Introduction
Recently, Forbes named Elvis Presley on its list of the highest-paid deceased celebrities of 2022. He ranked fourth with $110 million, behind the late author J.R.R. Tolkien ($500 million), the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant ($400 million), and the late singer David Bowie ($250 million).
In reality, at the time of “The King’s” death in 1977, his net worth was only $5 million (equivalent to $20 million today after adjusting for inflation). This figure is far from what some singers earn today.
Elvis Presley still had a considerable amount of cash to spend and was even known for his extravagant spending habits. He famously said: “You can have cars, money, a fancy house, you can have everything. But if you’re not happy, what do you have?”
Elvis Presley was born into a poor family in Mississippi, often relying on the help of neighbors and government food assistance.
As his career flourished, Elvis Presley upgraded his family home by purchasing Graceland, a suburban Memphis mansion, for $100,000 in 1957. Today, it is one of the most visited private homes in the United States, open to the public.
The late Rock and Roll legend also owned several other homes. Realtor reports that Elvis Presley significantly changed his residences over the decades.
After marrying Priscilla in 1967, Elvis Presley purchased a luxurious property in Beverly Hills for his new family to live in. This made the Elvis Presley family neighbors of American singers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. At the time, the house was estimated to be worth $400,000, with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a swimming pool. The house was later bought by Peter Morton, owner of the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant chain.
The “King of Pop” also owned properties in Holmby Hills and Palm Springs…
Elvis Presley’s most famous private jet was perhaps the one he bought in 1975, named after his daughter Lisa Marie – a 1958 Convair 880. The plane featured a private bedroom, a meeting room, and luxurious details such as a 24-carat gold sink and gold-plated seatbelts. Media reports indicated that the renovations cost $800,000.
In September 1975, he spent $900,000 on a jet – the Hound Dog II. He launched it a month later. The Hound Dog II was equipped with features similar to the Lisa Marie. Elvis Presley also changed the cabin seat color to gold, green, and blue.
The Hound Dog II shared a similar fate to the Lisa Marie. After The King’s death, both planes were sold by the Presley family before being repurchased and displayed at Graceland.