Nicolas Cage has been a Hollywood mainstay for decades, but his story isn’t just about the movies. Behind the on-screen persona lies a tale of a self-made icon who shed his famous last name, only to see a $150 million fortune slip through his fingers.
Birth name: Nicolas Kim Coppola ·
Stage name: Nicolas Cage ·
Year of birth: 1964 ·
Academy Awards: 1 (Leaving Las Vegas, 1995) ·
Estimated peak net worth: $150 million ·
Number of films: Over 120
Quick snapshot
- Born Nicolas Kim Coppola (TODAY (popular morning show))
- Won Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- Legally changed his name in 2025 (Vanity Fair (respected entertainment magazine))
- Arrested in New Orleans for domestic abuse in 2011 (ABC News (major broadcast network))
- Exact new legal name after 2025 change
- Outcome of domestic abuse charges (charges were dropped in 2011)
- Current net worth (estimates range widely)
- Full scope of financial losses
- Playing John Madden in the film Madden (Amazon MGM Studios, signed Aug 2024) (TODAY)
- Starring in TV series Spider-Noir (TODAY)
- Continues to take high-profile independent and mainstream roles (TODAY)
Six key facts that define Nicolas Cage’s public profile, from his birth name to his current family.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nicolas Kim Coppola |
| Date of birth | January 7, 1964 |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Net worth (estimated 2025) | $25 million |
| Spouse | Riko Shibata (m. 2021) |
| Children | 2 (Weston, Kal-El) |
The table shows a stark contrast: a man who once commanded $20 million per film now lives on a fraction of his former wealth.
What did Nicolas Cage change his name to?
Why did he change his name?
- Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Kim Coppola and adopted his stage name in the early 1980s to avoid associations of nepotism with his uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola (TODAY (popular morning show)).
- In a 2026 interview, Cage revealed he legally changed his name the previous year, saying, “I am Nick Cage” (TODAY).
- He also told Vanity Fair (respected entertainment magazine) that he wanted to stop being seen as the “clown cousin” in the Coppola family (Vanity Fair).
The implication: Cage’s name changes — both the early stage name and the recent legal one — have always been about carving his own identity, first from his famous uncle and later from his own past.
What is his real name?
- His birth name remains Nicolas Kim Coppola (TODAY). He has used Nicolas Cage professionally for over four decades.
- The exact legal name after the 2025 change has not been publicly confirmed. Cage said in the Vanity Fair interview that he legally adopted “Nicolas Cage” as his legal name (Vanity Fair).
What this means: Cage chose to formalize a name he already owned publicly, a final separation from the Coppola name.
What was Nicolas Cage’s downfall?
When did his financial troubles begin?
- Cage’s peak net worth reached around $150 million in the late 1990s and early 2000s (ABC News (major broadcast network)).
- His financial decline started in the late 2000s, driven by a spending spree on real estate and collectibles, as well as tax debts (Stat Significant (data analysis blog)).
- By 2009, he filed a $20 million lawsuit against his business manager Samuel J. Levin, alleging negligence and fraud that led to catastrophic losses (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)).
The pattern: A classic Hollywood boom-and-bust story, where massive earnings met minimal financial oversight.
What were the main causes of his downfall?
- Extravagant real estate purchases, including a $6 million medieval castle in England, multiple homes, and islands (ABC News).
- Spending on exotic cars, a pet octopus, a dinosaur skull, and rare comic books (ABC News).
- The 2008 recession and tax troubles — Cage reportedly owed the IRS $14 million (ABC News).
- His business manager allegedly failed to pay taxes on time and placed him in risky real-estate investments (Wikipedia).
- Forced to sell properties, including the LaLaurie House in New Orleans, which sold at auction for $5.5 million in 2009 (Wikipedia).
The implication: Cage’s spending habits, unchecked by competent management, turned a fortune into a crisis within a few years.
Cage went from one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors to taking more than twenty-five direct-to-video films just to repay debts (Stat Significant). The same man who bought a dinosaur skull also accepted roles in movies shot in a few days.
What does Nicolas Cage do now?
Is he still acting?
- Yes — Cage continues to act frequently in independent and mainstream films. He has starred in over 120 films total.
- Recent notable performances include The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022), Renfield (2023), and Dream Scenario (2023) (Stat Significant).
- By May 2017, his net worth was estimated at around $25 million, and he was “taking roles left and right” to pay off remaining debts (Wikipedia).
The pattern: Cage has turned his financial necessity into a career renaissance, deliberately choosing a mix of low-budget passion projects and mainstream fare.
What are his recent projects?
- He signed on in August 2024 to play NFL coach John Madden in the Amazon MGM Studios film Madden (Wikipedia).
- He will star in the TV series Spider-Noir (TODAY).
- Films like Mandy, Pig, and Dream Scenario have been praised as part of his “renaissance” (Stat Significant).
The catch: Cage now works for artistic fulfillment, not survival — a reversal of the scramble he endured a decade ago.
What was Nicolas Cage charged with?
Where did the arrest happen?
- Cage was arrested in New Orleans on April 15, 2011, on suspicion of domestic abuse battery, disturbing the peace, and public intoxication (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)).
- ABC News (major broadcast network) reported the arrest and described Cage as having been “drunk and violent” (ABC News).
The arrest was widely reported, but the charges were later dropped, leaving the incident as a footnote in his public record.
What are the details of the charges?
- Charged with domestic abuse battery (misdemeanor) plus disturbing the peace and public intoxication (Wikipedia).
- The charges were dropped on May 5, 2011 (Wikipedia).
- No further legal outcome has been reported. The arrest occurred during a period of intense financial pressure for Cage.
What this means: The legal system cleared Cage of wrongdoing, but the arrest remains a part of his biography.
Cage’s legal troubles, while serious, did not derail his career. He has worked continuously since and his recent name change suggests he wants to put both his financial and legal past behind him.
How did Nicolas Cage lose his fortune?
How much money did he lose?
- He reportedly lost an estimated $150 million fortune (ABC News (major broadcast network)).
- By 2017, his net worth had fallen to about $25 million (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)).
- He owed the IRS $14 million at the time of his 2011 arrest (ABC News).
The pattern: A fortune earned from blockbuster films was blown on a lifestyle that combined genuine eccentricity with poor financial advice.
What assets did he squander?
- Real estate: multiple homes, a castle in England, a private island, and the LaLaurie House in New Orleans (ABC News).
- Collectibles: a dinosaur skull (sold for $276,000), rare comic books, a pet octopus (ABC News).
- Vehicles: a fleet of exotic cars (ABC News).
- Legal fees and settlements, including a $20 million lawsuit against his manager (Wikipedia).
The implication: Cage’s spending was so extreme that even after losing $125 million, he still retains a net worth most people can only imagine.
“I am Nick Cage. I’m not the clown cousin.” — Nicolas Cage, on his legal name change, as reported by Vanity Fair (respected entertainment magazine)
“I am Nick Cage,” Cage said, describing his legal name change and his personal versus professional identity. — TODAY (popular morning show)
For Cage, the path forward is clear: keep working, keep reinventing, and hope that the headlines focus on his art rather than his legal troubles. The actor has turned financial ruin into a career second act, embracing both blockbuster franchises and indie oddities. Cage now operates on his own terms, free from the Coppola shadow and his former financial burden.
Nicolas Cage Timeline
- 1964 — Born Nicolas Kim Coppola in Long Beach, California
- 1982 — Film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
- 1995 — Won Academy Award for Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas
- 2000s — Peak earning years; net worth reaches $150 million
- 2009 — Financial troubles emerge; forced to sell multiple properties at loss
- 2022 — Stars in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a self-parody
- 2025 — Legally changes his name (details pending); arrested in New Orleans for domestic abuse
What We Know vs. What’s Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Birth name Nicolas Kim Coppola (TODAY)
- Stage name Nicolas Cage since early 1980s
- Won Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas (Wikipedia)
- Arrested for domestic abuse in New Orleans (2011) – reported by ABC News
- Legal name change in 2025 (Vanity Fair)
- Charges from 2011 arrest dropped on May 5, 2011 (Wikipedia)
- Reportedly owed IRS $14 million (ABC News)
What’s unclear
- Exact new name after 2025 legal change
- Current net worth (estimates range widely)
- Full scope of financial losses post-2011
- Details of the 2011 domestic abuse incident beyond arrest reports
- Whether bankruptcy was ever officially filed (National Enquirer claims unconfirmed)
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Frequently asked questions
Is Nicolas Cage related to Francis Ford Coppola?
Yes, Francis Ford Coppola is his uncle. Cage changed his stage name to avoid nepotism (TODAY).
How many Oscars has Nicolas Cage won?
He has won one Academy Award, for Best Actor in Leaving Las Vegas (1995) (Wikipedia).
Did Nicolas Cage go to jail?
He was arrested in 2011 but the charges were dropped. He did not serve jail time (Wikipedia).
What is Nicolas Cage’s real name?
His birth name is Nicolas Kim Coppola (TODAY).
How tall is Nicolas Cage?
He is 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m).
What was Nicolas Cage’s first movie?
His film debut was Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).
Does Nicolas Cage have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Yes, he received a star in 1998.
What is Nicolas Cage’s most successful movie at the box office?
National Treasure (2004) grossed over $347 million worldwide.
Related reading:
- Elijah Wood: Biography, Career & Macaulay Culkin Friendship
- Ewan McGregor: Divorce, Net Worth, and Personal Life in 2025
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.