Amber Heard has made headlines in recent years more for her personal relationships and legal battles than for her acting career. Though still young in Hollywood years, Heard has already experienced exhilarating highs and depressing lows in both her professional and personal life.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Amber Laura Heard was born in Austin, Texas in 1986. She had a religious upbringing and was raised a Catholic. As a teenager, Heard’s curiosity and rebellious nature often got her into trouble. At the age of 17, she decided to pursue a career in Hollywood and dropped out of high school.
Heard started out with minor roles in TV shows such as Jack & Bobby, The O.C., and Hidden Palms. Her first film appearance was in the sports drama Friday Night Lights in 2004. Her breakthrough came in 2008 when she landed the lead role opposite James Franco in the action film Never Back Down. More roles started coming her way after her performance was well-received.
Rise to Fame
In the early 2010s, Heard’s fame rose significantly with roles in movies like The Rum Diary, Drive Angry, and Machete Kills. She also appeared in movies such as The Danish Girl and Magic Mike XXL. Her net worth steadily grew as she became a bankable actress in Hollywood.
Amber Heard’s Net Worth
Heard has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million. She earns a comfortable living from acting while not at the top of the highest-paid actresses list. Most of her wealth has come from film salaries over her decade-plus-long career.
Marriage and Divorce from Johnny Depp
Amber Heard met Johnny Depp in 2009 on the sets of The Rum Diary. Sparks flew between the two and they started dating soon after. After four years together, they got married in February 2015.
On May 23, 2016, just 15 months into their marriage, Heard filed for divorce from Depp. She also filed a restraining order against Depp, accusing him of domestic abuse. Photos of Heard’s alleged injuries from Depp’s assaults surfaced online.
The news shocked Depp’s fans and led to an intense legal battle between the former partners. The divorce was finalized in January 2017 with Heard receiving a $7 million settlement. She also dismissed the restraining order against Depp.
The Lawsuit and Trial
In 2018, Heard wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post about being a victim of domestic violence. Though Depp wasn’t named, he recognized the veiled reference as being about him.
In March 2019, Depp filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard for allegedly false domestic abuse claims. According to Depp’s legal team, it was Heard who was physically abusive in their relationship.
The highly publicized and controversial trial finally began on April 11, 2022, in Fairfax County, Virginia. Both sides presented evidence and testimonies supporting their claims of abuse against the other.
On June 1, the jury announced its verdict – Heard was found liable for defaming Depp. She was ordered to pay $10.35 million in damages to him. Heard plans to appeal the verdict.
Life after the Trial
Amber Heard has kept a low profile since the widely-covered defamation trial concluded. She maintains she is unable to pay the million-dollar damages awarded to Depp.
Heard resides in California with her baby daughter Oonagh Paige. She gave birth to her via surrogate in 2021. The actress also has several film projects underway.
Despite her troubles, Amber Heard still has a respectable net worth thanks to her acting. However, her reputation has certainly taken a hit due to all the controversies. It remains to be seen if she can recover and rebuild her career after all the turmoil.
