Years ago, Nicolas Cage was one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. However, he spent much of his fortune on wild purchases, including a $150,000 octopus and a $276,000 dinosaur skull (which he ended up returning to the Mongolian government because it turned out to be stolen). At one point, he owned 15 homes around the world, including two European castles. Eventually, he owed the IRS $6.3 million and faced foreclosures on multiple properties.
In an episode of 60 Minutes, Nicolas said that he threw himself into his acting to pay it all off: "Work was always my guardian angel. It may not have been blue-chip, but it was still work. Even if the movie ultimately is crummy ... I’m not phoning it in. I care, every time." The actor was able to settle his debts without declaring bankruptcy.