# Elvis - Graceland up for Foreclosure Auction **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, music\ **Created:** [May 21, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839 "2024-05-21T01:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/21 "2024-05-23T20:05:06Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > They’d even use his toilet, except it’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. No shit! > [@Pleonast](#): > > I hope a prosecutor takes a close look at this. I did see one report that the FBI is looking into it & that “FBI agents have contacted Riley Keough’s camp” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/22 "2024-05-23T22:44:28Z")
Lisa Marie did have financial problems. They may have been resolved after she sold 85% of Elvis Presley enterprises. Lisa Marie still owned the main Graceland house. Riley Keough received a much smaller inheritance but a $5.6 million house ain’t bad. Plus 15% of Elvis Enterprises. 🙂 **Gift link** My first! Hope it works. > **[Judge Blocks Attempt to Sell Graceland, at Least for Now](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/22/arts/music/graceland-sale-elvis-riley-keough.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uE0.8m2H.39Wbvy0-2vn0&smid=em-share)** > > Elvis’s granddaughter, the actress Riley Keough, had filed a lawsuit seeking to stop what her lawyers said was a fraudulent auction of her family home. > [@](#): > > In 2005, facing mounting debt, Ms. Presley sold [85 percent of Elvis Presley Enterprises](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-18-et-quick18.4-story.html), which conducts business and manages and operates assets like Graceland. The family, through its trust, retains 15 percent of Elvis Presley Enterprises and owns the main Graceland house, appraised at $5.6 million in 2021. > > In a statement issued on Wednesday after the court proceedings, Graceland reiterated that there was “no validity to the claims” made by Naussany Investments and that “there will be no foreclosure.” Quoted from embedded LA Times link > [@](#): > > Lisa Marie Presley is keeping Graceland but selling the bulk of the Elvis estate, including rights to her father’s name and image, in a deal worth approximately $100 million. > > Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. announced an agreement this week to sell 85% of its assets to businessman Robert F.X. Sillerman, founder of music and sports promoter SFX Entertainment ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/23 "2024-05-24T14:14:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Lisa Marie Presley is keeping Graceland but selling the bulk of the Elvis estate, including rights to her father’s name and image, in a deal worth approximately $100 million. That sounds like an absolute steal for the buyer. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/24 "2024-05-24T20:45:26Z")
While this slow-moving trainwreck / scam fiasco continues to play out, one question I have is whether Elvis’s star still shines bright, or whether Graceland’s value lies more now as real estate. I visited it in 1990, making a big detour through states I ignored to see it, and was perhaps underwhelmed, a bit disappointed, mainly because the trappings of his life were so cheap and tawdry. Reflecting back, there’s maybe a story of how early poverty sometimes accommodates later success through excess, but it was one destination that I never felt compelled to return to. Aside from the iconic association, and the storied interiors and objects and graves, what is Graceland now beyond another grand home to someone who used to be famous, but doesn’t seem to be making new fans? ---
**Author:** ![Deanna\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/25 "2024-05-25T14:29:08Z")
I’ve been wondering this, myself. I don’t think that Elvis is wracking up any new fans to replace the old ones. I’ve been once, and thought it was fascinating. It was surprisingly nostalgic for me, because I saw a few things in the house that reminded me of the old kitschy stuff my Mom had when I was a little kid. But, for anyone born after Elvis was long gone, I don’t know if they’d really “get it.” Plus, think Elvis is viewed differently in the “Me Too” era. Touring his home may not be able to maintain the attraction. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/26 "2024-05-25T14:35:34Z")
While I doubt Elvis is making many “new fans,” he still landed at #2 on [Forbes’ list of highest paid dead celebrities](https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/10/30/highest-paid-dead-celebrities-2023-michael-jackson-elvis-presley-whitney-houston/?sh=4a69476b504b) with his estate earning an estimated $100 million last year. The article notes that Graceland saw 600,000 visitors last year. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/27 "2024-05-25T14:43:51Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > his estate earning an estimated $100 million last year. The article notes that Graceland saw 600,000 visitors last year. Presumably that includes royalties and other sources of revenue. Surely fans aren’t paying $167 apiece just to tour the place? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/28 "2024-05-25T16:18:50Z")
Yes, that’s all sources of revenue. Notably, the estate does not receive royalties from recordings made prior to 1973 due to a terrible deal Colonel Tom made with RCA. Which makes the $100 million even more impressive. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/29 "2024-05-25T16:37:37Z")
The sale was Dec 2004. (using the LA Times publish date). Elvis was more relevant then. I had a CD from with his 1950’s hits. I liked the young, snarling Elvis. He wasn’t the same after leaving the army. He had matured and never had the same bad ass Elvis attitude. Scotty Moore was a big, big part of the early hits. Elvis made a mistake letting Tom Parker can Scotty. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/30 "2024-05-30T13:47:40Z")
There is a good possibility that this was all a Nigerian scam: > **[Graceland’s self-described scammer takes credit for attempted foreclosure...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/29/investing/graceland-scam/index.html)** > > In yet another twist in the bizarre story of the dubious foreclosure threat against Elvis Presley’s iconic Memphis home, a person purporting to be involved in a scheme to steal Graceland responded to an email from CNN, claiming responsibility for the... > **[Who Plotted to Sell Graceland? An Identity Thief Raises His Hand.](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/arts/music/graceland-fraud-identity-thief-emails.html)** > > A person using an email for the company seeking to foreclose on the former home of Elvis Presley says his ring was behind the threat to sell the beloved landmark. ---
**Author:** ![Deanna\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/31 "2024-05-30T17:14:39Z")
Now that CNN actually published the scammer’s email address, I wonder how many scams are about to hit his inbox? 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/32 "2024-05-30T17:56:16Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Aside from the iconic association, and the storied interiors and objects and graves, what is Graceland now beyond another grand home to someone who used to be famous, but doesn’t seem to be making new fans? That’s kind of the Elvis brand in a nutshell. As we get ever further from his death is relevancy has gone down. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still famous, movies are still made about him, and his songs were featured in Lilo & Stitch…oh, my. That was 22 years ago. Ahem. Where was I? Ah yes, Elvis’ relevancy to todays culture. It used to be in decades past I would hear an Elvis song on the radio when listening to one of the classic rock/oldies stations but these days I only hear him around Christmas with “Blue Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Clause,” and “Santa Claus is Back in Town.” Don’t get me wrong, I like Elvis. But like any pop star he’s eventually going to fade from memory. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/33 "2024-05-31T01:12:08Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > While this slow-moving trainwreck / scam fiasco continues to play out, one question I have is whether Elvis’s star still shines bright, or whether Graceland’s value lies more now as real estate. I’ve never been to Memphis at all, but my impression from poking around the vicinity of Graceland on Street View is that real estate would not be the best investment in that area, especially if Graceland (the only place that seems to be doing a bustling trade in anything) was no longer bringing anyone to the area. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/34 "2024-05-31T02:54:51Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > While this slow-moving trainwreck / scam fiasco continues to play out, one question I have is whether Elvis’s star still shines bright Well, a lot of retired people like to travel–and many of those were Elvis fans when they were young. So why not travel to Graceland? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/35 "2024-05-31T03:19:02Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Well, a lot of retired people like to travel–and many of those were Elvis fans when they were young. So why not travel to Graceland? Sure. For how much longer will that be the case though? Elvis has been dead for around 47 years and I doubt he’s gaining new fans at the rate his old fans are dying. Are a lot of Generation X retirees going to head to Graceland? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/36 "2024-05-31T20:30:27Z")
Some people still think it’s worth going to. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GP6a-7MP91g/maxresdefault.jpg "Paul Simon - Graceland (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP6a-7MP91g) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/37 "2024-05-31T21:07:13Z")
Ahem, that was almost 40 years ago… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/38 "2024-05-31T21:16:10Z")
My favorite Graceland story is from Ian Hunter’s _Diary Of A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star_, where he tells [the tale of sneaking on to the property](https://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_night_mott_the_hooples_ian_hunter_sneaked_into_elvis_presleys_home) and being denied an audience because “Mr. Presley’s tired and he ain’t seeing anybody.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/39 "2024-05-31T21:16:19Z")
So he probably has arrived by now. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839/40 "2024-06-01T05:25:45Z")
I think Elvis’ commercial appeal is steadily declining. I haven’t heard much about Elvis impersonators in a long time. The more talented ones got on stage in the jumpsuit and performed. The hacks showed up in costume and just say _Thank you, thank you very much_. Pose for photos and leave. They have to sell tickets for it to be worth staging a concert. Maybe there’s still demand at Casinos that cater to older customers? Live music is popular at Casinos. There must be a few fake Elvis left but that will change in another 10 to 15 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-graceland-up-for-foreclosure-auction/1001839.md?page=3)