Johnny Depp Selling Expensive Paintings During Divorce Drama

The drama surrounding the high-profile celebrity divorce between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is heating up. It was recently announced that Depp will be auctioning off a number of expensive pieces of art in advance of his pending divorce.

Given the strange timing of the artwork sale, some people have speculated that the move is intended to generate some quick cash for the actor while he goes through the potentially costly divorce proceedings.

Depp, a Hollywood superstar known for starring in blockbuster movie franchises like The Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice in Wonderland, is selling a collection of paintings by famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. A press release by Christie’s auction house estimates the value of the paintings – there are a total of nine listed for sale – to be several million dollars. Depp reportedly obtained the Basquiat paintings during the past 25 years.

In the auction announcement, Christie’s uses flowery language to describe the paintings, stating that “Nothing can replace the warmth and immediacy of Basquiat’s poetry, or the absolute questions and truths that he delivered.”

There are certainly questions about the “truth” surrounding the Depp-Heard divorce. The couple was married for just 15 months before Heard filed for divorce and requested a restraining order against Depp.

A judge granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) in the case because Heard alleged that Depp was physically abusive and struck her with a cell phone during a heated argument just one day prior to her filing for divorce. Meanwhile, Depp has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and is alleging that Heard made the domestic violence allegations in order to secure a more favorable divorce settlement.

While the couple is reportedly working on a settlement, the divorce certainly does not appear amicable.

Ultimately, the divorce could be very costly for Depp, who has a reported net worth of $450 million, according to Forbes. Complicating matters for Depp is the fact that the couple reportedly did not have a prenuptial agreement, meaning that he could be on the hook for spousal support, as well as an equitable division of property and assets.

For additional information, read the Yahoo.com article, “Johnny Depp Auctioning His Multi-Million Dollar Jean-Michel Basquiat Art Collection Amidst Divorce.”

If you are thinking about filing for divorce, or if you are already involved in the divorce process, you need to talk to a qualified family law and divorce lawyer. The skilled, knowledgeable family law and divorce attorneys at Graziano & Flynn, P.C. have decades of combined experience helping people to navigate the New Jersey divorce courts. Contact us anytime to schedule a free consultation about your case.