EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood 'fixer' Paul Baresi, 74, was at the 'frontline' of the defamation cases between the couple and was hired by Heard, 36, to dig up dirt on Depp, 58, before his UK defamation case.
www.dailymail.co.uk
During a three-month investigation Baresi interviewed 100 people across the US and Europe who worked with Depp on films dating back 30 years.
Yet when Baresi couldn't find any dirt he was fired by the Heard.
From some of Depp's closest friends he learned the A-lister was surrounded by so-called pals who leeched off him financially and emotionally.
Baresi told MailOnline: 'When Amber hired me she wanted proof that Johnny was a serial abuser for women and I couldn't find that.
'I couldn't find another women who said Johnny abused them.
Baresi said he interviewed more than a dozen people whose rent, medical bills, house payments, car payments and even bail and even legal fees were paid by Johnny.
He said: 'Johnny was besieged by people who ingratiated themselves into his domain.
Once they were there, they'd scratch his back with one hand while the other took in the feed.'
'All of the people around him have been on the take for so many years.
'They feel comfortable with taking things from him. He's a very passive guy.
He added: 'Even Amber in some respects was an opportunist on par with everyone else.
'She obviously knew his power in Hollywood and she seized upon that power in the hopes of furthering her career.