Nicolas Cage, Compulsive Spender
The star’s head-spinning treasure trove: more than a dozen houses, two Bahamian islands, dinosaur skulls, the shah of Iran's Lamborghini (and more). Fun while it lasted.
Nicolas Cage agreed in 2015 to return a stolen Tyrannosaurus Rex skull that was taken illegally from Mongolia. The actor bought the prized artifact for $276,000 in 2007 from a Beverly Hills gallery, which issued a certificate of authenticity with Cage’s purchase. Investigators say the National Treasure star was contacted in 2014 about the skull’s potential origins, and that he voluntarily agreed to hand it over once the theft was confirmed. Among the people Cage outbid for the skull was Leonardo DiCaprio, according to reports from the time.
This isn’t the first time Cage has made headlines for his extravagant purchases. Read The Daily Beast’s piece below from November 2009 on the actor’s compulsive spending:
Even by Bel Air standards, the Christmas party in the tent at Nicolas Cage’s mansion was a major to-do. The pool was covered up. Blocks of ice were brought in and carved into a buffet table, from which an extravagant array of shellfish was served. A production crew blew fake snow. There were enormous nutcracker men, 8- to 10-feet-tall, out by the gate in front of the house. Lighting specialists came by and illuminated Cage’s favorite cars, which sat on display in the driveway. Guests at the December 2003 event included Hugh Hefner and Jay Leno, who later called it the greatest Christmas party he’d ever been to.