Amber Heard Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Amber Heard’s Net Worth and Salary?

With a net worth estimated at $500 thousand, Amber Heard is an American actress and model recognized for her roles in films such as “Aquaman,” “The Rum Diary,” “Never Back Down,” and “Drive Angry.” Additionally, she has featured in various television shows and is prominent for her activism work, particularly regarding LGBTQ rights.

Amber’s notoriety has increased in recent years primarily due to her tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. Despite their divorce in 2016, the two continued to engage in legal battles and media disputes for several years afterward.

In 2019, Johnny Depp initiated a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard in Virginia, connected to an Op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in the previous year. In retaliation, Heard filed a counter-defamation suit seeking $100 million, which stemmed from statements made by Depp’s lawyer. A jury in Virginia ultimately ruled in favor of Depp in June 2022, ordering Heard to compensate him $15 million in damages, while decreeing that Depp owed Heard $2 million. By December 2022, Johnny accepted a reduced settlement of $1 million to conclude the matter. Further details about these lawsuits will be discussed later in this article.

$10 Million Judgment

As many are aware, in June 2022, a Virginia jury ruled that Amber had defamed Johnny Depp in relation to her 2018 Washington Post Op-ed. The initial ruling granted Johnny $15 million, which included $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. However, the punitive damages were later reduced to $350,000, aligning with Virginia law that caps such awards. Amber was also awarded $2 million by the same jury, culminating in approximately $8.35 million in damages that Amber is required to pay Johnny.

Before the verdict, it was estimated that Amber’s net worth stood at $2.5 million. Reports suggest that most of her legal expenses leading to the verdict were funded by her homeowner’s insurance. Currently, it remains uncertain if her insurance will also cover the complete damages amount. Moreover, it’s feasible that the damages could be appealed for reduction. Should her insurance fail to cover the damages, it is believed that Amber would face significant difficulty in meeting this financial obligation.

On June 2, 2022, the day following the verdict, Amber’s attorney was directly asked by Savannah Guthrie of “The Today Show” if Amber could manage to pay the judgment. The attorney candidly responded, “Oh no. Absolutely not.“

Amber may contemplate an appeal as her next step. However, pursuing an appeal would likely necessitate her posting a bond for the entire $10.35 million judgment, which her attorney claims she cannot achieve with her personal finances.

Alternatively, if Amber cannot fulfill the judgment and it is not underwritten by insurance, she might consider filing for bankruptcy. Nonetheless, due to certain legal stipulations, a bankruptcy filing may not affect the $10 million portion of the compensatory damages.

Eventually, Amber consented to make a substantially reduced payment to Johnny of $1 million to resolve the matter entirely.with a mix of independent films and mainstream productions. She starred in the romantic comedy Drive Angry alongside Nicolas Cage, which demonstrated her flexibility as an actress. Meanwhile, her role in The Rum Diary, which featured Johnny Depp, further solidified her place in Hollywood. This film not only showcased her acting talent but also created a lasting professional relationship with Depp.

In 2015, Amber Heard secured a significant role in the highly anticipated superhero film Aquaman, where she portrayed the character Mera. The project’s massive success paved the way for a sequel, solidifying her status as a leading actress in the industry. Additionally, she reprised her role in the sequel, further establishing her position in major film franchises.

Personal Life

Amber Heard’s personal life has garnered significant media attention, especially her high-profile relationship with actor Johnny Depp. The couple’s marriage in 2015 was followed by a tumultuous divorce that became a media spectacle. Known for their passionate relationship, it was marred by allegations of abuse from both sides. The legal battles that ensued included a defamation trial, which made headlines worldwide.

Despite the controversy, Heard continued to focus on her career, balancing her professional commitments with her personal challenges. Her determination to succeed in Hollywood amidst public scrutiny has been commendable, showcasing her resilience as an actress.

As Amber Heard moves forward in her career, she remains a figure of interest in both the film industry and popular culture, continuing to navigate the complexities of being in the public eye.

For the first time, Amber Heard collaborated with Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary, which was adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s book. The film ultimately garnered mixed reviews and fell short of making a significant impact at the box office. Following this, Heard experienced similar outcomes with films such as Drive Angry, Paranoia, Machete Kills, and Syrup.

In 2015, Heard found greater success, featuring in Magic Mike XXL, The Danish Girl, The Adderall Diaries, and One More Time. Generally, all four films achieved critical and/or commercial success. However, she also starred in the disastrous London Fields. This film faced issues of fraud, with both the director and actors challenging the final cut shown to audiences. The reception was overwhelmingly negative, and Heard was sued for $10 million over unauthorized script changes and not completing voice-over work. In response, she countersued, leading to a settlement.

In the following years, Heard appeared in a variety of independent films, gaining recognition for her portrayal of the Atlantean queen Mera in the DC Extended Universe. She first took on the role in Justice League and reprised it in 2018’s Aquaman as well as the sequel in 2023.

Johnny Depp Divorce

Amber Heard filed for divorce from Johnny Depp in 2016, obtaining a restraining order against him while alleging domestic abuse throughout their relationship. Depp promptly denied all accusations amid a media storm. Following her court testimony and evidence presentation, Amber Heard secured a $7 million settlement from Depp upon the divorce’s conclusion. She promised to donate the full amount to charities, specifically to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the ACLU.

In January 2021, Johnny accused Amber of lying regarding her charitable donations. His attorneys supposedly contacted the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the ACLU to ascertain the actual funds received from Heard. According to the Daily Mail, the ACLU did not disclose any figures, while the Children’s Hospital reported only $100,000 received, approximately $3.4 million less than her claimed donation. Reportedly, the hospital even contacted Heard inquiring about the pledge’s fulfillment.

During court testimony in April 2022, ACLU representatives stated the organization had received $1.3 million of Amber’s pledged $3.5 million, but it was confirmed that she planned to fulfill the donation over a ten-year span. Furthermore, it was revealed that out of the $1.3 million received, Amber personally contributed merely $350,000, with $100,000 from Depp and $500,000 sourced from Elon Musk, another of her previous partners. Additionally, it emerged that when the ACLU sought information on the remaining half of her pledged amount, Heard communicated that she was experiencing financial challenges.

Defamation Lawsuits

In 2018, a lawsuit was initiated by Johnny Depp in the United Kingdom against News Group Newspapers, the publishers of The Sun, for describing him as a “wife beater” in an article from April 2018. The trial took place in 2020, during which both Heard and Depp provided testimony for several days. A judge ruled in November 2020 that 12 out of the 14 reported incidents of violence claimed by Heard were “substantially true.” In March 2021, Depp’s appeal was unsuccessful.

In 2019, Johnny Depp brought forth a defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard in Virginia, seeking $50 million as a result of an op-ed that she published in The Washington Post in December 2018, which described the alleged abuse she endured. While Heard did not mention Depp by name, he believed that she implied his involvement in multiple acts of violence, contradicting prior joint statements from the couple that asserted “there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm” from either side.

Moreover, Depp asserted that he was the true victim of domestic abuse stemming from Heard’s actions, which he described as including punching, kicking, thrown objects, and even defecation. His legal representatives provided evidence in support of these claims, and Heard’s motions to dismiss the case were rejected.

In August 2020, Heard filed a counter-suit. The trial pertaining to this defamation case began on April 11, 2022, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Defamation Verdict

On June 1, 2022, the jury in the Virginia trial ruled in favor of Depp, awarding him $15 million in damages for defamation, comprised of $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. However, the punitive damages were later reduced to $350,000 due to Virginia’s cap on such awards.

Interestingly, Amber Heard was awarded $2 million concerning partial liabilities.

The legal expenses incurred by Amber, which likely totaled millions, were largely covered by an insurance policy stemming from a homeowners insurance umbrella policy. It remained uncertain whether her insurance would bear the full extent of the damages, whether partially or fully:

In December 2022, Johnny agreed to accept a $1 million settlement, which was financed by Amber’s insurance company.

Spousal Support

Following her separation from Johnny Depp in 2016, Amber Heard sought spousal support. In court documents from the 2022 defamation trial, it was revealed that Amber’s attorneys in May 2016 proposed a resolution to “keep this matter out of the spotlight” if she could continue using a Range Rover, reside in three of Johnny’s penthouse apartments in Los Angeles, and receive $125,000 for her legal and accounting fees.

Amber then reportedly requested financial support of $50,000 per month from Depp to manage different expenses. Court filings indicated her monthly costs to include $10,000 for rent, $2,000 for dining out, and $10,000 for pet supplies, alongside legal expenses. She justified her request by stating that her income was minimal, which included $27,000 in royalties from various films.

Additionally, documents indicated that although sheIn 2014, Amber Heard had earned $250,000 through her various activities but spent nearly $210,000, resulting in a net income of just $40,000 for that year. Additionally, she provided documents indicating her savings were only $25,000 at that time.

In the end, Amber Heard decided to withdraw her request for spousal support.

Other Relationships

While divorcing Johnny Depp in 2016, Amber started a relationship with billionaire Elon Musk. Their meeting dates back to 2013 when Musk visited the set of “Machete Kills.” In April 2017, they confirmed their relationship, but they later announced their breakup within that year, only to reportedly rekindle their romance in early 2018.

Real Estate

In January 2019, Amber purchased a home in Yucca Valley, California, for $570,000, located not far from Joshua Tree. She sold this property in July 2022 for $1.05 million.