Cameron Diaz & Criss Angel : The Real Story

Apparently Criss Angel is a better illusionist than anyone knew! In a stunning development, the Las Vegas-based Mindfreak star, who has been linked to Paris Holton, Minnie Driver, and Cameron Diaz, among others, has been charged with “mental cruelty,� “abandonment� and being a big-time cheapskate by Joanne Sarantakos, his estranged wife of more than five years- though few people even knew she existed! Why the secrecy? Joanne’s attorney, Dominic Barbara, told reporters on June 29, it was “to increase his sex appeal to his female fans!�

“It’s a sad situation, “Joanne’s father, Richard Winkhart, tells Star. “She stood by him for 11 years- she even quit her job [in marketing] to help him with his show! He was totally devoted to her- then he [went] to Las Vegas, and everything changed!�

Although the couple split in early 2006, the divorce had yet-to-be finalized when, on June 19, Joanne showed up in court to hit Criss with more papers, and presto- the magician’s secret marital status was out of the bag!

Among the most surprised by the news? The Hollywood beauties to whom Angel, 39, has been linked: Paris and Minnie. Other women, like supersexy Cameron Diaz, knew he was separated at the time they began dating. Her reps added that she and Criss only went on “four dates over a month ago and have no current relationship.�

The marriage between Angel- born Christopher Sarantakos in modest East Meadow, N.Y.- and Joanne, 37, also from Long Island, soured shortly after the duo moved to Vegas in 2005, and he began taping his A&E TV show, Criss Angel: Mindfreak. Although they had dated since the early ‘90’s and married in 2001, once in Sin City, “Joanne was [known as] Criss’ girl; he never acknowledged she was his wife,� says Winkhart. “The people around him were telling him it would be better for his career if people thought he was single. Joanne went along with it but she wasn’t happy about it.�

Eventually, even that bizarre arrangement wasn’t enough to please Angel, and after a year, he told Joanne to go back to Long Island. “My daughter is a very loyal person,� says Winkhart, “and she wanted what was best for his career.� Indeed, Joanne’s dedication- along with Angel’s talent- paid off big-time: Between Mindfreak and other gigs, he earned more than $7 million last year. Angel recently signed a contract to stage a $200 million production at Las Vegas’ Luxor hotel in 2008.

But now Criss is refusing to share any of his new million with Joanne, according to her suit. “He’s not paying her support, which is tragic, considering his net worth,� Joanne’s lawyer told the New York Post. He added that Angel even failed to deliver a $7,000 check he promised her!

Cameron- whom Criss called “amazing� as recently as May- may be subpoenaed to testify in court as to the nature of their relationship! However, her reps believe her testimony would be irrelevant and added, “These are meaningless, attention-seeking attempts to unfairly and unnecessarily exploit Cameron’s celebrity by trying to involve her in matters she has nothing to do with.�