It‘s become a high–profile, highly contested legal battle, taking place in the court of public opinion as much as in a legal courtroom. Brad Pitt‘s celebrated French vineyard Chateau Miraval, a $160 million business, is the subject of a bitter conflict between the Hollywood superstar and his ex–wife Angelina Jolie.
The dispute began earlier this year when Russian vodka billionaire Yuri Shefler stepped into the fray with a ‘secret‘ 50–50 deal to purchase Angelina Borle‘s share in Chateau Miraval. Shefler‘s involvement in the project has provoked an angry response from Pitt, who accuses his ex–wife of essentially selling out his family home to someone he views negatively.
A source close to Pitt called the sale of Chateau Miraval “sad and disappointing, but not at all surprising,” and accused Jolie of making the sale to “someone she knew would most upset Pitt.” Pitt himself accused Shefler of “destabilizing the winery‘s operations“ and “plotting a hostile takeover,” according to court filings.
But who is this Russian billionaire with whom Jolie is doing business? It turns out that the 55–year–old Shefler has quite a storied past. He was born Yuri Alexeyevich Yurasov and served in the Red Army in the Soviet era. He worked as chairman of Vnukovo Airlines during the turbulent 1990s and then switched to Soyuzplodoimport, the company that owns the legendary Stolichnaya brand vodka. When Vladimir Putin became President of Russia, his government targeted Shefler‘s company and accused him of making death threats and organizing gangs.
Shefler fled to Latvia and then on to the UK, where he successfully obtained a British passport and Israeli citizenship and reached billionaire status. He owns the luxurious “Serene“ superyacht (which he leased out to Bill Gates for $5 million a week) and the expensive Tulchan hunting estate in Scotland. In addition, he also has some acclaimed ex–wives and girlfriends. He‘s been married three times, and was briefly linked to model Tatiana Kovylina and Miss Russia 2007/Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova.
Pitt‘s objections to Shefler‘s takeover of Chateau Miraval are all pegged to the vodka tycoon‘s “Russia–affiliated spirits conglomerate.” Pitt‘s lawyers claim that affiliation with Shefler “jeopardizes“ the reputation of the business, due to boycotts related to Russia‘s “invasion of Ukraine“ and “homophobic legislative agenda.”
Whatever the outcome of this legal dispute, the court of public opinion has already expressed its verdict. The controversy is a reminder of the geopolitical tensions that continue to simmer beneath the surface in international business and politics. How will Jolie and Shefler navigate these waters, with Pitt caught in the middle? It remains to be seen but for now, the Cold War between two Hollywood exes rages on.
