How much will Johnny Depp earn from third 'Fantastic Beasts' film? Here's how it'd boost his depleted net worth
Recently, on November 5, 2020, it was revealed by actor Johnny Depp over Instagram that he has been asked to resign from the untitled third 'Fantastic Beasts' film. This decision was made by Warner Bros film chief Toby Emmerich after a UK judge dismissed Depp’s defamation claims against the tabloid, The Sun, which referred to the actor as a "wife-beater". Depp was all set to reprise his role as dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, in the five-film franchise and had even shot a scene for it.
Now, according to the latest reports, Depp will be paid his full eight-figure salary even though he shot one scene since production began on September 20, 2020. According to a report by the Hollywood Reporter, Depp, like many A-list stars, has something called a pay-or-play contract which requires the studio to pay him in full whether or not the film is made, or even if he's recast. Though the salary isn't revealed, it is said that Depp was the highest-paid actor in the movie which also stars Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne.
The first two installments of the Fantastic Beasts franchise – 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' – have collectively grossed more than $1.4 billion globally. While 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' grossed a total of $814 million, 'The Crimes of Grindelwald' took in $654 million. The third film is set for release on July 15, 2022. The franchise will have a total of five films all of which will be directed by David Yates.
How much is Johnny Depp worth?
Depp's fortune has been a topic of considerable attention after his lawsuit against the firm that managed his finances. Currently, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Depp is worth $200 million – a big amount – but half of what his fortune was a few years ago. The lawsuit Depp filed against his former business managers revealed that, between 2003 and 2016 alone, the actor earned $650 million. The lawsuit also showed that despite his large earnings, Depp was nearly insolvent due to his extremely lavish lifestyle. At one point, the superstar spent $2 million monthly on maintaining his A-list lifestyle.
Depp's finances, for almost his entire career, was managed by the firm The Management Group. In 2017, he accused them of "gross mismanagement" and "outright fraud". The actor, in his lawsuit, alleged that the firm caused him to lose tens of millions of dollars because of which he was in more than $40 million in debt. Management Group counter-sued saying that Depp's unbelievably lavish spending habits caused him to run out of liquid cash to cover his basic monthly expenses.
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Depp spent $3.6 million per year to maintain a 40-person full-time staff, $30,000 per month on wine, $150,000 per month on bodyguards, and $200,000 per month on private jet travel. He also spent $75 million to purchase more than 14 homes around the world including a 45-acre chateau in France, a horse farm in Kentucky, and several islands in the Bahamas. If the actor were to sell his entire real estate portfolio, it would easily be worth $100 million. He also owns several yachts, more than 45 cars, 12 storage facilities worth of memorabilia, and an art collection that includes works by artists such as Andy Warhol.
Despite all his recent controversies, Depp is still one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors making $20 million upfront per movie, plus 20% of the backend. That deal has resulted in more than $300 million earned off the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise alone. He also made $55 million in backend earnings off 'Alice in Wonderland'. Going by these stats, it is safe to say that the actor will rake in at least $20 million for the upcoming third 'Fantastic Beasts' despite doing a single day's work.