The ongoing legal battle between ex-spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has been dominating the press for years, ever since their 2016 divorce brought to light allegations of domestic violence from both sides. The expensive back-and-forth of multiple defamation lawsuits has taken a hefty toll on each star’s net worth. With the trial finally ending on June 1, 2022 after six weeks of testimony, just what is the state of Heard’s finances?
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Amber Heard’s Pre-Trial Net Worth
It can be difficult, even for those heavily invested in the couple’s conflict, to keep track of all the information that is out there, so let’s start with this: As of 2022, Heard’s net worth was difficult to find, with estimates ranging between $2.5 million and $8 million, which was still a far cry from Depp’s net worth.
The couple reached an initial divorce settlement of $7 million in 2016, but of course, this was before the $50 million defamation suit Depp brought against Heard for her defamatory 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, and Heard’s subsequent $100 million countersuit, the joint trial of which captivated the world for its six-week duration.
What The Verdict Means For Amber Heard
As you most likely know by now, the jury largely ruled in Depp’s favor. He was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages of $5 million, though the punitive damages were reduced to $350,000. Still, that’s a whopping $10.4 million that Heard owes Depp. Heard herself was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages due to multiple defamatory statements made by Depp’s former attorney, bringing the total amount owed to around $8.4 million.
So, how did this ruling affect Heard’s bottom line? Her lawyer recently told Today that she would “absolutely not” be able to pay the damages. This certainly appears to be true, with Celebrity Net Worth reporting that Heard is now worth negative $6 million. It is important to note that Heard’s legal fees for this trial were largely covered by her homeowner’s insurance, so she’s not on the hook for her lawyer’s paycheck. However, it’s highly likely we’ll see an appeal or a settlement in the near future.