Johnny Depp made just a fraction of his usual salary for his comeback role as Ebenezer Scrooge.
The actor, 63, plays the title role in the upcoming movie “Ebenezer” — the latest take on Charles Dickens’ classic novella “A Christmas Carol” — and was paid $5 million, Variety reported Tuesday.
This is a massive pay cut from his last studio role in 2018’s “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” for which he was paid $16 million — despite filming only one scene before Warner Bros. cut ties with him after he lost a libel case against The Sun for referring to him as “a wife-beater.”
Johnny Depp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.” He earned $5 million for the comeback role, Variety reported Tuesday. ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Depp’s highest-paying role was for playing Captain Jack Sparrow in 2017’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” for which he reportedly made a whopping $90 million due to backend profits.
The actor’s huge salaries have made headlines over the years, including when he was reportedly paid $50 million for appearing just a few minutes on screen in 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
Forbes named Depp as Hollywood’s most overpaid actor in 2015 and 2016, comparing his pay with box office return. For example, Alice’s 2016 sequel, “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” bombed at theaters, and according to the outlet, he returned just $2.80 for every $1 he was paid.
Depp took a major pay cut for the film compared to previous studio roles, including 2018’s “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” for which he reportedly made $16 million. ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
In 2011, Depp said he was overpaid for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, though noted he would accept it for his two kids with ex Vanessa Paradis — daughter Lily-Rose, 27, and son Jack, 24.
“Basically, if they’re going to pay me the stupid money right now, I’m going to take it,” he told Vanity Fair in 2011.
“I have to. I mean, it’s not for me. Do you know what I mean?” he continued. “At this point, it’s for my kids. It’s ridiculous, yeah, yeah. But ultimately is it for me? No. No. It’s for the kids.”
Depp arrives at the “Ebenezer” premiere in London on Nov. 9. The movie marks his first major release since his 2022 defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
Depp won the case and was awarded $1 million. He’s seen here attending the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in December 2025. Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival
In August, “Pirates of the Caribbean” producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Deadline he was in talks with Depp to reprise his iconic role for the forthcoming film in the franchise.
“We’re talking with Johnny, we’re working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done,” he told the outlet at D23.
Additional insiders told the outlet that Depp would only return as a side character in the sixth movie in the blockbuster franchise, which will instead focus on actress Margot Robbie’s protagonist.
The actor attends the Christian Dior show during Paris Fashion Week in October 2025. He previously made $90 million for 2017’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” Getty Images for Dior
Depp speaks during a presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 16, 2026. He later admitted he was overpaid for his “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Meanwhile, Depp’s “Ebenezer” role marks his first major film since winning his 2022 defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard, whom he was married to from 2015 to 2017.
Depp had sued the “Aquaman” actress for alluding to him being abusive towards her in a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post. He was awarded $1 million.
“Ebenezer” hits theaters on Nov. 13. It also stars Rupert Grint, Daisy Ridley, Ian McKellen and Sam Claflin.