Priscilla Presley is best known as the ex-wife of the legendary singer and actor Elvis Presley, but she is also a successful businesswoman, actress, and producer in her own right. Priscilla Presley has amassed a considerable fortune over the years, thanks to her savvy investments, her acting career, and her involvement in various projects related to Elvis’ legacy. But how much is Priscilla Presley worth, and how did she earn her wealth? Here is a breakdown of Priscilla Presley’s net worth and how she built her fortune after divorcing Elvis.
Priscilla Presley’s early life and marriage to Elvis
Priscilla Presley was born Priscilla Ann Wagner on May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York. Her biological father, James Wagner, was a US Navy pilot who died in a plane crash when she was six months old. Her mother, Anna Lillian Iversen, remarried to Paul Beaulieu, a US Air Force officer, who adopted Priscilla and raised her as his own daughter.
Priscilla Presley met Elvis Presley in 1959, when she was 14 years old and he was 24. They met at a party in Bad Nauheim, Germany, where Elvis was stationed as a soldier and Priscilla’s family was living as military dependents. They began a long-distance relationship, and Priscilla moved to Graceland, Elvis’ mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1963, after finishing high school. They married on May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and had their only child, Lisa Marie Presley, on February 1, 1968.
Priscilla Presley’s marriage to Elvis was not a happy one, as he was often unfaithful, abusive, and addicted to drugs. Priscilla Presley also felt stifled by his controlling and possessive nature, and wanted to pursue her own interests and career. She filed for divorce in 1972, and it was finalized in 1973. She received a $725,000 settlement, as well as spousal and child support, and half of the proceeds from the sale of their Beverly Hills home. She also retained the rights to use the name Presley, which would prove to be valuable in the future.
Priscilla Presley’s acting and producing career
After divorcing Elvis, Priscilla Presley decided to pursue an acting career, which was something she had always wanted to do. She enrolled in acting classes, and landed her first role in the 1983 film Love Is Forever, opposite Michael Landon. She then starred in the 1984 comedy The Naked Gun, playing Jane Spencer, the love interest of Leslie Nielsen’s character. She reprised her role in the two sequels, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994).
Priscilla Presley also appeared in several TV shows, such as Dallas, Melrose Place, Spin City, and Touched by an Angel. She also produced and starred in the 1988 TV movie Elvis and Me, based on her autobiography of the same name. She also produced the 1990 TV documentary Elvis: The Great Performances, and the 1997 TV miniseries Elvis Meets Nixon.
Priscilla Presley’s acting and producing career earned her a substantial income, as well as recognition and respect in the entertainment industry. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she earned $1 million for each of the Naked Gun films, and $75,000 per episode for Dallas. She also received royalties and residuals from her other projects, as well as from the sales of her book, which was a bestseller.
Priscilla Presley’s involvement in Elvis’ estate and business ventures
Priscilla Presley’s most lucrative source of income, however, was her involvement in Elvis’ estate and business ventures. After Elvis’ death in 1977, Priscilla Presley became the executor of his estate, as well as the guardian of Lisa Marie, who inherited her father’s fortune. Priscilla Presley discovered that Elvis’ estate was in debt, due to his lavish spending habits, his unpaid taxes, and his poor management. She decided to take charge of the estate, and hired a team of experts to help her turn it around.
Priscilla Presley’s most brilliant move was to open Graceland to the public in 1982, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the US. She also licensed Elvis’ name and image to various products, such as music, merchandise, and memorabilia. She also sold a majority stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company that manages Elvis’ estate, to CKX Inc. in 2005, for $100 million. She retained a 15% stake in the company, as well as a seat on the board of directors.
Priscilla Presley’s involvement in Elvis’ estate and business ventures made her a wealthy and powerful woman, as well as a savvy entrepreneur. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she earns an estimated $15 million per year from Elvis’ estate, and has a net worth of $150 million as of 2021.
Priscilla Presley’s philanthropy and personal life
Priscilla Presley is not only a rich and successful woman, but also a generous and compassionate one. She is involved in various philanthropic causes, such as animal rights, children’s welfare, and environmental issues. She is the co-founder and chairwoman of the Dream Foundation, a non-profit organisation that grants wishes to terminally ill adults. She is also an ambassador for the Humane Society of the United States, and a supporter of the World Wildlife Fund and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.
Priscilla Presley’s personal life has been less stable than her professional one, as she has had several relationships and marriages after Elvis. She dated karate instructor Mike Stone, hairdresser Elie Ezerzer, financier Kirk Kerkorian, and writer Marco Garibaldi, with whom she had a son, Navarone Garibaldi, in 1987. She also married Brazilian screenwriter Marco Garibaldi, in 1984, but they divorced in 1988.
Priscilla Presley remains close to her children and grandchildren, and often attends events and functions related to Elvis’ legacy. She also continues to work on various projects, such as writing, producing, and hosting. She is currently working on a biopic about Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann, in which she will be played by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
