Nicolas Cage: From Hollywood Star to Broke – How He Spent His $150 Million Fortune

Nicolas Cage, the acclaimed movie star, rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with a series of blockbuster films.

However, despite earning a staggering $150 million throughout his career, Cage managed to squander his fortune on extravagant purchases, leaving him broke.

Born Nicolas Coppola, Cage quickly became a household name with lead roles in successful movies like “National Treasure” and “Snake Eyes.”

His acting prowess catapulted him to the top of the Hollywood ladder, making him one of the highest-paid actors in the industry.

Yet, Cage's financial downfall was imminent.

His poor money management led to foreclosure on several lavish properties, and he found himself in debt to the Internal Revenue Service, owing a whopping $6.3 million in property taxes in 2009.

Financial ruin seemed inevitable.

By the time Cage reached his 40s, he had spent his fortune recklessly and was essentially broke.

He blamed his accountant for leading him down a path of financial ruin.

But before his financial turmoil, Cage indulged in a few years of extravagant spending, accumulating some of the priciest purchases that contributed to his downfall.

One of Cage's eccentric purchases was a 67 million-year-old Tarbosaurus dinosaur skull, which he reportedly outbid Leonardo DiCaprio for, paying over $300,000.

However, it was later discovered that the skull had been stolen, and Cage had to return it to its original owner.

Cage also splurged on real estate, acquiring two private islands in the Bahamas and owning 15 residences simultaneously, including a $25 million waterfront home in Newport Beach, California.

He further purchased an 11th-century Bavarian castle in Germany and a castle in Bath, England, spending millions on their remodeling and upkeep.

With a penchant for luxury vehicles, Cage amassed a collection of over 50 rare cars and 30 motorcycles.

His collection included a Lamborghini once owned by the Shah of Iran, a 1955 Jaguar D-Type, and a Ferrari Enzo worth $1 million, among others.

Not content with lavish properties and expensive cars, Cage owned four enormous yachts, the most expensive of which was valued at $20 million.

He even had his own private Gulfstream jet to fulfill his transportation needs.

In a bizarre twist, Cage purchased a haunted house in 2006 for $3.45 million.

The property had a dark history as it once belonged to serial killer Madame Delphine LaLaurie, who tortured and murdered countless slaves within its walls.

To cap it all off, Cage bought a nine-foot tall pyramid-shaped tombstone for himself in the oldest cemetery in New Orleans.

The tombstone bears the inscription “Omni Ab Uno,” meaning “Everything From One” in Latin, and Cage intends to be buried inside it when his time comes.

Unfortunately, both the haunted mansion and the tombstone were foreclosed on in 2009 due to Cage's tax troubles.

Despite his financial woes, Cage has since regained control of his spending habits in recent years.

Nicolas Cage's story serves as a cautionary tale of how even the wealthiest individuals can fall victim to extravagant and reckless spending.

It reminds us that financial responsibility is crucial, regardless of our income level.