The Goddess Of Graceland: Priscilla Presley's Net Worth
Emily Bell Highlights
- Sharp financial skills helped Priscilla Presley amass an estimated net worth of $50 million, with investments, business ventures, and managing Elvis' estate contributing to her wealth.
- Priscilla leveraged her unique perspective as Elvis' ex-wife to publish successful books, including the hit memoir Elvis And Me, which generated income through advances and royalties.
- Taking charge of Graceland after Elvis' death, Priscilla turned it into a lucrative destination for fans, with over half a million visitors each year, providing a steady stream of income and preserving Elvis' legacy.
By all accounts, Priscilla Presley has amassed an impressive fortune – by making smart business choices, investing wisely, and leveraging her status as Elvis Presley's former wife to build wealth.
In 1973, Priscilla Presley and Elvis divorced, and she endeavored to establish her own career, delving into acting, marketing, writing books, and starring on television shows and in films.
The trajectory of Priscilla's post-divorce was almost certainly influenced by the sudden death of Elvis in 1977. One massive component of her wealth is something of a double-edged sword.
Priscilla is widely credited with turning Graceland into a lucrative memorial and mecca for fans, visited by more than half a million people every year:
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Now 80 years old, Priscilla Presley's net worth is estimated at $50 million, and her sharp financial skills have helped her build a considerable fortune.
A Note About Priscilla Presley's Net Worth: While Priscilla Presley's net worth is estimated at $50 million, determining any individual's net worth with certainty can be challenging, due to the diversity of income, assets, and liabilities involved.
In this article, we will look at a few of the many ways Priscilla Presley grew her fortune.
Priscilla's Acting Career
When Priscilla and Elvis divorced, she gravitated to acting, in part to reinforce her own identity outside of her high-profile marriage.
She landed her first big acting break as Jenna Wade on the iconic TV drama Dallas between 1983 and 1988. This role made her an in-demand name, leading to subsequent roles in the Naked Gun movies, alongside comedy heavyweight Leslie Nielsen.
Her comedic skill, showcased in the Naked Gun films, made her a notable actress in her own right. She went on to appear in Melrose Place, Spin City, and in the Austin Powers films.
Though not known primarily for this aspect of her career, Presley has been working in acting for more than 40 years on television and in movies.
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When Priscilla was 14, she met Elvis; Priscilla married him in 1967, when she was 21.
Eventually, the marriage fell apart, with infidelity and Elvis' substance abuse issues primarily to blame. After being married for five years (time spent mostly apart), the Presleys' divorce was finalized in 1973.
After the divorce, Priscilla was awarded almost $1 million in cash and property ($750,000 in cash), including Graceland.
The divorce was finalized in October 1973. When adjusted for inflation, Presley's $750,000 settlement would be worth $5,045,164 today.
Priscilla was also granted custody of their child, Lisa Marie; Lisa Marie passed away unexpectedly in 2023.
On January 15th, Priscilla Presley took a moment on the red carpet to remember her late daughter:
The divorce gave Priscilla her own money, as well as independence from Elvis, though the pair was famously amicable and remained close until his death.
In a timeline of their relationship, People magazine quoted guitarist Charlie Hodge on the Presleys after their divorce:
"They were like two high school kids. They still called each other and told each other everything they were going to do."
Priscilla's Investments And Business Ventures
Priscilla demonstrated her entrepreneurial acumen by launching a number of her own business ventures, invested her money into property, and started a small shop in Los Angeles.
Priscilla also developed her own line of perfumes and a bedding brand, both of which were profitable. She worked on MGM's board and launched Elvis Presley Enterprises, which controlled commercial rights and assets related to her late husband's estate.
These innovative business moves and investments were significant avenues for Priscilla to make her own money outside Elvis' shadow.
The Genesis Of Graceland
When Priscilla took charge of Graceland after Elvis died, it was in need of significant repairs and a lot of funding, and she took decisive action.
Priscilla supervised essential repairs and started to allow visitors to Graceland in 1982. She led the way and made Graceland a lucrative destination for fans in perpetuity.
Today, more than half a million guests visit Graceland every year, bringing in a significant and steady stream of income.
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However, it also serves to keep Elvis' memory alive, and stands as an ongoing testament to his legacy.
Priscilla's Book Deals
Priscilla leveraged her unique point of view as Elvis' ex-wife and mother of his daughter to publish successful books.
In 1985, she published her proverbial life story, the nonfiction book Elvis And Me, which detailed their wedding; the book was a hit, and established her as a writer.
Elvis And Me was followed by other personal stories, like Elvis By The Presleys in 2005. These books generated income in terms of advances and royalties.
In turn, book sales and media tours renewed curiosity about her link to Elvis, and Priscilla has earned a lot of money from publishing.
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Priscilla Presley Wella Balsam Commercial
After separating from Elvis early in life, Priscilla made a lot of money by promoting items and services.
She participated in advertising beauty products, clothing labels, and phone companies in newspapers and television, and being recognized as Elvis' ex-wife made her an in-demand spokesperson.
These brand partnerships gave Priscilla a regular money supply during the 1970s and 80s.
Companies viewed her as a connection to the still-powerful legacy of Elvis, and the bustling business added to her increasing wealth.
Dynasty And Prime Time Television
Priscilla returned to prime-time TV when she joined the cast of the popular soap opera Dynasty when it started up after a hiatus.
Presley starred as the "bad" Nurse Bostwick for one season, and this massive TV role reinvigorated interest in Priscilla as a person and singer.
She became a staple on talk shows, bringing her into the limelight once again. This brought about opportunities such as a profitable residency in Las Vegas.
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Control Of Elvis' Brand
As the primary point of contact for Elvis' estate and memorabilia after his death, Priscilla kept a tight eye on how his businesses operated.
She guided the Elvis brand to returns of tens of millions yearly in royalties, fees, and sales. Elvis dolls, decorative plates, slot machines, and ads using his music are lucrative due to licensing agreements.
Priscilla cautiously ensures people won't use Elvis' intellectual property (IP) without permission, to keep its value intact.
Her innovative management of the Elvis brand and estate has helped her own money grow a lot, and keeps Elvis' commercial memory alive and preserved.
Elvis Memorabilia
Priscilla has earned money throughout the years by showcasing and selling Elvis Presely memorabilia.
She has organized traveling shows of Elvis's clothes, cars, and possessions for people to see worldwide. Priscilla also reviews and retails Elvis memorabilia through her Graceland store.
These enterprises generate millions of dollars in revenue in addition to Graceland visits and marketing rights.
Using Elvis' items to sell has allowed Priscilla to profit from her unique appearance while also making fans demand genuine Elvis memorabilia.
A Las Vegas Residency
In the early 2000s, Priscilla had a successful run headlining a Las Vegas show at the Sahara Hotel and Casino on the Strip.
She performed, sang, danced, and did comedy bits for sold-out crowds. Her Vegas residency added to Priscilla Presley's net worth in several ways.
Priscilla earned a lucrative contract for regular shows and merchandising. The Vegas stint also raised her public profile, leading to new opportunities.
Priscilla Presley was one of the first pioneering celebrities to score a Vegas residency, which is now highly profitable and desired. The success of her Vegas residency solidified her transition to an entertainer and a wealthy woman in her own right.
