Johnny Depp’s houses: from a Kentucky horse farm to his own French village
Two of Johnny Depp’s numerous opulent mansions were on the verge of foreclosure, but he was able to save them just in time by taking out a $10 million (£7.7 million) home loan, according to DailyMail.com.After being given the mortgage on his magnificent West Hollywood castle by City National Bank, dubbed the “bank to the stars,” Depp was able to keep the properties. The Pirates of the Caribbean star was given permission to repay the debt in March 2022, following reports that he had squandered much of his estimated $650 million (£504 million) fortune on legal battles with actress Amber Heard, his ex-wife. Let’s explore further by clicking or scrolling through.
Foreclosure woes
In a quiet neighborhood of West Hollywood, Depp owns at least two houses. In 2016, the smaller but no less spectacular house adjacent to his castle was put up for foreclosure because Depp owed $4.3 million (£3.3 million) on it. The New York Post reports that after the debt was settled, records now indicate that the contentious celebrity is the rightful owner of the entire property title.
Short on cash?
Meanwhile, Depp’s massive gothic-style castle failed for $5 million (£3.8 million) in 2018. Heard’s claims that Depp was physically and verbally violent throughout their relationship have damaged Depp’s reputation. After a settlement was made and Depp refuted the allegations, two further defamation actions were filed, revealing shocking information about the couple’s turbulent past. The actor, 60, saw a sharp decline in his earning potential as a result.
Troubled times
In a role befitting his fantastical home, Depp had twice played Gellert Grindelwald in the lucrative Fantastic Beasts film franchise before he was reportedly “asked to resign,” after he lost a UK libel case over an article that claimed he had abused Heard. During the second libel trial, this time brought by Depp against Heard, Depp claimed he had also been dropped from the lucrative Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, for which he would have received a $22.5 million (£17.5m) fee. After allegedly losing out on that much cash, it’s hardly surprising the star’s home is looking a little tatty.
Overgrown grounds
The performer bought the castle back in 1995 for just shy of $2.2 million (£1.7m), which would be about $4.3 million or £3.3 million today. The 7,430-square-foot home has eight bedrooms, as well as a swimming pool and pond. However, the compound is now so overgrown, it’s almost impossible to see the landscaped grounds.
Abandoned mansion
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The Sleepy Hollow actor has largely abandoned his spooky-looking home and, as a result, it’s looking decidedly unloved. Instead of spending his downtime at his extravagant WeHo home, Depp’s been relaxing at his home in the Bahamas, according to Chris White for DailyMail.com.
Wear and tear
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This strange addition to the property appears to be a miniature castle, which would look more at home on a Pirates of the Caribbean set than here at the foot of the Hollywood Hills. The canvas awnings covering two of the crenelated towers appear to have ripped, no doubt worn and torn over time by the extremes in weather that Los Angeles can experience. The whimsical addition may have been added for Depp’s two children, Lily-Rose and Jack, when they were much younger.
His own personal kingdom
According to rumors, Depp may possess three more nearby residences. Even though Depp’s neighbors in West Hollywood seldom ever see him, they are apparently bothered by the tour buses carrying admirers that come up the small street.One local told The New York Post, “We were getting these vans with open tops and the people are talking, and cheering and yelling, and it’s been annoying.”
Bad memories
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The sprawling property is very close to the Sunset strip, where Depp used to own the notorious Viper Room club, at which actor River Phoenix died in 1993. As reported by The New York Post, the gothic home’s kitchen was the scene of an outburst by Depp in which he swore as he kicked, banged and slammed kitchen cabinets. Amber Heard secretly filmed the episode and the recording was used as evidence in the defamation trial against her.
The glory days
When we look back at this photo taken in August 1996, just a year after Depp bought the Normandy castle replica, we can see how bad the deterioration has become. The building itself seemed to be in pristine condition, with nearly manicured grounds and a clean, azure-blue pool sparkling among the trees.
Eccentric owners
Prior to Depp picking up the property, the imposing home had a number of illustrious inhabitants, including a 1940s burlesque dancer and Noah Dietrich, right-hand man of Howard Hughes, the eccentric business mogul, pilot and 1950s film producer. In the 1980s, the castle was owned by flamboyant divorce lawyer Marvin Mitchelson (pictured here in 1989 with his wife Marcella), whose arrest for felony tax fraud, 30-month prison sentence and subsequent bankruptcy enabled Depp to buy it in 1995.
A storybook history
The fabled house has an incredible history, kicking off in 1932 when a Mississippi heiress hired 100 workers and built herself a three-storey castle. As the Great Depression dragged on, Hersee Moody Carson spent $500,000 ($11.1m / £8.5m today) on the building that would see her dubbed the “fairy lady.” The original home, then known as Mount Kalmia, contained 16 rooms, including nine bathrooms, 125 stained and leaded glass windows and a chimney (despite the fact there was no fireplace).
Extravagant décor
Carson, who was a generous philanthropist, decorated her castle extravagantly, with wallpaper hand-painted with pastel-coloured birds, a conservatory ceiling painted the way the sky looked when she was born and a jungle-themed bathroom with an Indian canoe-shaped tub. She also built an underground conveyor belt that carried deliveries from the street to the kitchen, something Depp reportedly considered reinstalling. The eccentric millionairess died in 1972, aged 93.
The home Depp missed out on
For a time it was also believed the rocker had bought a home in the picturesque Somerset village of Kingston St. Mary. However, according to DailyMail.com, it was actually Hadspen House, which was later transformed into The Newt in Somerset hotel (pictured) that Johnny Depp was interested in. He was outbid in 2013 by South African-born tycoon Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos, a former editor of Elle Decoration South Africa. He was said to have been fascinated by the county’s ancient history and ley-lines.
A multi-talented man
The actor and musician is currently touring Europe with his band, Hollywood Vampires. In July, he caused ripples in Swansea, Wales when he visited the birthplace of Dylan Thomas. The owners of the humble cottage said Depp was “warm and generous with his enthusiasm” for the Under Milk Wood writer and “dumbfounded” to walk where he had once lived. Depp was in the Welsh city for a gig. The hard rock group was founded in 2012 by Depp, alongside Alice Cooper and Aerosmith lead guitarist, Joe Perry. Interestingly, Depp’s castle home was once (falsely) rumoured to have been the home of Dracula actor Bela Lugosi. Perhaps this inspired the name of his band?
What’s next for Amber Heard?
According to reports, the actor’s ex-wife Amber Heard and their newborn daughter Oonagh, who was born in 2021, are currently residing on the Spanish island of Mallorca. She sold her remote property in Yucca Valley, California in 2022, and has stated that she moved to the idyll to get away from the spotlight. The three-bedroom house, which the Rum Diaries actress purchased in 2019 for $570,000 (£442k), brought in an estimated $1 million (£775k). Despite an intense push to get Heard removed from the film by ardent fans of Johnny Depp, Heard is scheduled to reprise her role as Mera in Aquaman 2. Heard is presently at odds with her insurance provider, whom she feels should foot the $1 million (£775k) compensation she owes her ex-husband following their unsuccessful defamation trial. The actress has requested that a judge decide the case, but the judge has not yet made a decision. Keep an eye here…
Johnny Depp’s private Bahamas island
Meanwhile, when not touring with his band, Depp has been finding refuge on his 45-acre three-island atoll in the Bahamas. Known as Little Halls Pond Cay (Depp affectionately refers to it as ‘F*** Off Island’), it has six different beaches and was bought by the actor for almost $5.4 million (£4.2m).
The Kentucky horse farm
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The movie mogul has said in the past that he has “various houses in various places and they all mean something special. I don’t have them just to say I own them, I have them for use and because they are a bit special.” So it’s not a surprise that the father-of-two owns an array of beautiful homes. Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky and, despite moving around frequently in his childhood, he clearly holds a soft spot for his birthplace. Set on the outskirts of Lexington, the Kentucky native purchased this gorgeous horse farm in 1995 for a modest $950,000 (£737k).
So good he bought it twice!
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He sold the Bluegrass home in 2001 for $1 million (£775k) before purchasing it again for $2 million (£1.5m) in 2005 as a gift for his beloved mother, Sue Palmer. The house is nicknamed Betty Sue’s Family Farm in her honour and she lived here until her death in 2016.
An amazing equestrian estate
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The 41-acre estate houses a seven-bedroom home, four-car garage, guesthouse, pool and three barns. Originally, the farm was put up for auction in 2017, but the top offer of $1.4 million (£1.1m) was refused. Local press reported its worth as $2.3 million (£1.8m) but it only sold for $1.35 million (£1m) – nearly half its cash value – in early 2020.
Johnny Depp’s penthouse portfolio
The $50 million (£38.8m) trial in which Johnny Depp went to war with ex-wife Amber Heard brought one aspect of the actor’s real estate collection firmly into the spotlight. During court proceedings, it emerged that a number of people in the couple’s entourage at the time were all living for free in Depp’s collection of five penthouses in the truly incredible Art Deco-style Eastern Columbia Building in trendy downtown Los Angeles.
High-end listing
Floorplans of the buildings were provided as evidence at the Virginia courts, and it was also the scene of some of the purported attacks described in witness accounts. This amazing apartment made headlines before it became well-known when upscale realtorsAfter the Agency won the contract to sell this A-list property, multiple house tours were posted on YouTube.
Johnny’s style
The apartments are shown in the video just as Johnny had them, replete with his vast library of books, fine art, and furniture. Floorplans and testimony from witnesses throughout the trial indicate that Johnny Depp and Amber Heard lived with a number of acquaintances and family members. Isaac Baruch, Depp’s longtime friend and neighbor, lived next door to the ex-couple. A number of pals occupied the other penthouses, while Heard’s sister Whitney resided in one of the other ones.
Personal artwork
One of the five apartments was used as a permanent guest suite, and three of the flats had entrances connecting them. This eccentric area in the main house shows off Depp’s passion for art. He adorned nearly all of the complex’s walls with unique works, such as this wall mural created by a street artist from Brazil. A red-clad pirate figure on a natural canvas alludes slyly to his most well-known performance.
A beautiful kitchen
Like every part of the penthouse complex, the décor is luxurious but lived in and filled with vintage touches and decorative embellishment. Purple, green and dark wood may not be everyone’s first choice for a kitchen colour scheme, but it really works in this beautiful bespoke space.
Views across LA
The building’s distinctive architecture and green clock face make the Eastern Columbia building a Los Angeles landmark. Two of the penthouses have direct access to a private roof garden where residents can swim and sunbathe on the incredible sky deck with a beautiful swimming pool and lounging cabanas, spa area, outdoor fireplace and a fully-equipped fitness studio.
Securing a sale
The Partner’s Trust
Sometime between 2007 and 2008, Depp acquired five of these luxury urban dwellings for a total of $7.2 million (£5.6m). As his relationship with Heard ended acrimoniously, Depp decided to sell them for a clean start and originally listed them together for $12.8 million (£9.9m). The apartments had never been combined, so he was able to sell them separately when a quick sale proved elusive for the property parcel. It turned out to be a smart business decision, as he made a profit of $2 million (£1.5m) in the resale, selling the final apartment (pictured) in November 2017.
Johnny’s French village
Depp was married to French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis for a long time before he married Amber. Together, they had Lily-Rose Depp, who would go on to become an actress and model. Next year, their son Jack would follow. In 2001, he also purchased what may have been his most lavish real estate purchase: a stunning old French village full of eccentric structures and services. Situated in the idyllic Côte d’Azur region, the 19th-century Provençal village is only 17 miles away from the glitzy Saint-Tropez, a popular destination for celebrities.
A restoration project
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The 15-hectare hamlet was completed dilapidated when Depp acquired it. He spent $14 million (£10.8m) on restorations which included the preservation of the original stone and wood beam structures throughout all the buildings – this alone cost $10 million (£7.7m)!
Including a church!
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Further renovations carried out by the three-time Academy Award nominee have included transforming the village’s former place of worship (pictured) into one of six on-site guest homes; the Catholic confessional is now a wardrobe. With beautiful stonework and soaring ceilings, who wouldn’t want to live in a converted church?
The village eatery
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Depp, who rose to fame as an 80s teen heartthrob in the television series 21 Jump Street, also invested in making over the exterior of the buildings: there is a real feeling that you are in the heart of a functional French village. For example, the town square is utterly charming and houses a private restaurant called Chez Marceline. There’s no telling who has dined here – perhaps famous co-stars like Helena Bonham-Carter or Orlando Bloom?
Back on the market?
According to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com, the village was put up for sale in both 2015 and 2016 but failed to attract a buyer. During this period, its real estate value varied from $27 million (£20.9m) to $63 million (£48.9m). The last time it was listed in 2021, it was rumoured to have an asking price of $55.5 million (£43m).
Gorgeous guesthouses
The village’s lodging is as exquisite and homey as one could anticipate. With a combined 12,900 square feet of living area, 15 bedrooms, and 14 bathrooms, there are two homes: the main house and the guest house. There are 300-year-old oaks, olive trees, and vineyards spread out around the property. Some of Depp’s belongings, including his books, music, and artwork, were listed in earlier listings.
From a wine cellar to a skate park
Naturally, owning a village also means that there are lots of social amenities.Together with the several apartments, there’s a full gym, a covered wagon with a kitchen and bathroom, two swimming pools, a skate park he created for his son, and a wine cellar with a Pirates of the Caribbean motif (shown in the picture).
Sunny Saint-Tropez
The village’s affluent setting—Saint-Tropez is a popular destination for the world’s elite to congregate—would have been a big draw. You might run into celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, or Depp’s ex-girlfriend Kate Moss strolling around the streets adorned with palm trees. Additionally, the stunning Mediterranean coastline is within a short distance away.
Depp’s luxury yacht
Apart from this amazing property, which may come as no surprise to Captain Jack Sparrow, Depp also possessed a 150-foot opulent vessel called Villajoliroja, which was named from the initial two letters of Vanessa, Johnny, Lily-Rose, and Jack. The monthly maintenance for this vessel was allegedly $350,000 (£271k). The yacht, which was purchased by J.K. Rowling, the author of the Fantastic Beasts series, and the father of Gellert Grindelwald, in 2016, was persuaded to be sold by his accountant.
What’s next for Johnny Depp?
It appears that the former Hollywood hottie is regaining his footing in his career after a rough few years. At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Johnny Depp’s portrayal of French king Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry received a seven-minute standing ovation. This was his first significant film role since the legal disputes with Heard. Although it seemed improbable at first, producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently stated he would “love” to see him in the next Pirates of the Caribbean sequel. “He’s a friend, a terrific actor and it’s unfortunate that personal lives creep into everything we do.” Thus, it might not be too long till we see Depp swashbuckle his way back into our screens while sporting his signature eyeliner.