Is Johnny Depp Worth $55 Million Dollars?
The Chicago-Sun Times columnist Bill Zwecker is reporting that the Walt Disney Company is lobbied hardcore to get Johnny Depp to reprise his role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the upcoming 4th installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. In order to woo Johnny back into Capt. Jack’s boots, Disney reportedly offered a booty of $55 million dollars which, the report states, he gladly accepted making Depp the highest paid actor in Hollywood:
Thanks to his latest deal with Disney, Johnny Depp has leapfrogged past Will Smith to become the top-earning star in Hollywood. According to Forbes magazine, Smith was last year’s top earner — taking home an estimated $80 million overall. Depp already was No. 2, at $72 million, but now the actor will clearly move into the lead. According to a Disney source who spoke to this column, Depp’s agreement to make a fourth ”Pirates of the Caribbean” film, star as Tonto in the new big-screen ”The Lone Ranger” and portray the Mad Hatter in director Tim Burton’s new ”Alice in Wonderland” will put the popular star on top. It’s mainly because Depp will also get the biggest-ever paycheck for an individual film: a reported $55 million for the next ”Pirates” flick. That surpasses the previous top earner, Tom Hanks (at $49 million), for the upcoming ”Angels & Demons,” based on Dan Brown’s novel. Before that, Jim Carrey held the record for an individual film — $39 million paid for ”The Cable Guy” back in 1996. That film’s less-than-blockbuster performance led to a big re-evaluation in Hollywood about the skyrocketing paychecks for major stars. Matt Damon now reportedly gets a not-too-shabby $29 million per picture (largely thanks to the ”Bourne” films’ successes), Brad Pitt commands between $20 million and $24 million per picture and Tom Cruise gets up to $30 million.
Wow … that is a lot of money for one role. I realize that the POTC franchise is a very lucrative one but I had no idea that Disney would be willing to shell out this kind of dough just to put out one more movie. What if POTC 4 is a huge hit and they have to make another film? Depp would be asked for at least another $55 million bucks for another go round. I mean … I liked the films but I didn’t like them that much. Does this sound like money well spent to all y’all or does this have disaster written all over it?
Tags: 'Pirates of the Caribbean', Johnny Depp
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October 3rd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Talk about wringing it out until it’s dust! Personally, I don’t think anyone is worth this amount of money. I really only liked the first movie and never even bothered to watch the last one. Too much of the same thing.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Umm…..I love this fanchise. Kids and parents everywhere love these movies and disney knows with johnny people wont be back. I think its a well spent 55 million.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
i think johnny depp is the best actor of our times! $55 mil. woot! hahaha.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
POTC is nothing without Jack Sparrows. He is the reason these movies were a hit. It makes sense that they would offer him this much money because without him they wouldn’t be able to do it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Yes money well spent!! If I had 55 million dollars laying around I would buy him too haha.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Well, that’s great and all, but what about Kiera? Surely Orlando would do it without a doubt, but Kiera publicly announced with magazine interviews that her quote, “Pirate days are over” and doesn’t want to film anymore. HMMMMMMMM…
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I love him. Especially when he’s dirty and in a pirate costume !!
OH YES
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I never saw the movies but I’ve heard they are good. I work with kids and they all still obsess over it, so I’m sure it will bring in just as much money as the others. $55 million is so much money for one role, I wish I was getting $55 million in the span of my lifetime!
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
He’s totally worth it….but i didn’t think they would have to lure him like that. He reportedly had already said that he would love to continue playing Captain Jack in future films.
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
DAYUM…I am not a huge fan of this series. The third one was not that good, in my opinion! He is a great actor and I love him to death so I think he deserves every penny!!
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
PS. His best movie is Nightmare on Elm Street! Oh when he is wearing his preppy gear topped off with the bass shoes it just does something to me!
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I think it’s well spent… Johnny Depp is definately one of the best actors in Hollywood right now.
I just fear Disney will be making a big mistake to do another Pirates movie… I mean where can you leave off, honestly, with that last one? The third one was soooooooo on going and long… liked it but didn’t love it. I just don’t think they should make another film.
Even though I’ll def see it when it comes out hahaha
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
You would think they could take some schlub and run him through a nip/tuck factory to make him look exactly like Jack Sparrow for a little less than 55 million…
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I think Jack Nicholson got $60 mill for Batman. Where does all this money sit? Can someone tell me? In accounts? Stocks? I am so confused….He should at least give some back to the community,ec..
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
$55 million is a STEAL for the hardworking, high caliber work of Sir Depp. He’s the best actor of my generation–well, him and DiCaprio.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
At World’s End was fantastic!
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
$700 billion dollar bailout…..
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:54 pm
$700 billion dollar bailout…INDEED. I don’t think any actor is worth 55 million dollars.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I’d like to think Johnny Depp isn’t a money boy…it appears maybe he is. The franchise is a huge special effect with ZERO story as the series moved forward. Depp’s still cool,but it was nice that he retired as Jack Sparrow and now he’s back?
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
money well spent. POTC is nothing without johnny depp. and i read that knightly and bloom aren’t even written into this 4th installment. which, in my opinion, is great. i think both their characters have run their course.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Johnny Depp’s hotness is priceless.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Call me crazy, but the thought makes me ill! Can you imagine the good that could be done in the world with $55 million?!? It’s a shame.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Hell yes! Definately money well spent. Johnny Depp has been around for decades making fantastic movies and honing his gift as an actor and FINALLY he gets the recognition and paycheck he deserves!
BTW, for Laura, I just wanted to say that a lot of good is being done with the money that Mr. Depp gets paid.
He contributes to the Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles as well as other causes. ;)
October 4th, 2008 at 2:55 am
I think he deserves it. All his movies are really good and I feel its the least they can do to give him the recognition he deserves. I cant believe he still hasnt won an oscar. There are many other actors that werent as good as him but were making more money.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Depp actually gives a lot of money to charity, so that seems fine to me. He doesn’t hoard it and he is definitely extremely talented, therefore if anyone deserves a giant paycheck its him.
$55m is nothing compared to the $70m that Tom Cruise got for Mission Impossible, and $75m for the sequal (not sure about MI3). He also got the same sort of amount with War of the Worlds, getting a percentage of profits rather than a fixed sum.
Regardless, a 4th film? That’ll be awesome! I love the PoTC films :D
October 4th, 2008 at 7:16 am
He’s worth that and more. He’s my fave Actor.
Kiera’s and Orlando’s story is done so they shouldn’t be in another Pirate’s movie. However, I wouldn’t see another POTC movie w/o Jack Sparrow.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:11 am
THAT IS JUST CRAZY!!
I love Pirates but $55 million just for one movie!
How do you even spend all that money! I hope he does some good with it.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I wish you would have mentioned his movie DARK SHADOWS where he will play Barnabas Collins! :( Oh well. I think Johnny is worth it. He is the BEST male actor of our time. ALL of his characters seem like different people to me! COMPLETLEY!
October 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
OMG I love Dark Shadows!! My mom used to watch the original version and I was a fan of the remake … a movie version will rule.
October 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Damn. I don’t even have $55 right now..