Today In DUH: Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s Ongoing Divorce Battle Is Costing Them Tons Of Money
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been battling it out in divorce court since 2016, and guess what? All those billable hours are building up, and they’re making for some big-ass legal bills.
If I was rich, and I was divorcing someone who was rich, I might just suggest we split everything down the middle, including custody, so that we may both remain rich and relatively happy that neither of us has to put up with each other anymore. But, there are many more working parts to the Brangelina divorce. They had to split properties, assets, businesses, and who gets how much time with five of their six kids (Maddox Jolie-Pitt is an adult, and therefore isn’t included in this fight). But allegations of domestic abuse, as well as some allegedly shady judge-lawyer relationships, have made the situation very messy. And despite what the Bounty commercials would lead you to believe, big messes aren’t always so quick n’ easy to clean up. And this one is going to cost more than $4.99 for a six-pack, no matter how absorbent and strong those paper towels are.
Judge John Ouderkirk, the judge who originally granted Brad Pitt a temporary 50-50 custody split, was recently removed from their custody case, on grounds of an “ethical breach,” when he failed to disclose an ongoing case he’s working on with Brad’s legal team. That also means Brad’s temporary custody ruling is null and void, so we’re starting all over from scratch. And more work, means more money bleeding from Angelina and Brad’s respective bank accounts. At least according to divorce lawyer to the stars, Mark Vincent Kaplan. via Us Weekly:
Los Angeles divorce attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan is weighing in on what the actress’ win means for the exes moving forward. The high-powered Hollywood lawyer estimates that Jolie, 46, and Pitt, 57, have already spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not in the millions” on litigation.
“And it could be more if they start over again,” Kaplan exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Nothing is more expensive than a hotly contested custody [dispute]. I’m sure both of these people can afford to [keep litigating], which is not the reason to do it, but that’s probably not going to be a major factor for either of them given their respective wealth.”
Millions?! Imagine being so rich, that you can write a check for a million dollars, and it’s not going towards the down payment for a party yacht or helicopter shed or a disgusting amount of diamonds. And that number will likely continue to grow because everyone might have to go back to court and present evidence and throw accusations and all that. But, according to Mark Vincent Kaplan, it might be for nothing but to the benefit of the payments receivable department of those law firms.
Kaplan acknowledges that the development is not an instant win for the Eternals actress, though. “She’s still got an uphill battle because now there is historical observation rather than future projection [of how the children are doing],” the legal expert tells Us.
This might explain why Angelina really wants to sell her ownership stake in Chateau Miraval, the French vineyard she co-owns with Brad Pitt. She needs the cash to pay her legal bills! And maybe that’s why Brad allegedly keeps turning his nose up at her offers. He can’t afford to be dropping millions to buy her out, he’s got legal bills to pay! Oh wow, did I just discover a new paradox? I’ll call this one a Catch-Twenty Too Much Drama.
Pic: Wenn.com