Rich Famous and Tussling with the Taxman

The star: She's a model-turned-actress who won an Emmy Award for her role as Joy Turner on the NBC sitcom "My Name Is Earl."

Amount owed: $637,149, based on three liens listed below.

What happened: Sometimes life imitates art. It seems so in Pressly's case, given that her recent real-life troubles mirror the jams that would befall her "My Name Is Earl" character, the ex-wife of reformed petty thief Earl Hickey, played by Jason Lee. First, her series was canceled. Then came the tax problems, which according to The Detroit News, include a June lien for $95,080 by the state of California, a September IRS lien for $281,699 on back taxes from 2008, and a December IRS lien for $260,370. Money troubles like these are enough to drive you to drink, or drink and drive, which is what police in Santa Monica, Calif., charged Pressly with in early January. That was apparently the straw that broke up her marriage of 16 months to entertainment lawyer Simran Singh, according to entertainment site BANG Showbiz.

The outcome: Only time and tax court will tell. In preparation, the IRS might want to peruse Pressly's 2009 autobiography, "It's Not Necessarily Not the Truth."

The star: The California leading man is best known for his portrayal of rocker Jim Morrison in "The Doors," Naval aviator Iceman to Tom Cruise's Maverick in "Top Gun" and the Dark Knight in "Batman Forever."

Amount owed: $498,165.

What happened: Tax troubles are nothing new to Kilmer, who according to The Associated Press was slapped with a $498,165 IRS lien last November for unpaid taxes from 2008. In July 2009, the IRS previously presented Kilmer with an overdue tab of $538,858. Kilmer's tax woes date back to 2004, when a New Mexico Court of Appeals ruled against the actor and then-wife Joanne Whalley's claim that they were owed a tax refund of more than $300,000.

The outcome: Pending. According to entertainment website TMZ, Kilmer made good on his 2009 tab. Like other house-burdened celebrities, Kilmer has been trying to sell his 6,000-acre Pecos River Ranch near Santa Fe, N.M., since 2009. Zillow reports that Kilmer has dropped the original asking price 46 percent, from $33 million to $18.5 million.

The star: The Canadian-born model, actress, Playboy Playmate and animal-rights activist is best known for her role as lifeguard C.J. Parker on "Baywatch" and her tempestuous marriages to rockers Tommy Lee and Kid Rock.

Amount owed: $673,144.

What happened: Though she's hardly drowning in debt, Anderson apparently has been lax with her taxes in California. The Golden State slapped the blond bombshell with a tax lien for $493,144 in unpaid personal income tax in April 2009, then followed with a second lien for $180,000 last November, according to TMZ. According to Newsoxy.com, Anderson filed annual taxes but not for the correct amount, and her plans to build a $50 million waterfront condominium development stalled when the housing market tanked.

The outcome: TMZ quotes Anderson's representative as saying the latest lien has been satisfied. As for that half-mil tab from 2009, Anderson told TMZ she isn't broke, just disorganized. "Mistakes may have been made in calculating taxes owed and we are now in the process of ensuring that any taxes owed are paid," she says. Perhaps "the Hoff," aka her "Baywatch" co-star David Hasselhoff, can toss her a lifeline.

The star: The Academy Award-winning actor (for "Leaving Las Vegas") is best known for the films "Moonstruck," "Con Air" and "National Treasure." He is the nephew of "The Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola and former husband to Lisa Marie Presley.

Amount owed: $13.3 million.

What happened: Cage's tab with the IRS dates back to 2002, with subsequent liens in 2003, 2004 and 2007. In 2009, Cage fired and sued his business manager-accountant Samuel Levin for $20 million for making "numerous highly speculative real estate investments" that led him "down a path toward financial ruin," court documents show. Levin's countersuit claimed Cage was wild at heart and blew $33 million on real estate, purchased 22 cars, including nine Rolls-Royces, and bought castles in England and Germany against his advice. Cage lost two homes in New Orleans to foreclosure in 2009. The two settled their face-off out of court in September 2009.

The outcome: Nic is apparently back on track. "I am under new business management and am happy to say that I am current for 2009. All taxes will be paid, including any to-be-determined state taxes," he told People.com.

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