The Messenger spoke to three leading attorneys who have deep experience with high-profile celebrity divorces to estimate the costs of the former couple’s ongoing legal battle.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s prolonged divorce battle, now in its seventh year, has taken on a life of its own, surpassing any onscreen drama. This once-envied Hollywood romance has transformed into a costly and bitter war between two iconic movie stars.

The Messenger interviewed three leading attorneys who have deep experience with high-profile celebrity divorces to estimate the costs of the couple’s ongoing legal battle.

How much is Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s divorce costing?

Nancy Chemtob, a matrimonial lawyer whose client roster includes Mary-Kate Olsen and Tory Burch, estimated the cost of the case ranging from a “minimum of $3 million dollars” to a “maximum of $7 million dollars.”

Chemtob explained her reasoning to The Messenger, citing a difference in the level of effort based on the stage of the proceedings.

“In the beginning, it was likely heavily-litigated, especially during the first 3 years, amounting to approximately a million dollars per year,” Chemtob estimated. “There are a lot of lawyers involved, not double-billing, but rather a team of lawyers all billing a certain amount.”

William S. Beslow, a prominent attorney known for representing clients like Robert DeNiro and Mia Farrow believes the figure is much higher. “I would be genuinely surprised if the total fees fell below $10 million per person,” says Beslow, citing “the enormous magnitude of the expenses involved.”

Robert Cohen, a prominent New York attorney who has represented Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Uma Thurman, expanded on the scale of the costs given the global scale of the former couple’s assets.

“The cost is reaching millions upon millions of dollars,” says Cohen. “Engaging in litigation that spans three countries for a period of seven years is undeniably a highly expensive endeavor.”

Where does Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce currently stand?

The duo remains embroiled in a legal drama that shows no signs of abating. Pitt filed a complaint against Jolie on June 1 accusing her of orchestrating a secretive sale of her stake in the family business that revolves around their French chateau and vineyard.

In the filing, the actor asserted Jolie’s alleged vindictiveness, claiming she unfairly pocketed profits without contributing to the initial investment and pushed to sell an asset meant to be a familial entity.

(At the time of the filing, a source close to Jolie told The Messenger that Pitt suing his ex-wife is “hard to understand because he is well aware the children have not felt able to return to the house in France for almost seven years now due to the events that led to Ms Jolie filing for divorce.”)

The case is ongoing.

Actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt inside at the 13th ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on January 7, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.Chris Polk/WireImage

What are the main points of contention in Angelina Jolie’s and Brad Pitt’s divorce?

Allegations of abuse

Court documents in October 2022 revealed abuse allegations against Pitt. Jolie accused the father of her six children of physical and verbal abuse following a family plane ride in 2016.

According to legal documents obtained by the New York Times, Pitt allegedly “choked one of the children and struck another in the face.” Jolie filed for divorce days after the incident, ending their 12-year relationship and two years of marriage.

Pitt’s legal team denied allegations of abuse. The New York Times obtained a copy of a redacted F.B.I. report that stated that the agent who conducted the investigation supplied the United States Attorney’s Office with copies of “a probable cause statement related to this incident.” Following the investigation, federal authorities did not bring criminal charges against Pitt.

Custody

In her divorce filing following the plane incident, Jolie cited “irreconcilable differences” and requested physical custody of their six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox.

After a judge declared them legally separated in April 2012, the disagreements continued. The custody matters were further explored at a private trial in October 2020. Judge John Ouderkirk tentatively granted Pitt joint custody in May 2021. However in July 2021, an appeals court disqualified Ouderkirk due to undisclosed conflicts of interest, nullifying the custody decision.

The actress has maintained primary custody of their children since the split with Pitt, though Maddox is not subject to custody decisions since he is over 18.

Property

In 2008, prior to the arrival of their twins, Pitt and Jolie jointly acquired Chateau Miraval, which includes a wine vineyard. The French property, where the pair were also married in 2014, has thrown off their already difficult divorce proceedings.

The couple became equal co-owners of the estate when Pitt gifted Jolie with 10 percent of his stake in the property in 2014.

The Château Miraval, a vineyard estate owned by Brad Pitt in Le Val, southeastern France.MICHEL GANGNE/AFP via Getty Images

Fast forward to February 2022: Pitt agreed to purchase Jolie’s share in Château Miraval and the corresponding business operations for $54.5 million. He allegedly demanded that Jolie sign an NDA to prohibit her from “discussing outside of court any of Pitt’s personal conduct toward her or the family,” according to a report in Vanity Fair.

Jolie considered the NDA an “unconscionable gag order.” But Pitt insisted the act was vital for his business interests in Miraval.

According to Jolie’s cross-complaint, Pitt walked away from the deal and Jolie looked for another buyer. In October 2021 she sold Nouvel, the company holding her shares in Miraval, to the Luxembourg-based company Stoli, owned by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, for $67 million.

In February 2022, Pitt filed two lawsuits. One was against Jolie and Nouvel to invalidate the sale of her 50 percent stake in Miraval. He filed the other suit in Luxembourg. He claimed that the transfer of 10 percent of Miraval to Jolie for his wedding gift should be null and void because she never paid the one euro price. In response, Stoli filed a cross-complaint, seeking damages for Pitt’s alleged actions to devalue investments and the wine estate.

Pitt: Amy Sussman/ Getty Images; Jolie: Jeff Spicer / Stringer/ Getty Images; Chateau Miraval: Michel Gangne/ Getty Images