Johnny Depp makes millions after debut art collection sells out

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Johnny Depp is making millions from his artwork.

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The 59-year-old actor pocketed US$3.6 million after selling 780 prints through Castle Fine Art gallery in London, the BBC reported.

His debut collection features portraits of Al Pacino, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor and Keith Richards.

Framed individual prints went for US$3,973, with the complete portfolio of four images selling for US$15,040.

“Each image is an intimate reflection of their character in Johnny’s eyes; a portrayal of how they have revealed themselves to him,” Castle Fine Art said of his Friends & Heroes collection. “From his dear friend Keith Richards, who inspired the mannerisms of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, to Bob Dylan, whose creative influence on the artist is seen in his vivid and immortal portrayal by Johnny.”

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Castle Fine Art said Depp’s prints “proved to be our fastest-selling collection to date, selling out in just hours.”

Earlier this month, Depp released a series of NFTs called Never Fear Truth, raising nearly US$800,000. The Pirates of the Caribbean star donated the proceeds to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Footprint Coalition and the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

“We are grateful and very thankful to the Never Fear Truth community for this tremendous accomplishment – making this project one of the most philanthropic NFT sales to date – and we are excited to build on this success and making an even greater impact going forward,” a message from Depp’s Never Fear Truth Twitter account read.

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The sale comes after Depp won a high-profile defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard last month.

Last week, Heard filed notice to appeal the verdict, in which a seven-person jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (which is capped at $350,000) over a 2018 op-ed where she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.”

The three-time Oscar nominee claimed her article ruined his career and led to a series of cancelled film projects, including a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean feature.

“We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment,” a spokesperson for Heard told the Toronto Sun. “We are therefore appealing the verdict. While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”

In response, Depp’s legal team filed their own appeal after he was found guilty of one count of defamation through statements made by his former attorney Adam Waldman.

“Mr. Depp ended up filing his own appeal so that the court could have the full record. And – she insists on continuing to litigate this matter, and we have to protect our client’s interest,” Depp’s attorney Camille Vasquez said in an interview with with Gayle King on CBS Mornings.

“In order to protect his interests, as his representative, we have to respond to the appeal with his own appeal.”

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