Amber Heard Absolutely Can Not Afford $10+ Million Judgment (According To Her Own Lawyer), So What Happens Next?

As you've undoubtedly already heard by now, the verdict in the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation case is in, and the final tally shakes out to Heard owing Depp a bit more than $10 million for defamation of character. 

To make matters worse for Ms. Heard, the actress does not have the financial wherewithal to cover this debt if it's enforced. 

Speaking with Savannah Guthrie on a Thursday morning episode of "The Today Show," Amber's lawyer was asked point-blank whether her client can afford to pay a $10.35 million judgment. Her lawyer's exact reply was: "Oh, no. Absolutely not."

Before the trial, we pegged Amber Heard's net worth at $2.5 million. If that number is in the ballpark, and the $10.35 million judgment is enforced, 

Amber could conceivably be considered to to have a negative net worth at the moment. So, what are Amber's options going forward?

First, let's do a brief breakdown on that $10.35 million. The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages from Heard, plus another $5 million in punitive damages.

But the latter was reduced to $350,000 following Virginia's caps on punitive damages. Interestingly, the jury also awarded Heard $2 million from Depp as part of her counter-suit. 

That still leaves an $8.35 million net debt owed to Johnny and limited options going forward. 

Appeal Heard's attorney Elaine Charlson Bredehoft says that her client plans to appeal the ruling. Unfortunately that might not be so simple.

If Amber wants to pursue an appeal, she will likely be required to post a bond for the full $10.35 million while the appeals process makes its way through the court, plus interest.