The separation of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston resonated deeply, leaving a palpable silence in its wake. While fans mourned the end of their relationship, they were equally intrigued and eager to witness the unfolding of the real-life romance between Pitt and actress Angelina Jolie, known for her role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

In due course, Brad and Angelina entered into a relationship.

Regrettably, their union came to an end years later when Jolie initiated divorce proceedings in 2016, shortly after reports surfaced regarding an alleged incident involving Pitt and their eldest son, Maddox, aboard the family’s private aircraft.

The specifics of the incident remain unclear, but the allegations of child abuse prompted investigations by both the FBI and the Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services. Pitt was exonerated of any child abuse claims almost immediately, according to US Weekly.

The divorce, along with the protracted custody dispute between Pitt and Jolie, is often recalled as one of the most contentious in the realm of celebrity relationships in recent history.

On January 21, 2021, Jolie sent an email to her former spouse, which subsequently became public knowledge. In this correspondence, she expressed that she was writing “with a heavy heart” to inform Pitt of her decision to sell Miraval, “a business that is centered around alcohol.” Many interpret this as a reference to a prior incident on a plane where Pitt allegedly choked Maddox and then poured alcohol on her and the children.

The Maleficent actress further conveyed, “Even now impossible to write this without crying.”

“Above all, it is the place we brought the twins home to, and where we were married over a plaque in my mother’s memory. A place…where I thought I would grow old…. But it is also the place that marks the beginning of the end of our family.

“Miraval for me died September 2016,” she added, “and everything I have seen in the years since has sadly confirmed that.”

In February 2021, Pitt consented to pay Jolie $54.5 million to acquire her share in Miraval. However, the transaction was complicated by their ongoing divorce proceedings.

She submitted sealed documents containing details about the plane incident, after which Pitt requested that Jolie sign a non-disclosure agreement that would prevent her from “discussing outside of court any of Pitt’s personal conduct toward her or the family” in relation to the sale of the property.

Jolie characterized this request as an “unconscionable gag order.”

Pitt characterized his request as essential to the transaction, emphasizing the need to “ensure the seller does not diminish the asset’s value after receiving payment.”

On October 5, 2021, Jolie Nouvel, the holding company managing her share of Miraval, sold its interest to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli group owned by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, for $67 million.

“It is not coincidental that she transferred her stake in Miraval to a competing entity and part of the family residence to an outsider immediately following a significant judicial victory for Brad: a 50-50 custody arrangement,” a source close to Pitt disclosed to ET Online. John Ouderkirk, the judge who granted Pitt joint custody, was subsequently removed from the case by a panel of three judges, and his decision was annulled.

In February 2022, Pitt initiated legal action against his former spouse, her holding company, and the new proprietors of Miraval, asserting that Jolie had “contributed nothing to Miraval’s success.” Stoli responded with a counterclaim, alleging “the illegal and malicious actions of Pitt and his associates aimed at harming Nouvel by undermining its investments and depriving it of its rightful role in the management of Chateau Miraval, a renowned producer of rosé wine.”

On June 1, 2023, Pitt submitted an amended complaint seeking to annul Jolie’s sale of Nouvel.

“Brad has taken responsibility for everything he is accountable for from the outset, but he will not accept responsibility for actions he did not commit,” stated Anne Kiley, Pitt’s representative.