Five marriages, a Hollywood career spanning decades, and a family life full of unexpected turns have kept Nicolas Cage in the spotlight.
Today, the name most often connected to him is Riko Shibata, his spouse since 2021.
From a private romance that began in Japan to their 31-year age gap and daughter August Francesca, Riko Shibata’s relationship with Cage has become one of the most searched parts of his personal life.
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Who is Riko Shibata?
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How Did Nicolas Cage and Riko Shibata Meet?
Cage and Shibata met in Shiga, Japan, in 2019, while Cage was filming Prisoners of the Ghostland.
The role also gave Shibata her own screen credit in the same movie. Mutual friends introduced them on set, and the connection reportedly formed quickly.
Cage has described a small, ordinary exchange as the moment things clicked between them. He once recalled asking her about pets, and Shibata mentioning she kept sugar gliders.
He later said the answer convinced him they could work as a couple.
The two were first photographed together publicly in February 2020 in New Orleans. Days later, they were seen holding hands in New York City, just weeks before pandemic restrictions shut down travel and public life.
That timing forced an unusual stretch of distance early in their relationship, with Shibata returning to Kyoto and Cage staying in Nevada.
Cage has also connected the relationship to a broader pattern he sees in himself.
Speaking with The New York Times Magazine in 2019, he said a partner needs “some unusualness” to be with him, adding that he feels things deeply and has dealt with melancholia his whole life, which shapes how he approaches both his work and his relationships.
How Big is the Age Gap Between Nicolas Cage and Riko Shibata?
Cage and Shibata have a 31-year age gap. Cage was born on January 7, 1964, and Shibata on January 10, 1995. As of 2026, that makes her 31 and him 62.
This gap is wider than any of Cage’s previous marriages, including his 20-year age difference with third wife Alice Kim.
When and Where Did Nicolas Cage and Riko Shibata Get Married?
Cage and Shibata’s path to marriage moved through a long-distance engagement before ending in a small, symbolic ceremony. The two sections below break down the proposal and the wedding itself.
How Did Nicolas Cage Propose to Riko Shibata?
Cage proposed to Shibata over FaceTime in August 2020, after the couple had spent roughly six months apart due to pandemic travel restrictions.
He confirmed the details on his brother Marc Coppola’s radio show that same month, explaining that after months apart, he simply told her he wanted to marry her, and they got engaged right there on the call.
For the ring, Cage chose a black diamond set in black gold, a direct nod to Shibata’s favorite color. He has said in interviews that the color choice was deliberate and personal to her, rather than a standard engagement ring pick.
Where Did They Get Married
Cage and Shibata married on February 16, 2021, at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.
Multiple outlets described the ceremony as small and intimate rather than a large Hollywood event. The date was chosen specifically to honor the birthday of Cage’s late father, August Coppola.
Attire, Vows, and Guests
Shibata wore a handmade Japanese bridal kimono sourced from Kyoto, while Cage wore a custom Tom Ford tuxedo for the occasion.
The ceremony blended Catholic and Shinto wedding vows, with readings that included Walt Whitman poetry alongside traditional Japanese haiku.
Guests included Cage’s ex-wife, Alice Kim, and their 15-year-old son, Kal-El, underscoring the friendly terms Cage has maintained with his past family.
Do Nicolas Cage and Riko Shibata Have Any Kids?
Cage and Shibata welcomed their only child together, a daughter named August Francesca, born on September 7, 2022.
The pregnancy was confirmed publicly in January 2022, less than a year after the couple’s wedding.
August Francesca is Cage’s third child overall, joining his sons Weston and Kal-El from previous relationships, and she is Shibata’s first child.
The name pays tribute to Cage’s father, August Coppola, echoing the same choice that shaped their wedding date.
How Many Times Has Nicolas Cage Been Married?
Cage’s marriage to Riko Shibata is his fifth, following four previous marriages that varied widely in length. The table below lays out each one in order.
| Spouse | Married | Divorced/Ended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Arquette | April 1995 | 2001 | Cage reportedly proposed on their first meeting in the 1980s; the two grew apart under the pressures of Arquette’s mother’s illness and their separate careers |
| Lisa Marie Presley | August 2002 | Filed after 107 days; finalized in 2004 | Marriage lasted just over three months; Cage later said two strong personalities had a hard time meshing |
| Alice Kim | 2004 | 2016 | Longest marriage to date; the two met at a Los Angeles sushi restaurant where Kim was working as a waitress; mother of son Kal-El; Cage has said the split surprised him |
| Erika Koike | March 2019 | Annulment filed 4 days later; finalized June 2019 | Shortest of his marriages; Cage cited being intoxicated at the time of the wedding |
| Riko Shibata | February 16, 2021 | Ongoing | Mother of daughter August Francesca |
Each of Cage’s marriages has drawn public attention on its own. His marriage to Shibata is now the longest of his career since his divorce from Alice Kim.
Cage’s marriage to Lisa Marie Presley also drew renewed attention after her death in January 2023. Cage told The Hollywood Reporter at the time that the news was devastating, recalling that she had “the greatest laugh of anyone I ever met” and that she lit up every room.
Nicolas Cage’s Girlfriends Before MarriageBefore his marriages, Cage was linked to actress Brooke Shields in the late 1980s, dated Christina Fulton starting in 1988 (with whom he had son Weston), and was involved with Kristen Zang starting in 1992, reportedly proposing to her when she was 19 before the relationship ended two years later without a wedding. He was also rumored to have dated Sarah Jessica Parker around the same period, which Parker confirmed publicly in 2025. |
Where Have Nicolas Cage and Riko Shibata Been Seen Lately?
Cage and Shibata tend to keep a low public profile between major events, which makes each joint appearance stand out to fans following their relationship.
- Spider-Noir premiere, May 13, 2026: The couple attended the New York City premiere of Prime Video’s Spider-Noir at Regal Times Square, marking their first joint public appearance in over a year. Cage wore a black suit with a blue dotted tie, while Shibata wore a black lace dress layered over a white shirt, and the two walked the carpet hand in hand.
- 2025 Golden Globe Awards: Cage and Shibata appeared together at the ceremony, where Cage also served as a presenter, with Cage in a classic black tuxedo and Shibata in a beaded dress paired with a black fur shawl.
- 2024 Academy Awards: The pair walked the Oscars red carpet together and also attended the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s pre-Oscars benefit the night before, marking a rare appearance after being previously seen together at the 2023 Renfield premiere.
Final Thoughts
Nicolas Cage’s spouse Riko Shibata has brought a quieter chapter to the actor’s much-discussed personal life.
From their first meeting in Japan to their 2021 wedding and the arrival of their daughter, August Francesca, their relationship has continued to draw public interest.
While Cage’s previous marriages made headlines over the years, his life with Riko has remained more private, punctuated by the occasional red carpet reappearance rather than constant public visibility.
Their story reflects a different side of the actor, one that has settled into family life even as other parts of his world, including his son Weston’s more difficult recent headlines, have continued to draw attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riko Shibata an American Citizen?
Public information does not clearly confirm that Shibata holds U.S. citizenship or dual citizenship. Her marriage to Nicolas Cage and relocation to the United States do not, by themselves, establish naturalization.
What Is Riko Shibata’s Profession Outside of Her Marriage to Cage?
Shibata has been described as an actress and model. She appeared in Prisoners of the Ghostland, credited as “Mannequin Woman,” and has also been described as having independent business interests.
Did Nicolas Cage and Riko Shibata Make Their Relationship Public Before the Wedding?
Yes. They were photographed together in February 2020 and later made their first official red carpet appearance at the premiere of Pig in July 2021.
How Long Have Nicolas Cage’s Marriages Lasted Combined?
Across all five marriages, Cage has spent roughly 19 years married total, with Alice Kim accounting for more than half of that time at nearly twelve years.
Why Has Nicolas Cage Been Married So Many Times?
Cage has attributed his marriage history to his personality rather than any single pattern, once saying a partner needs “some unusualness” to be with him. He’s described his marriage to Riko Shibata as the one he finally got right, telling the Los Angeles Times in 2022, “I know five is a lot, but I think I got it right this time.”
Is Nicolas Cage a Grandfather?
Yes. Cage’s oldest son, Weston, has four children of his own, making Cage a grandfather several times over even as he continues to raise his youngest daughter, August Francesca.
