Nicolas Cage Net Worth

Nicolas Cage is an American-born actor best known for his roles in Leaving Las Vegas, The Rock, and National Treasure. Since he started his acting career in the early 1980s, Cage has appeared in over 100 films and television series. 

Though it’s not just Cage’s worth in front of the camera that has contributed to his success. Nicolas Cage’s net worth is also impacted by his production company, real estate investments, and a few other additional business ventures. Read on to learn which projects were Cage’s most successful and trace his career from its start until now.

Early Life

Nicolas Kim Coppola was born in Long Beach, California, on January 7, 1964. His father, August Floyd Coppola, was a literature professor and an author. His mother, Joy Vogelsang, was a dancer and choreographer. Cage also has two brothers – Marc Coppola, who is a radio personality, and Christopher Coppola, who is a director.

Cage was born into a family of artists and performers. His father’s siblings were director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire. Sofia Coppola and Roman Coppola are his cousins. Even his grandparents were in the entertainment industry as well.

Cage graduated from Beverly Hills High School and then attended UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. He was spurred into an acting career after watching James Dean in East of Eden. Seeing Dean on-screen convinced Cage that he wanted to be an actor.

Acting Career

Cage officially began his acting career in 1981 when he was cast in the pilot The Best of Times. Unfortunately, the show did not pan out. A year later, Cage had his film debut with a very small role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

For these first two projects, Cage went by the name of Nicolas Coppola. He later switched to Nicolas Cage in order to avoid talks of nepotism, as he would soon be appearing in films directed by his uncle Francis Ford Coppola.

Valley Girl

Cage booked his first starring role in 1983 as he co-starred with Deborah Foreman in Valley Girl. With a storyline patterned after Romeo and Juliet, the film did very well at the box office. It made more than $17.3 million globally against a budget of only $350,000.

The excellent reception of the film opened up bigger and better roles for Cage. He then starred in films like The Boy in Blue, Raising Arizona, Time to Kill, and Wild at Heart.

Cage also appeared in a couple of films directed by his uncles, such as Cotton Club in 1984 and Peggy Sue Got Married in 1986. In 1988, Cage received his first Golden Globe nomination after his performance in Moonstruck opposite Cher.

Cage’s brother Christopher Coppola directed him in the film Deadfall in 1993. Joining him in the cast were James Coburn, Peter Fonda and Charlie Sheen. In 1994, Cage co-starred with Shirley MacLaine in Guarding Tess, which made $27 million worldwide against a budget of $20 million.

Leaving Las Vegas

Cage would prove his mettle as an actor in the 1995 drama film Leaving Las Vegas. As Ben Sanderson, Cage scored big at the awards that year, bagging his first Best Actor trophy from the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the SAG. He also got nominated at the BAFTA.

In terms of box office performance, the film was also a massive success. It generated more than $32 million globally. This was a pretty impressive turnout at the time, especially since the budget was only $3.6 million.

While Cage was promised $100,00 for his work in the film, director Mike Figgis revealed that both he and Cage were never paid for their work on the movie.

The Rock

Cage’s next big starring role was in The Rock in 1996, where he starred alongside Hollywood bigwigs Sean Connery and Ed Harris. Produced on a budget of $75 million, the Michael Bay-directed film made over $25 million during the opening weekend. And it went on to earn $335 million globally.

Con Air

Next, Cage starred in Con Air with John Cusack and John Malkovich. On a budget of $75 million, the action movie grossed over $224 million worldwide.

Face/Off

With his last two movies grossing upwards of $200 million, Nicolas Cage’s net worth was steadily rising by the time he starred opposite John Travolta in 1997’s Face/Off. With a budget of $80 million, the film made over $245.7 million worldwide.

Gone in 60 Seconds

The blockbusters kept coming for Cage in the new millennium. He starred in 2000’s Gone in 60 Seconds opposite Angelina Jolie. The heist film stole the show at theaters, raking in $237.2 million in global ticket sales over a budget of $90 million. Cage received a paycheck of $20 million for his work.

Adaptation.

A couple of years later, Cage would team up with Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper in the comedy-drama Adaptation. Based on the book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, the critically acclaimed film only grossed $32 million worldwide on a budget of $19 million.

However, Cooper, Streep, and Cage were all nominated at the Oscars, BAFTA and Golden Globes for their work in the movie.

National Treasure

2004’s National Treasure gave Nicholas Cage’s net worth another sizable boost. With a paycheck of $20 million, Cage starred opposite Diane Krueger in what became a massive box-office success.

The movie grossed over $347.5 million globally against a budget of $100 million.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets 

After three years, Cage would return for the sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets. This second film was an even bigger success, earning $459.2 million globally against a budget of $130 million.

As of 2022, National Treasure: Book of Secrets is Cage’s second-highest-grossing film. 

Ghost Rider

In 2007, Cage started as Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider and reprised the role in 2011 in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. The films were both massive hits, making $228.7 million and $132 million, respectively.

The Croods

In 2013, Cage lent his voice to the character of Grug in The Croods. This wasn’t Cage’s first voice acting gig, as he had already done it on Astro Boy, G-Force, The Ant Bully, and Christmas Carol: The Movie.

The Croods, which also featured the voices of Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds, ended its theater run with $587.2 million in global gross earnings over a budget of $135 million.

As of 2022, The Croods is Cage’s highest-grossing film.

Pig

Before starring in 2021’s Pig, Cage starred in a number of VOD (Video on Demand) projects. Reportedly, he received $1 million to $1.5 million for those roles.

Neon’s Pig would end up grossing $3.8 million worldwide, and while it only played in 552 theaters, the film received no shortage of praise from fans and critics alike. Cage won a slew of awards for the film, including the Best Actor award from the Georgia Film Critics Association.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent 

In 2022, Cage not only starred as Nick Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, but he was also a producer on the film.

The action comedy premiered at SXSW and went on to gross  $29.1 million globally against a budget of $30 million. And that budget reportedly included Cage’s salary of $7 million.

Recent Work

Cage reprised his voice role in The Croods: A New Age in 2020. It made $216 million globally.

And in 2022, Cage also starred in Butcher’s Crossing, which premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Saban Films acquired the distribution rights to the film in the United States, with Altitude obtaining international distribution rights.

Other Ventures

Nicolas Cage’s net worth is also impacted by his work off-camera. For example, he owns Saturn Films, the production company behind films like Shadow of the Vampire, The Life of David Gale, The Wicker Man, and many more.

In 2007, he also collaborated with his son Weston in creating a comic book entitled Voodoo Child.

Real Estate

Much of Nicolas Cage’s net worth comes from his real estate investments. Over the years, he has made numerous property investments, often selling them later on at a profit.

In fact, Cage is known to have spent more than $150 million on lavish purchases, including a private jet and a dinosaur skull. He actually outbid Leonardo DiCaprio from the skull, which he ended up costing Cage $246,000. However, it was a nice addition to his collection, which also reportedly includes a second skill that was purchased for nearly $600,000.

Cage used to have a piece of property in Malibu that he shared with his ex-wife Alice Kim. After purchasing the property for $3.3 million in 1997, he later sold it for just under $10 million.

He also owned private island southeast of Nassau, which went on the market in the summer of 2022. The 30-acre property, which Cage has owned for the last sixteen years, was listed at $7.5 million. 

Cage hasn’t just own one island, either. He also owns a $5.2 million island located outside of Nassau, as well as a $29 million island in the Big Grand Cay Archipelago in the Northern Abaco Islands.

He also purchased a German castle in 2006 for a reported $2.3 million, selling it a few years later. At about the same time, he also listed properties in California, Rhode Island, Nevada, and Louisiana.

Personal Life

Nicolas Cage has had numerous romantic partners over the years, including five marriages. He started dating actress Christina Fulton in 1988, and their relationship produced his eldest son, Weston Coppola Cage.

Cage’s first marriage was in 1995 to actress Patricia Arquette. They got divorced in 2001. A year later, Cage married Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Their marriage lasted 107 days.

In 2004, Cage married Alice Kim, and they had a son named Kal-El. The marriage lasted more than a decade. However, it also ended in divorce. His subsequent marriage was to Erika Koike, and it was the shortest, as they filed for annulment four days after the ceremony.

Cage is currently married to Riko Shibata. They have recently welcomed a daughter, August Francesca, who was born on September 7, 2022.

Financial Issues

Another impact on Nicolas Cage’s net worth was some tax issues he had to deal with in 2009, as the IRS came down on him for unpaid taxes.

“Over the course of my career, I have paid at least $70 million in taxes,” Cage said in an interview with People Magazine. “Unfortunately, due to a recent legal situation, another approximate $14 million is owed to the IRS.” 

Cage then filed a $20 million lawsuit against his business manager, who Cage claims neglected his tax filings and payments. The manager, Samuel Levin, asserts that Cage didn’t listen to his advice. And he followed Caged’s lawsuit with a counterclaim, both lawsuits were reportedly dismissed.

Photo Credit: LaCameraChiara

Nicolas Cage’s Net Worth 2022

As of 2022, Nicolas Cage’s net worth is estimated at $25 million. And while his net worth is largely impacted by his acting work, his production company, real estate investments, and other life happenings has also affected that number.

Fans of Cage can look forward to seeing him next in The Retirement Plan opposite Twilight‘s Ashley Greene. In’ll also star in The Old Way, which according to IMDB is expected to release in December 2022.

In 2023, he’ll star in Renfield as Dracula opposite Warm Bodies star Nicholas Hoult. Also expected to release in 2023 is Sympathy for the Devil.

Cage is currently filming Dream Scenario and is in pre-production on Sand and Stones. And if that wasn’t enough, Cage is also set to star as Lord Highfire in an untitled TV series project that is in the works with Amazon Studios.