Nicolas Cage Outbid Leonardo DiCaprio for a $276,000 Dinosaur Skull
Credit: Daniel Novisedlak/WireImage.com
Actor Nicolas Cage's films have grossed a collective $3.9 billion in worldwide box office receipts. Today, though, the Oscar winner owes $6 million in back taxes; in October, he sued his former money manager for $20 million, saying he was led "down a path of financial ruin," according to court documents.
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How did he do it?
Bad financial advice or not, Cage, 45, lived a super-sized life. While most of his possessions are now for sale, already sold or in foreclosure, the star once owned a staggering -- and bizarre -- array of, well, stuff.
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Among Cage's many, many expenditures -- as tabulated by New York magazine -- were the following:
One jet and two yachts.
In 2007, he outbid Leonardo DiCaprio for a dinosaur skull, shelling out $276,000 for the artifact.
His homes included three castles -- plus two islands in the Bahamas. Among his "dozen or so" mansions, one Bel Air home, purchased in 1998, features a billiard room with a 1955 Jaguar parked inside plus an array of "shrunken heads."
Out of his 50 cars, the most Cage ever shelled out was $495,000 on Lamborghini -- used. (Its former owner was the shah of Iran.)
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Obsessed with superheroes (he was once set to star in a Superman sequel), he sold his comics collection in 1997 for $1.6 million.
While portraying an alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas (his Oscar-winning role) in 1995, he hired an "on set drinking-consultant-poet."
He's not merely a big spender when it comes to himself, either. He proposed to Patricia Arquette upon their first meeting in 1987. The actress refused, and Cage suggested he go on a "quest" to prove his love. Arquette challenged Cage to track down a laundry list of odd items: an autograph from author JD Salinger, a "Bob's Big Boy" statue and a Tibetan wedding dress. Cage fulfilled his "quest," but it took him another eight years to convince Arquette marry him in 1995. (They divorced six years later.)
Cage and his third wife, Alice Kim, have a four year-old son, Kal-El (named, naturally, after Superman.)
Tell Us What You Think
28for the records nicholas cage is gay with leonardo decaprio and nicholas will give the skull to leonardo for christmas because they ARE gay lovers
Uh he did not EARN 3.5 billion, his movies did!! his actual worth was about 40 million.
Someone needs to slap Nic Cage: SNAP OUT OF IT
Nicholas Cage is an out of control spender. He's obvisously a little crazy in his head. Now, he blames someone else because he owes $6 million?? he earned 3.5 BILLION!!! He needs some pschyciatric help.
They should teach basic money management in schools in the US. This story is sad, but not an uncommon American Tale. The numbers are bigger, but unfortunately, same sad tale. It doesn't matter if you make a lot or a little, you have to manage your money and not let your money manage you..
I agree this article is ridiculous. There are children in my daughter's kindergarten class that steal snacks from the snack cupboards and eat the school given cheese sandwiches for lunch because they can't buy lunch. And sadly, this is the only food they get for the day. So please Mr. Cage, spare us any further crap.
He should had donated the money to a family to save their home. Greed!
It sound's like no matter who was his financial advisor or accontant they couldn't stop this idiot from buying stupid off the wall stuff! Maybe he has a shop till you drop problem?
Call uncle Copolla maybe he can bail you out... 50 cars! HELLO
he should've spent that 276,000 on a good hair transplant. *L* He looks like SH!T as he got older. *L*
First I had to get up off the floor from reading he was led "down a path of financial ruin"! What I wouldn't give for the money to make my next mortgage payment and I worked just as hard as anyone. No sympathy here.
EASY COME, EASY GO - GOD HUMBLED NICOLAS CAGE! I agree 100%! I'm a fan of his, but this is a very good lesson for him!
Any man that would EVEN THREATEN to hit a woman is A PIECE OF SHYT !!!!! Know that, Chris Brown, you loser! A PIECE OF SHYT !!!!!
It's too bad this selfish idiot did NO good with his money before he blew it all. We live a society where teachers are paid nothing but live within their means. Cage had millions upon million but STILL could not live within his means. Serves him right. I hope he likes living in apartments and driving used cars. HE HAS ONLY HIMSELF TO BLAME. WHAT AN IDIOT.
I have no sympathy for him. That guy brought it on himself.
Just goes to show you no one is immune to losing it all. While I realize he will bounce back much faster than the average person, it still is a horrible feeling to lose everything.
One Simple word sums this all up "GREED"
isn't this the guy that owes the IRS unpaid taxes equalling in the millions, oh that's right he is what a loser
Wow, he squandered it all. I could have lived a lifetime on one--or even half of one--of his movie paychecks.
NICOLAS CAGE YOU ARE A SELF-ABSORBED,EGOTISTICAL,MATERIALISTIC PIG!!! I MEAN YOU ARE LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE THAT NEVER GETS HIS FILL!!!IT IS CALLED "CONSEQUENCES"