Johnny Depp's ex-business managers released emails to prove the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star knew his finances were a wreck — including one in which Depp offered to sell what's left of "some semblance of a soul" to fix the money mess.
The emails, first reported by Deadline, come in an increasingly bitter legal fight that started in January, when Depp alleged brothers Joel and Rob Mandel of The Management Group cost him $40 million and caused the foreclosure of his Los Angeles home.
The Mandels countersued in February, ticking off Depp's over-the-top spending, including on a collection of islands in the Bahamas, a 45-acre French village and a $30,000-a-month wine habit, Market Watch reported at the time.
The emails released this week include one from Joel Mandel urging Depp in 2009 to "look realistically at income and expenses" and "take it easy on holiday spending," Deadline reported.
Depp replied:
"What else can i do??? you want me to seek some art??? i will. you want me to sell seomthing else??? sure… what??? boat is going to be chartered at new years and sonly will then charter it for the TOURIST shoot in venice. other than that, i got bikes, cars, property, books, paintings and some semblance of a soul left, where would you like me to start???"
The filing by lawyers for TMG in Los Angeles Superior Court includes 11 exhibits which they assert show Depp and his inner circle were fully aware of the financial straits of one of the world's biggest movie stars, Deadline reported.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Depp's lawyer Adam Waldman dismisses the emails.
"The Mandels present emails from a trio of advisors to whom they paid over $100 million of Mr. Depp's earnings without any contracts (in addition to the tens of millions they paid themselves)," a statement declares, THR reported.