How Much Did Johnny Depp Earn From Pirates Of The Caribbean?
Johnny Depp is a true original, known for his quirky style and ability to turn the unusual into cult favorites and box office hits. He’s nailed every role he’s taken on, but none have suited him quite like the rum-loving scallywag, Captain Jack Sparrow. If the Pirates of the Caribbean series were a ship, Depp would be its captain, anchor, and the very force that kept it sailing.
His performances have consistently been top-notch, raking in serious cash. Depp’s unique take on the eccentric pirate helped the franchise gross over $4.5 billion worldwide. This massive success not only boosted the franchise but also made Depp one of the highest earners in Hollywood.
Currently, Johnny Depp's net worth stands at $150 million, with estimates suggesting he’s made around $650 million throughout his career. Over five Pirates of the Caribbean films, he earned about $300 million, including base pay and bonuses. For the first film, The Curse of the Black Pearl, he received $10 million, with no bonuses since the film's success was unexpected. However, that quickly changed.
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For the sequel, Dead Man's Chest, he scored a $20 million base salary, plus $40 million in bonuses due to its stellar box office performance, totaling $60 million. This payday set a new benchmark for his contracts with Disney for future films. By the time they were making At World’s End, he reportedly took home $50 million, though the breakdown of that amount wasn’t clear. By the time On Stranger Tides rolled around, Depp had firmly established himself as the heart of the series.
Disney paid him a base salary of $35 million, but with performance bonuses, his total earnings hit $55 million, as noted by Vanity Fair. His salary peaked with the latest film in the series, Dead Men Tell No Tales, where he reportedly made $90 million, according to Forbes. Not many actors have raked in that much from a single franchise, and Depp himself acknowledged that the pay was excessive.
Disney was fine with it until they weren't. After facing legal issues with his former financial managers and domestic violence claims from his ex-wife, Amber Heard, Depp's future with the franchise took a nosedive.
| Curse of The Black Pearl | $10 million | - |
| Dead Man's Chest | $20 million | $40 million |
| At World's End | $50 million | - |
| On Stranger Tides | $35 million | $20 million |
| Dead Men Tell No Tales | $90 million | - |
Disney let him go from the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film, which meant he lost out on a $22.5 million deal. Even though the trial hurt his reputation, it ultimately turned out in his favor. Depp won his defamation case against Heard in 2022, which helped improve his public image, though it didn’t mend his relationship with Disney.
There have been whispers about him possibly coming back, but during his trial against Heard, Depp made it clear he wasn’t interested in rejoining the Pirates series. In June 2022, there were reports that he was offered over $300 million to come back to the franchise, but nothing official has been confirmed since then.
