Depp hands wife £5m divorce payout ... and she gives it to charity
AMBER Heard has been handed a £5million share of Johnny Depp’s fortune – but is giving it away to charity.
The pair finally ended their bitter divorce battle yesterday when lawyers for the warring couple revealed they had agreed on a settlement.
Miss Heard’s decision to give the sum away comes after she had been portrayed as a gold-digger intent on tarnishing Depp’s image and plundering his estimated £300million fortune.
The settlement came hours before a judge was due to rule on a permanent restraining order against Depp, 53, who had been accused of using violence against his estranged wife.
In a joint statement the couple described their 15-month marriage as ‘volatile’ at times but said neither intended to cause the other harm.
The joint announcement, released exclusively to MailOnline, read: ‘Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has lied nor made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm. Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future. Amber will be donating financial proceeds from the divorce to a charity.’
Although the amount handed to Miss Heard has not been revealed she is estimated to have walked away with about $7million (£5.4million). Some reports mentioned a figure of almost £8million.
The settlement resolves the claims of domestic violence made by Miss Heard, 30. It is understood the couple, who met while making 2011 film The Rum Diary, did not sign a pre-nuptial agreement.
Sources claim the tipping point that prompted them to resolve the matter were allegations the Pirates of the Caribbean star had scrawled a message on a mirror in paint and his own blood accusing Miss Heard of having an affair with actor Billy Bob Thornton.
Thornton, 61, was forced to deny the allegations, adding they were ‘Johnny’s fantasy’.
He told US website TMZ he had never socialised with Miss Heard on the set of their thriller London Fields beyond a cast dinner, and mainly mingled with members of the crew.
The Armageddon actor added that he did not even have a friendship with the actress. A source told MailOnline: ‘Stories about the messages in blood were the tipping point for Johnny, he was devastated. The facts that have come out in the past few days have left him distraught, he just wanted it all over with.’
Miss Heard filed for divorce in May and later appeared in court with bruises on her face and accused Depp of attacking her with an iPhone. She was granted a temporary restraining order.
‘It was intensely passionate’