Johnny Depp is back and how. The actor won the highly-publicised defamation lawsuit against his former wife Amber Heard last year. And now the French luxury cosmetic brand Dior has extended its partnership with the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star for a record-breaking deal of more than $20 million. Depp has been the face of Dior Sauvage fragrance for men since 2015. The actor recently signed a three-year extension with the brand for the eye-popping amount.

Depp’s Legal Battle and Loss of Deals

During the legal battle with Heard, Depp lost deals with various franchise behemoths, including Disney’s 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and the 'Fantastic Beasts.' The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' deal that Depp lost was reportedly worth $22.5 million. However, Dior stood by him through the trial, and after he emerged victorious in the legal battle, Dior signed him for a seven-figure salary.

Depp's Connection with Dior

It is interesting to note that Dior stopped airing campaigns involving Depp during his court battle, but resumed after his victory. In August 2022, it was reported by TMZ  that Depp had signed a new contract with the LVMH-owned perfume brand. Many Dior officers and their photographer Greg Williams attended Depp and Jeff Beck's rock live shows in Paris in August.The assembly cemented the deal, and they had more than one photoshoots with Depp that assumingly for the next Dior campaigns.

In a 2021 post, Dior defined Depp as “Johnny Depp, uncompromising, profound, authentic.He embodies the dense magic of this new ultra-effective Elixir.Never has he been so mesmerizing, so rock’n’roll.New SAUVAGE ELIXIR” of their Instagram post.

Success of Dior Sauvage

During a financial presentation in January, Bernard Arnault, CEO of Dior’s parent company LVMH, said that Dior Sauvage achieved “remarkable success in fragrance sales driven by the image of Johnny Depp” and the fragrance exhibited strong growth, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Fan Reactions

While his fans are celebrating the deal, those supporting Amber Heard have criticized Dior's decision and declared that they won't be buying the products anymore.

Depp's legal battles and personal challenges over the past few years have undoubtedly affected his career. However, his fans' unwavering support, along with Dior's endorsement, has given him a new lease of life. It will be interesting to see how Depp's career shapes up in the coming years.