How Johnny Depp plowed through $600m Hollywood fortune: Star spent $75m on 14 fully-staffed homes, bought 45 cars, paid $5m to blast Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes from cannon and spent $10,000-A-DAY on security

Johnny Depp‘s lavish spending habits were put on blast with testimony from his former financial manager during the actor’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

Depp’s former financial manager Joel Mandel testified earlier this month that the actor, 58, earned more than $600 million between 1999 and 2016. He claimed the Pirates of the Caribbean star’s spending habits were becoming increasingly irresponsible during that time period.

Depp spent his money on mansions, a fleet of luxury cars, traveling only by private plane and blasting his late friend Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes from a cannon. He also spent $100,000 per month for an addiction doctor, $10,000 a day for security detail and $300,000 per month for a full-time staff.

Depp’s extravagant spending was first revealed in a 2016 countersuit from Mandel and his former business management company, The Management Group after Depp sued them alleging it grossly mismanaged his earnings.

A countersuit followed that claimed Depp’s lavish lifestyle that cost more than $2 million a month to maintain caused his recent financial troubles and that the star ignored their repeated warnings.

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Johnny Depp, 58, who reportedly earned more than $600 million between 1999 and 2016, spent the money on mansions, a fleet of luxury cars, traveling only by private plane

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The company handled Depp’s finances during a lucrative time in his career as he launched the blockbuster ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise and other big-budget releases, including ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and the 2005 film ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’

Pirates of the Caribbean and its five sequels are estimated to have earned Depp more than $300 million, although he has now been axed from the movies, with a female-led reboot planned.

The lawsuit said Depp paid more than $75 million to buy and maintain 14 homes, including a French chateau and a chain of islands in the Bahamas.

Depp also spent heavily to buy a 150-foot yacht, fly on private jets and cultivate collections of fine art and Hollywood memorabilia requiring 12 storage facilities, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit against Mandel was settled in 2016, but Depp’s spending was once again in the spotlight when Mandel took the stand earlier this month in the Depp vs. Heard defamation trial, testifying that Depp had become increasingly irresponsible over the 17 years he worked with him, during which he estimated the actor had earned $600million.

He said spending levels became ‘very large’ around 2010 when Depp shot ‘The Rum Diary’ where he met Heard. Mandel testified that Depp consumed more alcohol and drugs at the time and discussion of finances became rare.

Mandel’s deposition was shown to jurors as part of Depp’s lawsuit against Heard.

Depp alleges Heard defamed him when describing herself as a victim of domestic violence in a 2018 op-ed piece which he claims led to tarnishing his career and loss of potential earnings. Heard filed a $100 million countersuit alleging Depp physically assaulted her during their marriage, often while he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Jurors were tasked with deliberating whether either actor was defamed and deserves millions of dollars in damages.

$100,000 per month for an addiction doctor,  $10,000 per day for security detail and $300,000 per month for a full-time staff

Mandel testified that Depp sent $100,000 to Dr. David Kipper every month. Depp hired the doctor in 2014 to help treat his addiction issues after Depp became dependent on opioid medication following a leg injury, he said. Depp and Heard were also each assigned a nurse. 

Mandel testified that Depp sent $10,000 to Jerry Judge, Depp’s former security manager, every day. Judge was in charge of employing a security team to guard Depp at all times.   

Depp also spent $300,000 per month for a full-time staff, many of whom worked at his portfolio of luxury properties.

$75 million on luxury homes: Depp’s $13.5m chateau in the south of France, a chain of islands in the Bahamas and five penthouses in L.A.’s Eastern Columbia Building

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Depp has spent $75 million to ‘acquire, improve, and furnish 14 residences’ around the world, including mansions in Queensland

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Depp paid millions for a private island in the Bahamas

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Depp listed his penthouses atop the Eastern Columbia Building for $12.8 million on September 21, 2016 in Los Angeles, California

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One of Depp’s Hollywood homes. Each residence included a full staff, meaning Depp ran up hundreds of thousands of dollars-a-month in staffing costs for homes that usually lay empty

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Depp’s farm in Lexington, Kentucky seen here in 2017, sits on 41 acres and contains a nearly 6000 square foot house with 6 bedrooms, 7 baths. The farm has 3 barns, 15 stalls, 10 paddocks

Depp spent $75 million to ‘acquire, improve, and furnish 14 residences’ around the world, according to the lawsuit filed in 2016.

His residences include or have included a 45-acre chateau in the south of France, valued at $13.5 million, a chain of islands in the Bahamas, several houses in Hollywood, penthouse lofts in downtown Los Angeles and a horse farm in Kentucky.

Depp purchased five penthouses L.A.’s Eastern Columbia Building between 2007-2008 that were listed at a combined price of $12.78 million.

Each residence included a full staff, meaning Depp ran up hundreds of thousands of dollars-a-month in staffing costs for lavish homes that usually lay empty.

Depp’s 45 luxury cars: Actor bought a fleet of vintage collectible cars including a 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and a 1959 Corvette

Like any big-spending movie star, Depp also developed a taste for luxury and vintage cars.

Depp has owned cars a slew of vintage collectible cars including a Rolls-Royce, 1959 Corvette, and a 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

The Corvette was gifted to Depp by the producer of The Rum Diary.

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Depp was given the 1959 Chevrolet Corvette that he drove in the movie The Rum Diary. The actor’s love of cars led to him spending millions on cars over the years

An $18 million luxury yacht

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Depp previously named the yacht Vajoliroja – a pun on the Jolly Roger pirate flag when said aloud – after his ex-partner Vanessa Paradis and their children Lily-Rose and Jack

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JK Rowling reportedly bought the yacht off him in 2016 for $18 million

Depp previously named the yacht Vajoliroja – a pun on the Jolly Roger pirate flag when said aloud – after his ex-partner Vanessa Paradis and their children Lily-Rose and Jack.

The actor spent £5million renovating the yacht in 2008, giving it a distinctly bohemian feel with plenty of wood and luscious fabric throughout its plush art deco interior, as well as a subtle pirate theme.

JK Rowling reportedly bought the yacht off him in 2016.

She was wooed by the lavish yet charming 156ft liner after holidaying onboard with her family. The author – who has faced her own trial by social media after being attacked by woke mobs over her views on trans people – threw her support behind Depp after initial allegations against him emerged.

She released a statement backing him after calls were made for him to be fired from the Fantastic Beasts movie series, based on Rowling’s Harry Potter book series.

But studio bosses eventually gave in to fan pressure, and booted Depp from the franchise.

Traveling by private plane 

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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard arrive on private jet at Brisbane Airport in an undated photo

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Depp refuses to fly in anything but a private plane, according to The Management Group, so he bought a Gulfstream GV

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Depp refuses to fly in anything but a private plane, according to The Management Group, so the actor bought a Gulfstream GV.

Those jets cost between $11 million and $14 million a month to buy, and a further $200,000-a-month on fuel and staffing costs.

During Amber Heard’s trial, the actress made dramatic claims about furious fights she’d endured with Depp aboard his jet.

Thousands spent on wine each month 

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Depp (pictured here at Times Square Virgin Megastore, NYC, in 1998), reportedly spent $30,000 a month on wine that was ‘flown in from all over the world for personal consumption’

Depp reportedly spent $30,000 a month on wine that was ‘flown in from all over the world for personal consumption,’ the suit claimed.

Depp’s business manager, Ed White, testified in court earlier this month that Depp and Heard ran up a $160,000 wine bill at Twenty Twenty Wine Merchants by the end of their marriage.

Depp’s alcohol and drug use has been a focal point of the trial.

Heard alleged that Depp would get violent during rages fueled by drugs and alcohol. But Depp alleged it was Heard who was the abuser and that she typically drank two bottles of wine a night.

Since the couple’s divorce, Depp’s tab at the wine company had been nearly eliminated, White testified.

In his own testimony earlier in the trial, Depp didn’t deny using cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol regularly, but denied that it became a problem.

He said he sought treatment only when he developed an addiction to the painkiller Roxicodone, a brand name for the drug Oxycodone, which he took for a leg injury.

Collection of guitars

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Johnny Depp plays famous guitar ‘Greeny’ in this undated Instagram photo

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Part of Depp’s guitar collection is show as evidence during the Depp vs. Heard trial

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Depp’s bloodstained guitar in court shows as evidence showing the results of their fights

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Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck perform at The Royal Albert Hall in London in May 2022 as Depp awaits the verdict in his libel lawsuit trial against ex-wife Amber Heard

Depp owns an extensive collection of guitars, ranging from well-known models from Gibson, a Les Paul Custom, and a Les Paul Standard, as well as a 1956 Fender Stratocaster. But there are also some oddities like the Gibson Reverse Flying V and the Echopark Ghetto Bird.

Most of Depp’s guitars are vintage models.

Expensive world-class jewelry

Depp, famed for his unique sense of style which saw him help popularize tattoos, has many ‘pieces of expensive world-class jewelry,’ which he is often seen wearing, especially his rings.

It was reported that Depp once ‘walked into a [high-end jewelry] store, sat for a couple of hours,’ an insider said. ‘They showed him a lot of stuff, gave him champagne, and he walked out with a $400,000 diamond cuff. It was a classic sort of moment because it wasn’t worth $400,000.’

Rare Hollywood collectables

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Depp paid the highest bid for the one-eyed horse named Goldeneye from his film Sleepy Hollow, when he learned it had been sent to auction, and took him home with him

Depp spent ‘many millions on rare and expensive Hollywood collectables’ from the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando. There are so many items that he has 12 storage facilities to house them.

The actor charged more than $500,000 in rental fees for storage warehouses that hold collectibles including $17,000 in handbags and luggage, $7,000 for a Keeping Up With the Kardashians couch as a gift for his daughter, Lily-Rose, TMG claimed in the 2016 lawsuit.

Following the filming of Sleepy Hollow, Depp paid the highest bid for the one-eyed horse named Goldeneye from the film that had been sent to auction, and took him home with him.

Art collection 

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Actor Johnny Depp auctions Basquiat’s 1981 painting ‘piece Pork’, which was painted on a wooden door and is expected to bring in between $3.5 to $5million

Depp has spent ‘millions’ to acquire and maintain an expensive art collection, the suit claimed. The collection includes over 200 pieces of art including works by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

One of Basquiat’s works, ‘Self-Portrait’ is one of the pieces he has owned. The art was put up for auction at Christie’s in 2016 with a price of over $4.7 million.

Supporting friends and family  

Depp has spent millions helping to support ‘friends, family and certain employees,’ the TMG suit claimed.

At least $10 million was spent for living expenses for his sisters and late mother. He also bought his mother a multimillion-dollar home in Hollywood, and spent $35,000 a month on a residence for her when she was ill.

Depp funded a startup music label run by a childhood friend, which cost him over $4 million with no revenue. He ultimately cut funding.

Spent $5 million to blast friend Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes from cannon

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Writer Hunter S. Thompson and actor Johnny Depp attend a book party at the Players Club in New York City, 1997. Depp spent millions to blast Thompson’s ashes from a cannon when the writer died at the age of 67

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Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes shot from a cannon hundreds of feet in the air via fireworks. Depp spent $5 million to make his friend’s wish of his ashes being shot out of cannon come true

Depp spent $5 million to fulfill his writer friend Hunter S. Thompson’s dream of having his ashes ‘blast from a specially made cannon’ over Aspen following the writer’s death in 2005.

‘All I’m doing is trying to make sure his last wish comes true,’ Depp said at the time. ‘I just want to send my pal out the way he wants to go out.’

Depp played Thompson in the 1998 movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which is based on Thompson’s iconic piece of Gonzo journalism.

Depp and Thompson would regularly meet at Thompson’s farm to shoot his guns and talk about literature, life and other musings, Far Out magazine reported. It was rumored that it was Depp who encouraged Thompson to publish his novella ‘The Rum Diary’.

They remained friends until Thompson shot himself dead at the age of 67.

And he STILL ended up with credit card debt

Depp paid for millions in expenses for the ‘The Management Group’ (TMG) credit card over the years, but in their countersuit, the company claimed he stopped making payments in 2016.

Depp had racked up $55,000 in debt that the company was forced to pay.