Johnny Depp deemed 2015's most overpaid actor by Forbes

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A look back at Johnny Depp’s lengthy career, from his early days on TV, through multiple “Pirates of the Caribbean” films and Tim Burton collaborations, to recent box office lows. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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Depp was born in Owensboro, Ky., and his family moved several times before settling in Miramar, Fla. Pictured: Depp at a press conference in Toledo, Spain, on Sept. 14, 1998. (Dominique Faget / AFP / Getty Images)

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Depp, left, and his “Ed Wood” co-star Martin Landau attend the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, where the film played in competition (Gerard Fouet / AFP / Getty Images)

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In 1997, Depp directed his first film, “The Brave,” co-starring Marlon Brando. Depp, with Iggy Pop, left, who composed the music for the film, unveiled it at the 50th Cannes festival. Despite its pedigree, “The Brave” has never been released in the U.S. (Patrick Hertzog / AFP / Getty Images)

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Depp, center, has been romantically linked to several celebrities through the years, including model Kate Moss, seen at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival screening of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Benicio Del Toro is on the right. (Patrick Hertzog / AFP / Getty Images)

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Depp poses with “The Ninth Gate” director Roman Polanski, left, during a press conference in Toledo, Spain, on Sept. 14, 1998. (Dominique Faget / AFP / Getty Images)

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Depp accepts his award for favorite actor in a horror film for his role in “Sleepy Hollow” at the Blockbuster Awards on May 9, 2000. (Lucy Nicholson / AFP / Getty Images)

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Depp reunited with his “Gilbert Grape” director Lasse Hallström for the 2000 romance “Chocolat,” co-starring Juliette Binoche, who was nominated for a lead actress Oscar for the film.

(Miramax International / AFP)

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Depp and Marilyn Manson, right, at the premiere of Depp’s film “From Hell” on Oct. 17, 2001. The two later collaborated on a song. (Lucy Nicholson / AFP/Getty Images)

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His “Pirates of the Caribbean” role made Depp a bonafide superstar. Here, he signs an autograph for a fan at the film’s premiere at Disneyland on June 28, 2003. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

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Along with Sean Penn, John Malkovich and Mick Hucknall, Depp co-owned a French restaurant called Man Ray in Paris. Shown: Depp and Penn, right, talk after the Critic’s Choice Awards on Jan. 10, 2004. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Depp with his mother, Betty Sue Palmer, left, and then-girlfriend Vanessa Paradis at the 76th Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 29, 2004. (Vince Bucci / Getty Images)

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Depp played a horror author suffering from writer’s block in the 2004 thriller “Secret Window,” based on a story by Stephen King.

(Jonathan Wenk / Revolution Studios)

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Depp presented “Million Dollar Baby” star Hilary Swank with the award for lead actress at the 2005 SAG Awards. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Depp placed his hand and footprints at L.A.’s famed Mann’s Chinese Theatre in a ceremony honoring him on Sept. 16, 2005. (Vince Bucci / Getty Images)

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Depp has two children with French actress Vanessa Paradis. The couple met on the set of “The Ninth Gate” in 1998 and split in 2012. They’re pictured together at the 77th Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2005. (Beatrice de Gea / Los Angeles Times)

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Depp reprised his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in two “Pirates” sequels, which were filmed simultaneously. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” was released in 2006. It became the franchise’s biggest box office hit, grossing $423 million domestically. (Peter Mountain / AP)

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Depp accepted the award for choice movie actor in a drama/action adventure film at the 8th Annual Teen Choice Awards on Aug. 20, 2006. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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In 2006, London’s Madame Tussauds unveiled a waxwork model of Depp’s “Pirates of The Caribbean” character, Captain Jack Sparrow, as part of an interactive attraction. (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images)

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Depp won the best performance award for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards.

(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Depp, left, and “Arizona Dream” director Emir Kusturica pose with a life-sized bust of Depp that was unveiled as part of the Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival in Serbia on Jan. 13, 2009.

(Milos Cvetkovic / AFP / Getty Images)

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Depp, left, also jammed with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys during the 2012 MTV Movie Awards. Depp has also performed with Oasis, Marilyn Manson and the Pogues’ Shane MacGowan. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Depp accepts the MTV Generation Award at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, right, and Joe Perry presented the award. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Depp joined Tom Cruise, right, at a ceremony honoring “Pirates of the Caribbean” producer Jerry Bruckheimer, left, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 24, 2013.

(Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)

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Depp started dating his “Rum Diary” co-star Amber Heard in 2012. They were engaged in 2013. Pictured: The couple arrive at Tokyo International Airport on Jan. 26, 2015, for the Japanese premiere of “Mortdecai.” (Yoshikazu Tsuno / AFP / Getty Images)

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As of 2015, Depp and Tim Burton, right, have collaborated on eight films together. The pair are pictured at the 64th Venice Film Festival on Sept. 5, 2007, where Burton received the Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement Award.

(Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

By Nardine SaadStaff Writer

Dec. 23, 2015 6 AM PT

Johnny Depp’s box office earning power isn’t quite what it used to be — but that isn’t reflected in his paycheck. Forbes has named the “Mortdecai” star 2015’s most overpaid actor.

Depp, who can command an eight-figure salary on his projects, unseated Adam Sandler, the holder of the nefarious title for the past two years. This year, the “Happy Gilmore” alum was deemed ineligible because of his deal with Netflix and because “Pixels” didn’t make the cut-off. Still, Sandler spent five consecutive years on the list.

Though the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star earned awards buzz for his portrayal of gangster Whitey Bulger in “Black Mass,” the three-time Oscar nominee failed to be a return on studios’ investment, earning only $1.20 for every $1 he was paid for his films, the financial magazine estimated. That number was contrasted with “The Avengers” actor Chris Evans’ earning power; the franchise star boasted $181.80 return for every $1 paid and was deemed Hollywood’s Best Actor For The Buck.

The 52-year-old character actor, ranked No. 2 on the list last year, is among a crop of male leads “who charge top dollar but don’t always deliver at the ticketbooth,” Forbes said. The mag also explained how it tallied up this year’s overpaid list by looking at each film actor’s last three starring roles before June 2015. Animated films, supporting roles and movies that didn’t have wide releases were not counted.

“Training Day” star Denzel Washington, who will be honored at the upcoming Golden Globes Awards with the Cecil B. DeMille award, landed the No. 2 spot by returning $6.50 for every $1 he earned from his recent films.

Following Depp and Washington is “Get Hard” star Will Ferrell: The “Saturday Night Live” alum returned $6.80 for every $1 paid.

In the No. 4 and No. 5 positions were “Run All Night” star Liam Neeson and “Focus” star Will Smith, both previously considered to be box office gold but who haven’t quite delivered the way they once did. Despite the success of “Taken 3,” Neeson returned an estimated $7.20 for every $1 paid, Forbes said, and Smith averaged a return of $8.60 for every $1 paid.

See Forbes’ complete list here.

Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.