In a bold move, Dior reaffirms its unwavering support for Johnny Depp. Despite enduring a tumultuous public relations storm during his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, the iconic French luxury fashion house and cosmetics powerhouse has recently inked an enormous deal with Depp, solidifying it as the most substantial men’s fragrance partnership ever forged.
Insiders familiar with the negotiations estimate that this groundbreaking three-year agreement surpasses Robert Pattinson’s $12 million pact with Dior Homme and Brad Pitt’s $7 million endorsement deal for Chanel No. 5.
These figures dwarf the average annual earnings of A-list celebrities, such as Chris Pine, who typically rake in $2 million to $4 million per year through fragrance contracts. For instance, Pine’s lucrative three-year collaboration with Armani values at $4 million annually.
While Dior declined to comment on the matter, Depp’s representative also chose to remain silent.
Since 2015, the renowned “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor has personified the essence of Dior Sauvage, starring in an advertising campaign that embraced his untamed rocker persona.
Amid mounting pressure to sever ties with Depp following a U.K. court ruling against him in his 2020 libel lawsuit against The Sun, which dubbed him a “wife beater” in relation to Heard, the company now finds itself on the receiving end of a surprising turn of events.
Depp’s image and market appeal experienced a remarkable upswing last year after he emerged victorious in a highly publicized defamation trial against Heard.
Taking place in Virginia and streamed live online, the trial saw a seven-member jury conclude that Heard had indeed defamed Depp, leading to an award of $10 million in compensatory damages and an additional $5 million in punitive damages, the latter being capped at $350,000 by the state.
Essentially, the jury vehemently discredited Heard’s 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, where she portrayed herself as a survivor of domestic abuse.
Coinciding with Depp’s new collaboration with Dior is his prominent presence at the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival.
The actor is set to grace the world premiere of Maïwenn’s historical drama “Jeanne du Barry” on May 16, where he portrays King Louis XV.
Additionally, he will attend an exclusive Dior dinner on May 17 before departing to London the following day to participate in a Jeff Beck tribute, where he will perform alongside Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart.
Furthermore, the Cannes market will witness the debut of Depp’s directorial venture, “Modi,” his first in 25 years.
This film delves into the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, portrayed by Riccardo Scamarcio, and features a star-studded cast including Al Pacino.
Sales for “Modi,” which is scheduled to commence filming in the fall, will be handled by The Veterans.
The immensely profitable collaboration with Dior, meticulously negotiated by Depp’s representatives at Range Media, could potentially herald the actor’s triumphant return to mainstream cinema.
Major studios had been reticent to engage with him until the favorable verdict in Virginia. Depp’s financial losses were significant, as it was revealed during the trial that he had previously secured a staggering $22.5 million for his involvement in “Pirates 6” back in 2017.
