Nicolas Cage Reveals 'Dark' Period' of $6M Debt – Lisa Marie Presley Once Witnessed Him Lose $65K Jewelry in Ocean

• Nicolas Cage had an investment go wrong and ended up $6 million in debt
• He worked back-to-back to make money back
• That was not the only hasty decision he made; he also ended a marriage after four days

Nicolas Cage is a renowned actor known for his versatility. But he was no stranger to the film industry as his family has been part of several box office hit films.

The Coppola family has made its name in the industry with Cage's uncle, being Francis Ford Coppola, an Oscar award-winning filmmaker known for the famous film "The God Father."

Although Cage's career swiftly took the same successful trajectory, life was not always easy for him. He hit a few bumps in his investments and found himself knee-deep in debt.

However, his passion for acting has carried him through most of his challenges, including the immense debt of $6 million that he found himself in.

Why did Nicolas Cage have a 6 million debt?

The actor had a phase where he was fascinated by real estate, but when the market came crashing, he found himself $6 million in the negatives.

Cage said he tried to get out of the deal, but it was too late, and the only way he could pay back the large sum of money was through booking roles. "It was dark, no doubt," admitted the actor.

He might have been fortunate to have roles to book, but only some of the films he participated in were great. Though he admitted that it was not easy doing "crummy" movies, he always went into it willing to give his all.

It took a lot of hard work to make back the money. Cage confessed that he was doing four movies every year, but despite his busy schedule, not every film he did was successful, but there were a few hits like "Mandy."

Aside from the debt he was pressured to pay off, Cage was asked if every role he booked was always attached to financial reasons.

Without getting into the specifics, the actor admitted that money did play a role and a list of other things, but whether it's money or a different purpose, he will ensure that he's fun to watch in every project.

As an actor, most of Cage's financial decisions and mistakes have been public, one obvious example being his real estate adventure.

However, through the ups and downs of his career, Cage has never felt discouraged in his craft; in fact, he admitted that constantly booking jobs was sort of an ego booster for him.

His job is not only attached to pride, but it is a space to distract him from the highs and lows of his personal life. Cage would rather be on set working than enjoying drinks by the beachside.

He appreciates the structure work affords him, like traveling to a particular place, developing a character, and performing.

Inside Nicolas Cage's relationships

Cage grew up in a family of performers and entertainers, and he turned out no different, but his parents divorced when he was 12.

The actor watched his mother battle severe depression and being in and out of the hospital. However, he states that his mother's absence did not affect him much.

His active imagination allowed him to escape from reality and immerse himself in the fantasies that lived in his head.

However, Cage said his mother's condition got better. She enjoys watching his movies, and she is always excited whenever one of them plays on TV. He said her excitement was "quite childlike."

Since his mother has stepped out of her depressive state, she's noticed and appreciated her son's talent. One thing she pointed out was Cage's dancing skills.

The actor never considered himself a dancer or even taken dancing classes, but when his mother watched "Wild at Heart," she said, "You are a dancer. Look at how you move: all that strange energy is modern dance."

Cage's romantic relationships have also caused a whirlwind on the internet. One of those relationships was with Lisa Marie Presley.

The two married in 2002, and Presley described them as "emotionally dramatic." One of the infamous fights was one they had on a boat trip.

This was before the couple tied the knot, but they ended up in a heated argument leading to Presley's $65,000 engagement ring being thrown into the ocean.

The actress never revealed who threw out the ring, but they tried to find it by bringing in divers, and it was never recovered.

Their marriage reportedly ended over a fight where Cage threatened to leave Presley. He stuck to his words and filed for divorce. Even though their marriage did not last long, it was reportedly a peaceful split.

However, his marriage with Presley was not the most dramatic relationship Cage has ever had. His romance with Erika Koike looked promising until they ended their marriage after four days.

Cage had done his best to keep his relationship with Koike private. The former couple was only spotted a few times together, and after a year of dating, the two got married in Las Vegas in 2019.

Four days later, Cage filed for an annulment, stating that he was under the influence, which drove him to make an impulsive decision he did not think through.