Film icon and Hollywood legend Johnny Depp is suing entertainment law firm, Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman, LLP, claiming that they have stolen tens of millions of dollars from him over the years.
Depp believes that his former attorneys colluded with his then-business managers to siphon the money from his accounts into "third-party loans" without his knowledge or approval, and that they made off with over $40 million.
This isn't the only time the movie star has confronted former colleagues. He was already filing a previous lawsuit against said business managers, TMG, for fraud. He claims they had grossly mismanaged his finances and properties, like when they paid a neighbor $320,000 for a dispute that they never looked into.
While the allegations that Depp is placing are serious, his former associates have struck back saying that his behavior speaks louder than the lawsuit.
When you look at how the star has spent his money the last few years, a different story begins to emerge.
Would it surprise you to know that Depp, who has starred in films such as The Lone Ranger, Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, Edward Scissorhands and other Burton movies, has made over $650 million in the past two decades?
Probably not, but when you start to see what purchases he has racked up in the last few years, you may understand how his finances were hard to keep track of.
World class paintings, an extensive real-estate portfolio, a 40-person staff, a private island, and of course the 156 foot yacht that he pays $350,000 per month to maintain, are just some of the expenses that Depp has accrued.
However his former lawyers and managers have come out strong against the accusations, and instead claim that Depp himself has dug himself into a financial hole due to his lavish lifestyle.
Attorney for TMG says that they have proof from former colleagues of the actor's false claims, saying "Depp knows that these two critical witnesses will fully support TMG's case and reveal Depp for the extraordinary liar and spendthrift that he is. It is no mystery why Depp is trying so hard to prevent this core discovery."
Is this the story of a star gone wild, or does Depp deserve to have the money returned? What do you think?