Music

After All The Movies & Albums: How Much Is Elvis Presley Worth?

Decades after his death, Elvis Presley's net worth continues to rise thanks to the many movies and albums he made. Here's how much his estate is worth.

by Produced by Digital Editors

Published on December 21, 2018

3 min read

Popular Presley flicks

In G.I. Blues, Elvis portrays a singing soldier named Tulsa who aspires to open a nightclub. Directed by Norman Taurog, the 1960 movie brought Presley to the silver screen with dancer Juliet Prowse as his leading lady. According to IMDB, the movie earned a healthy $4 million during its theater run.

Wild in the Country gave Presley a chance to show off his acting skills as a troubled young writer in search of a real literary career. Co-starring Tuesday Weld, Millie Perkins, and Hope Lange, the 1961 musical film was directed by Philip Dunne.

Viva Las Vegas paired Elvis with Ann-Marget for a rollicking musical adventure that takes place in Sin City. The 1964 comedy musical was directed by George Sidney and earned more than $5 million box office dollars.

Skyrocket to fame and a moderate fortune

Born Elvis Aron Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935, the humble young man with movie star good looks started his ascent to fame in the mid 20th century. His first #1 single, “Heartbreak Hotel,” set teenage hearts aflutter in 1955. The very next year, his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, arranged deals on the singer’s behalf with Paramount Pictures and RCA Records. Most sources agree that Parker’s 50% cut of Elvis’ earnings was not in the singer’s best interest.

Presley earned enormous bucks for Parker, Paramount, and RCA, but the 42-year old entertainer was worth a relatively paltry $5 million when he died from heart failure at his Memphis home on August 16, 1977.

Where the money went

Portrait Of Elvis Presley| Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Over the course of his lifetime, Presley spent lavishly. Much of his money, according to Celebrity Net Worth, went toward real estate, drugs, and a massive entourage. His 1973 divorce from Priscilla Beaulieu Presley also cost The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll a pretty penny.

When Elvis purchased Graceland in 1957, he paid a then-whopping sum of $102,000 in cash for the 23-room Memphis mansion. Over the next few years, Presley shelled out at least half a million dollars on adjacent land and household accouterments.

Many sources say that Elvis’ biggest cash outlays were done on the behalf of family members, including his father and a stepmother with whom he did not get along. After Elvis’ mother, Gladys, passed away, Vernon Presley remarried and moved his new wife and her kids into the Graceland mansion. The King grew weary of their presence, so he purchased a nearby house for them. At Elvis’ expense, his dad and stepmom made significant renovations, including a swimming pool in the master bedroom.

For most of his natural life, Elvis also financially supported the traveling entourage he called the “Memphis Mafia.” In his later years, Presley is purported to have spent plenty of money on doctors and prescribed medications.