Nicolas Cage: Five Marriages, One Four-Day Annulment, and the Most Married Serious Actor in Hollywood
Five marriages. A 107-day union with Lisa Marie Presley. A four-day annulment in Vegas. And $14 million owed to the IRS.
Key Facts
What Happened
Nicolas Cage, the Oscar-winning star of Leaving Las Vegas and National Treasure, holds the unofficial record for the most marriages by a serious dramatic actor in Hollywood history. His five marriages span three decades and include some of the most bizarre divorce stories ever recorded. Marriage number one was to Patricia Arquette in April 1995, but they separated within a year despite not officially divorcing until 2001. Marriage two, to Lisa Marie Presley in August 2002, lasted exactly 107 days before Cage filed for divorce, making it one of the shortest celebrity marriages on record.
Marriage three, to Alice Kim, a former waitress he met at a Los Angeles restaurant, was his longest and only union that produced a child, Kal-El (named after Superman's birth name, born 2005). They married in 2004 and separated in January 2016. But it was marriage number four that entered the annals of divorce legend. In March 2019, Cage married makeup artist Erika Koike in Las Vegas. Four days later, he filed for an annulment, claiming he was too intoxicated to understand his actions during the ceremony. The annulment was granted, and the marriage was legally declared to have never existed.
Throughout these marriages and divorces, Cage was dealing with catastrophic financial problems. Despite earning over $150 million during his career, he blew through his fortune on 15 homes (including castles in Germany and England), a private island in the Bahamas, a fleet of yachts, and a collection of rare dinosaur skulls. By 2009, the IRS filed a $6.2 million federal tax lien against him, and his total tax debt eventually ballooned to $14 million. He sued his former business manager for $20 million, alleging mismanagement.
Marriage number five came in February 2021, when Cage married Riko Shibata, a Japanese film extra 31 years his junior, in a ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas. They have a daughter, August (born 2022), and as of 2025, they remain married, making this Cage's longest-running marriage since Alice Kim. Cage has spoken publicly about settling his IRS debts, admitting he took on numerous low-budget films specifically to pay off what he owed. His current net worth is estimated at $25-40 million, a fraction of his peak earnings.
Legal Breakdown: Annulment
Annulment vs. Divorce
Cage's four-day marriage to Koike ended in annulment, not divorce. An annulment legally declares the marriage never existed. In Nevada, grounds include lack of understanding (being too intoxicated to consent), fraud, or underage marriage. An annulment avoids community property division and spousal support obligations entirely, because legally, there was no marriage to end.
Serial Divorce and Cumulative Financial Impact
Each of Cage's divorces carried financial consequences: property division, potential spousal support, and legal fees. When compounded over five marriages, the cumulative cost is staggering. Add reckless spending and $14 million in IRS debt, and the result is a cautionary tale about the intersection of personal instability and financial ruin.
Tax Consequences of Divorce Settlements
Divorce settlements can have significant tax implications. Property transfers between spouses during divorce are generally tax-free, but the ongoing tax burden of maintaining multiple properties, paying support, and managing divided assets contributed to Cage's IRS problems. Anyone going through a high-asset divorce should consult a tax professional alongside their divorce attorney.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you are intoxicated, do not get married. If you do, annulment exists as a legal remedy, but it requires proving you lacked capacity to consent.
- →Serial marriages and divorces have cumulative financial consequences. Each divorce erodes your net worth. Treat marriage as a financial decision, not just an emotional one.
- →Tax planning is a critical and often overlooked part of divorce. Consult a tax professional before agreeing to any settlement terms.
- →Financial mismanagement can turn $150 million into $14 million in IRS debt. If you are going through a divorce, get your financial house in order immediately, even if it means hiring a forensic accountant.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.