But, as former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told The Daily Beast, Heard does have some time to come up with the funds to pay her ex-husband she has accused of domestic violence. In Virginia, Depp has up to 30 years to collect his judgment. He added that both sides are entitled to ask for financials if either actor claims they don’t have the funds to pay the judgments.
“I don’t think she can pay. She kept the $7 million because she had to pay for legal fees,” Rahmani added. “The question is whether Johnny Depp is really going to enforce the judgment against his ex-wife. Is he really going to take her wages? She may have to raise her bank accounts in order to do so.”
But while the former federal prosecutor noted that Depp also said on the stand he lost millions in potential income as a result of his ongoing battle with Heard, the actor has made it clear this trial was about “the truth”—and may mean that he will forfeit the judgment against his ex-wife.
“This whole trial is about more than money,” Rahmani maintained. “It’s about vindication and about setting the facts straight.”