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First things first: he was no stranger to money - Born Nicolas Kim Coppola, the actor didn't want to be defined by his famous family name. Here he is pictured with his uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola.

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He bought the "most haunted house in America" - For reasons unknown, Cage bought the 19th-century lair of the despicable Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a Louisiana socialite known to torture and murder slaves in her household. He reportedly picked up the French District mansion in 2007 for US$3.45 million.

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A deserted island in the Bahamas - Spending US$3 million got Cage a 40-acre deserted island south of Nassau for his private use, though that never amounted to much.

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His own burial tomb - Located in New Orleans, a city with which Cage seems to have an affinity, he bought this nine-foot-tall pyramid tombstone for himself, engraved with "Omnia Ab Uno," which is Latin for "Everything From One."

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A 70-million-year-old dinosaur skull - Cage allegedly outbid fellow actor Leonardo DiCaprio for a 70-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus skull. Unfortunately, the US$276,000 artifact turned out to be stolen, and Cage had to return it to the Mongolian government.

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He once owned 15 residences - Between 2007 and 2009, poor financial management, tax debts, and a crashing housing market cost him nearly every home and almost his entire fortune. But let's take a look at the spoils before the storm.

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A palace in Bel-Air - This US$17.5 million expansive residence was formerly owned by both Tom Jones and Dean Martin.

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Another multi-million dollar mansion in New Orleans - Cage couldn't live in the haunted mansion, so he had to buy another one in New Orleans' Garden District. He reportedly purchased the home from writer Anne Rice in 2005 for US$3.45 million.

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A San Francisco house - He is said to have purchased this house in 2007 for US$9.4 million. The 4,571-square-foot (424-square-meter) Tudor-style mansion was built in 1914, has its own wine cellar, and boasts views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

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And nearly a dozen others! - His other properties apparently include a US$10 million Malibu beach home, a chalet in Aspen, an $8.5 million abode in Las Vegas, a home on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, another chalet in Colorado, a countryside estate in Rhode Island, and homes in New York, Newport Beach, and Venice Beach.

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He gave one up willingly - Cage bought a US$25 million waterfront mansion in Newport Beach, California, paired with a yacht-ready dock he installed himself, and only sold it because he was apparently once woken up by a crazed fan wearing nothing but one of his leather jackets and eating a Fudgsicle next to his bed.

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He blamed his manager for his bad investments - Cage reportedly filed a lawsuit against his former business manager Samuel Levin and his firm for US$20 million, alleging that Levin caused his poor financial situation by giving him bad advice and making bad investments.

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Exotic pets - Cage has said that animals inspire his acting, and he once had two albino king cobras, whose aggressive and mesmerizing behavior was apparently the inspiration for the acting of his character Johnny Blaze in 'Ghost Rider.'

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Exotic pets -

The actor also bought an octopus for US$150,000 but later had to give up his eight-tentacled companion due to financial problems, though he did try to claim that it was for his work.

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Exotic pets - He also reportedly bought a salt-water shark, which requires 500 gallons of water for the shark to swim in, and which seems like something you’d only see in a villain's house.

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Exotic pets - And a crocodile, you know, to keep the shark company.

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A Georgian home in Bath, England - The 9,000-square-foot (836-square-meter) Georgian property is located on The Circus, a curved "millionaire's row," and boasts an indoor swimming pool, grand staircase, five stories, a 30-foot (9-meter) kitchen, and a terrace and garden, all for US$4 million.

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Castles (yes, plural) - Not satisfied with the Georgian house, Cage also spent over US$6.3 million on Midford Castle in Bath. It's 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the historic city, and it was built in 1775 in the shape of the ace of spades.

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Castles - Also on the 58-acre grounds of the Midford property are a chapel, a couple of cottages, the ruins of priory, and an orangery.

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Castles - Not satisfied with just one castle, Cage also bought the 11th-century Bavarian Schloss Neidstein Castle in Etzelwang, Germany.

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Castles - The Neidstein has 28 rooms, including 10 bedrooms, five bathrooms, and some 9,688 sq ft (900 sq m) in total.

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Shrunken pygmy heads -

These are severed and specially prepared heads once used for trophy, ritual, or trade purposes, but which Cage decided would look good in his home.

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The late Shah of Iran's Lamborghini - This rare Lamborghini Miura SVJ was built on special order by the late Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, in 1971. Cage bought it in 1997 for US$450,000.

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Exotic cars and motorcycles - In 2004, he supposedly owned up to 30 motorcycles and 50 cars. Here he is cruising in one of his Ferraris.

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Exotic cars and motorcycles - His car collection reportedly included nine Rolls Royces and a US$1 million Ferrari Enzo, one of only 349 produced!

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He lost a Porsche along the way - His 1989 Porsche Sportster was pulled out of the Lake of the Ozarks in 2002 after the US$100,000 collectors item was stolen Christmas Day while in a parking lot on its way from California to Pennsylvania.

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Comic books - Cage famously paid US$150,000 for the first Superman comic from 1938.

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Comic books - He added it to his astounding comic book collection, which has been estimated to be worth somewhere around US$1.6 million.

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Luxury yachts - There are yachts that are yachts, and then there are luxury yachts. Cage liked his yachts in fours, one of which he named Sarita, which reportedly cost US$20 million and had 12 master bedrooms.

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A private Gulfstream jet -

Cage improperly deducted personal expenses, like limos, meals, gifts, travel, and his Gulfstream 1159A turbojet, which got him into trouble with the IRS. But he surely felt like a king on his private jet while it lasted.

See also: All the ways Leonardo DiCaprio spends his millions

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