Episode Details

In 2010, Nicolas Cage’s fascination with ancient Egypt nearly became his undoing. Known for eccentric collecting, Cage spent $2.7 million constructing a replica of the Great Pyramid in his own backyard. He hired Egyptologists to teach him mummification, experimented on animals, and even slept in a limestone sarcophagus.

But the obsession turned deadly when Cage attempted a 72-hour “spiritual test,” sealing himself inside the pyramid with only water and ancient Egyptian bread. A ventilation malfunction left him suffocating in total darkness. Firefighters eventually broke in and found Cage barely conscious. The incident led to a psychiatric evaluation—and proved that Cage’s obsession almost became his tomb.