Meet Ava, daughter of Heather Locklear and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora

He started routinely banking US$20 million per movie

After the success of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Depp started routinely banking US$20 million per movie.

The mix of visual spectacle and Depp’s outlandish performance as Captain Jack led to 2003’s Curse of the Black Pearl, a big-screen adaptation of the Pirates of the Caribbean Disney parks attraction, garnering worldwide box-office earnings of over US$650 million.

With that, Depp’s asking price soared. On top of taking in US$20 million pre-picture in the franchise, he got around 20 per cent of the back end, per picture, according to The Hollywood Reporter. So not only was he paid upfront, but Depp was cut another check after the movie broke even.

He earned more than US$40 million on each Pirates movie

Thanks to the success of the Pirates sequels, including 2006’s Dead Man’s Chest, which earned over US$1 billion worldwide, Depp’s earnings from the films became astronomical.

The actor brought in north of US$40 million per sequel on the back end of the films alone, per THR. Again, that doesn’t count the US$20 million base pay for each. But not all of that went directly into Depp’s pocket. His agents got 10 per cent, managers took 5 per cent, and there are deductions for taxes and expenses. However, the paydays only got bigger from there.

The back end deal for Alice in Wonderland was even larger – US$55 million

Taking a pause from playing Captain Jack in 2010, Depp teamed up again with Tim Burton for the latest adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

On top of his US$20 million base, THR reported that he took in a huge US$55 million back end thanks to the movie’s successful box office run, as it brought in over US$1 billion.

Thanks to the Pirates films, Alice and 2014’s Into the Woods (he played the Big Bad Wolf) all getting prime home entertainment releases and cable play, in 2016 and 2017 Depp took in US$25.7 million in residuals thanks to his profit participation deals on those films.

Meet Deacon Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon’s son starring in Never Have I Ever

In 2016, he even landed on Forbes’ list of highest-paid celebrities. He reportedly took in US$48 million that year.

The face of Dior’s Sauvage fragrance for men

The actor has been the face of Sauvage for years. Depp was taking in reportedly US$3 million to US$5 million in the deal.

He was paid US$16 million for one scene in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Depp was asked to step down from Fantastic Beasts 3 days after losing a libel case against the publishers of the UK tabloid, The Sun, over a 2018 article, which described him as a “wife beater”.

However, because he had a “pay-or-play” deal on the movie, meaning he would get paid regardless if he worked on the movie, he was paid his US$16 million fee.

He only filmed one scene as Grindelwald. Mads Mikkelsen took over the role for 2022’s Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

He bought an island in the Bahamas for US$3.6 million

The actor first set eyes on the 18-hectare (45-acre) island located 97km (60 miles) from Nassau in 2003 while filming Curse of the Black Pearl and bought it for US$3.6 million.

Originally having no housing at all when he first bought it, it has since been outfitted with solar-powered buildings, including a house with stunning 360 views for Depp when he stays there.

He spent US$5 million to shoot the ashes of author friend Hunter S. Thompson out of a cannon

Depp befriended the gonzo author around the time he played Thompson in the 1998 movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

They stayed friends until Thompson’s death in 2005. Thompson had talked about wanting his funeral to be an extravagant affair with his ashes being shot out of a cannon in the shape of a double-thumbed fist and a red, white and blue fireworks show to end the event. Depp said he spent US$5 million to fulfil his friend’s wishes.

Elvis Presley’s love children? 4 people who claim to be The King’s illegitimate offspring

He had US$2 million in monthly bills, including US$100,000 a month for addiction issues

Depp had huge daily spending habits to live a lavish lifestyle, which led to him spending US$2 million a month on bills, according to his former management firm.

At one time, the actor had to pay:

• US$300,000 a month for a 40-person staff

• US$10,000 every day for his former security manager

• US$$350,000 monthly for maintaining his 48-metre (156-foot) yacht (which he has since sold to J.K. Rowling for US$27 million)

• US$30,000 monthly for wine (Although, Depp told Rolling Stone this was a conservative estimate: “It’s insulting to say that I spent US$30,000 on wine,” he said. “Because it was far more.”)

• US$100,000 a month to a doctor to treat his addiction issues

Depp commented on his spending in 2017, telling The Wall Street Journal, “It’s my money.”

“If I want to buy 15,000 cotton balls a day, it’s my thing,” he continued.

The actor’s spending habits were first revealed in 2017 when he filed a US$25 million lawsuit against his former business managers at The Management Group (TMG countersued). It resulted in a settlement a year later. No details were made public.

Depp was awarded US$15 million in the defamation suit against Amber Heard

The trial lasted six weeks earlier this year, in which both Depp and Heard took the stand, and resulted in the jury awarding Depp US$15 million in damages from Heard, and Heard US$2 million from Depp.

Depp’s US$15 million reward was dropped down to US$10.35 million to comply with state limits for punitive damages.

Meet Elvis Presley’s 4 grandchildren … and find out what they’re doing now

Depp sold US$3 million in artwork

Since the verdict, Depp has been spending more time playing music than getting back to making films.

It’s unlikely he’ll land the kind of paydays he got before his legal battle with Heard, but the actor still has a loyal fan base.

In July, Depp announced on his Instagram that he would be selling his artwork at a gallery in England. Within hours all the pieces he displayed were sold and even resulted in the gallery’s website crashing briefly. The actor pocketed around US$3 million in total.