Johnny Depp's Ex-Managers Urged Him to 'Go Easy' on Spending in Just-Released Emails
The latest move in the legal battle between Johnny Depp and his former managers: They've got receipts. They've just released emails from 2009 and 2010 that show the actor was well aware of his growing debt and their efforts to get him to "go easy" on his spending.
Depp, who is $40 million in debt, according to these emails, is suing Joel Mandel and The Management Group for $25 million, claiming they failed to notify him about his worsening financial situation.
The emails certainly seem to contradict that allegation, with detailed discussions of the actor's debt, his massive salaries, his over-spending and what might possessions he might sell.
Among the salary revelations: Depp was paid $20 million for "The Tourist," $35 million for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," and $20 million for "Dark Shadows."
The emails also acknowledge that he took a bath on the indie film "The Rum Dairy" (where he met ex-wife Amber Heard), with Depp calling it "a sacrifice we knew would be happening" and that before that, "the last proper paycheck was "Public Enemies'."
After being counseled by Mandel to ease up on the spending, Depp responded, "I am doing my very best on holiday spending, but there is only so much I can do, as I need to give my kiddies and famille as good as Christmas as possible, obviously within reason."
He also explained why he couldn't take a commercial flight, saying that because of the paparazzi (or, presumably, anyone with a smartphone) "it would be a f--king nightmare of monumental proportions."
Depp asked, "What else can I do???" to offset his debt and offered to sell his possessions. "I got bikes, cars, property, books, paintings and some semblance of a soul left. Where would you like me to start???"
TMG stated, "Depp wants to deny this discovery because it will establish that TMG did everything within its power to make Depp, and all of his closest advisors, fully aware of Depp's financial condition. If TMG was trying to hide Depp's finances to cover-up their alleged misconduct, they would not have repeatedly advised Depp's long-term personal lawyer, Jake Bloom, and his longtime agent, Tracey Jacobs, regarding the situation."
Depp's lawyer has not yet responded to the emails.
