Johnny Depp signs biggest fragrance deal ever with Dior for $20 million

Actor signed the largest men's contract ever inked

Dior, the renowned French luxury fashion house and cosmetics giant has reaffirmed its commitment to Johnny Depp, despite the actor's tumultuous legal battles. In a groundbreaking move, the company has signed Depp to an unprecedented three-year deal, making it the largest men's fragrance contract ever recorded.

According to Variety, insiders estimate the agreement to be worth over $20 million, surpassing the $12 million deal secured by Robert Pattinson as the face of Dior Homme and Brad Pitt's $7 million contract for promoting Chanel No 5. Industry sources also claimed that most A-list celebrities with fragrance deals typically earn between $2 million and $4 million annually.

Since 2015, Depp has been the face of Dior Sauvage, and the brand faced mounting pressure to sever ties with him during his highly publicised legal dispute with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. During the legal battle, Dior decided to stick by the Pirates of the Caribbean actor.

The brand experienced a surge in sales after Depp’s win in the defamation case, with Bernard Arnault, CEO of Dior's parent company LVMH, attributing the cologne's remarkable success to the "image of Johnny Depp."

In the notable 2022 trial held in Virginia, a seven-member jury ruled in favour of Depp, finding Heard guilty of defamation and awarding the actor $10 million in compensatory damages and an additional $5 million in punitive damages. This verdict effectively undermined Heard's 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, where she claimed to be a survivor of domestic abuse.

Depp's new Dior deal aligns perfectly with his prominent presence at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. He will grace the world premiere of Maïwenn's historical drama Jeanne du Barry on May 16, portraying the character of King Louis XV. Additionally, Depp is scheduled to attend a special Dior dinner on May 17 before heading to London for a Jeff Beck tribute, where he will perform alongside Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart.

Furthermore, the Cannes market will witness the commencement of sales for Depp's directorial venture in 25 years, titled Modi. The film centres around the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, with Riccardo Scamarcio playing the lead role and also featuring Al Pacino in the cast.

This lucrative deal with Dior, skillfully negotiated by Depp's representatives at Range Media, may pave the way for the actor's reentry into major studio films. Prior to the Virginia verdict, major studios had been reluctant to collaborate with Depp, resulting in significant financial losses for the actor.

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