Pitt hit with £1.3m winery tax invoice, however may be elevating a glass

Brad Pitt is quietly celebrating after a French taxman unwittingly gave him a robust new weapon in his authorized battle towards ex-wife Angelina Jolie.

Fight Club star Pitt, who turns 60 on Monday, is dealing with a £1.3million invoice for again taxes after inspectors discovered his Chateau Miraval winery in Provence has elevated in worth by round £16million.

While this may occasionally seem to be unhealthy information, associates say Pitt is privately delighted – as a result of it proves his investments within the property have paid off. He believes the ruling will assist crush a separate authorized declare from Maleficent star Ms Jolie, 48, who says he has squandered cash on vainness initiatives, together with a pool and an ornate staircase.

The two have been embroiled in a long-running bitter authorized combat over the chateau, which they purchased collectively in 2008. A supply near Pitt mentioned final night time: ‘Brad constructed this enterprise from the bottom up via blood, sweat and tears along with his enterprise associate Marc Perrin. Angelina could also be one of many world’s most recognisable ladies, however you could not say entrepreneurship is her robust level. She could not run a shower, not to mention a wine property.

Brad Pitt believes the ruling will assist crush a separate authorized declare from Maleficent star Angelina Jolie, 48, who says he has squandered cash on vainness initiatives, together with a pool and an ornate staircase

The two have been embroiled in a long-running bitter authorized combat over the chateau, which they purchased collectively in 2008

Friends say Pitt is privately delighted – as a result of it proves his investments within the property have paid off

‘The court docket has dominated that, removed from spending cash recklessly, each euro invested in Chateau Miraval has translated into a rise in worth of the identical quantity.’

Through his holding firm Mondo Bongo, Pitt is wrestling for management of the winery he constructed right into a booming empire after Ms Jolie ‘secretly’ offered her half to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler in 2021.

Last month the French tax court docket dominated the chateau is chargeable for £1.3million in retrospective taxes from 2012-15, when Ms Jolie was co-owner. However, there has by no means been any allegation of tax evasion or criminality.