses parted on the side and flowing down her shoulders.The beauty appeared to be in good spirits and flashed a smile at the cameras, despite the recent drama surrounding her bitter divorce from Pitt, 58.A recent leaked FBI report offered further details regarding Pitt's behavior during the well documented mid-air row with Jolie.The report, released last week, alleges he told Jolie one of her adopted children 'looked like a f**king Columbine kid' and said she was 'ruining the family' during a furious row aboard their private jet.Pitt's alleged comment appeared to be in reference to the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, which saw 12th grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murder 12 children and a teacher in Colorado. Jolie and Pitt - whose marriage collapsed in 2016 following the mid-air incident - are parents to six children. They share daughter Shiloh, 16, twins Knox and Vivienne, 14, daughter Zahara, 17, as well as sons Maddox, 21, and Pax, 18.Three of their children are adopted from abroad - Zahara from Ethiopia, Pax from Vietnam and Maddox from Cambodia - and Angelina gave birth to the other three.The leaked document claims that Pitt clashed with Maddox during an allegedly drunken rage that turned into a 'verbal and physical fight' between the A-list actors.Jolie also filed images showing bruising to her hand and elbow to the FBI as part of an investigation into the couple's 'verbal and physical fight' while traveling from France to Los Angeles on September 14, 2016.
After one of the former couple's children had called their father a 'pr***' during the fight, Jolie allegedly attempted to choke Pitt from behind in reaction to what she said looked 'like he was going to attack' one of the minors. Jolie claims while Pitt was in a chokehold, he threw his body back, causing Jolie to slam into chairs behind them, according to FBI documents which have yet to be publicly released but were obtained by several news outlets.He allegedly snatched her before shaking and pushing her onto a wall. The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor then punched the plane's ceiling, making a hole in it. The actress claims she suffered injuries to her back and elbow as well as a 'rug-burn type wound' on her hand as a result.Black-and-white images, which were included in the FBI report, show bruising to Jolie's hand and elbow. Pitt denies all of his ex-wife's claims.Throughout the flight, he was also behaving like 'a monster', according to Jolie, as he would complain non-stop and scream at the children.Jolie requested the release of the FBI documents under the anonymous 'Jane Doe,' after submitting a Freedom of Information Act request in April.Four days later, on September 19, Jolie filed for divorce from The Moneyball actor. The former couple, who had been married for almost five years, have since been embroiled in a custody battle over their children.In its final report on the investigation, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services concluded that Pitt, who has previously admitted to problems with alcohol, did not physically abuse any of his children. Pitt was also cleared by the FBI of any wrongdoing.Jolie said there had been 'tension' between her and her ex-husband, adding that Pitt's actions on the private aircraft in 2016 had made her feel 'like a hostage' onboard, the FBI report, seen by NBC, further reveals.The filing alleges the woman's children have 'experienced lasting physical and mental trauma' after being 'verbally and physically' assaulted by her then-husband.Pitt and Jolie became a couple in 2005 when he infamously left his first wife Jennifer Aniston for her in a scandal that riveted the world.They waited nearly a decade before they tied the knot in 2014 at the Chateau Miraval in France - the site of the winery they are locked in a court battle over at present.Although they became legally single in 2019, their custody battle has raged on.
source : Daily mail
Angelina Jolie takes youngest daughter Vivienne to Dear Evan Hansen in Philadelphia where they take backstage pics with Anthony Norman
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- Published on Tuesday, 23 August 2022 06:29
- Written by Daily mail
Angelina Jolie and her youngest daughter Vivienne seem to be bonding over the theater, as they took in a Philadelphia show of Dear Evan Hansen.The 47-year-old actress posed with star Anthony Norman backstage after taking in a Philadelphia performance, with the snaps posted on the Dear Evan Hansen Instagram.Sources also told People that the Eternals star took her 14-year-old daughter to the Philadelphia show 'just to see it again' since Vivienne loved the show so much' when they saw it in Los Angeles. An insider added, 'they were lovely and gracious, and [they] gushed about [actor] Anthony Norman's performance as Evan.'Jolie was wearing an elegant black dress with oversized black sunglasses and a black Yves Saint-Laurent purse slung from her shoulder. Jolie's daughter Vivienne, who was born in Nice, France with fraternal twin Knox, was all smiles in a white sweatshirt and baggy grey pants. Vivienne was also seen holding what appeared to be the arm cast worn by the title character during the performance. The mother and daughter posed with Norman while backstage at the Forrest Theater in Philadelphia over the weekend. The outing came just a month after Jolie was spotted in Rome with her 16-year-old daughter Shiloh at a Måneskin concert in July.She also headed to Atlanta earlier this month to drop off her 17-year-old daughter Zahara at Spelman College. The actress was seen doing the Electric Slide with other Spelman College students and parents as well. She also shared a photo of Zahara with some of her new classmates, with a heartfelt caption.'Zahara with her Spelman sisters! Congratulations to all new students starting this year,' Jolie said in the caption of the post. 'A very special place and an honor to have a family member as a new Spelman girl,' Jolie added. The actress also adopted Maddox, 21, from Cambodia and Pax, 18, from Vietnam in the early 2000s.
source : Daily mail