Elvis Presley, known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, is estimated to have sold over one billion records worldwide, according to Guinness World Records. His fame extended well beyond his records, and throughout his life he also acted in 31 feature films and two theatrically released concert documentary films. His prolific career saw no less 149 songs of his appear on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart in the United States.
Growing up as a young boy, he lived in a single family two-room shotgun house that his father, grandfather and uncle built. The humble abode would become a fraction of the size of his most famous real estate acquisition. In 2022, the home would go up for auction through Rockhurst Auctions, with bidding starting at $25,000. The home eventually sold at auction for $46,000.
With his fame and fortune, Presley purchased his home Graceland in 1957 for $102,500 in Memphis, Tennessee. The price was the equivalent of over $1.1 million today.
The property was originally a 500-acre farm owned by the S.E. Toof family. The land was in the Toof family for generations and was named after one of the family’s relatives, Grace. In 1939, Grace’s niece, Ruth Brown Moore, and her husband Dr. Thomas Moore, built the mansion, which became well known to Memphis locals.
Some of Elvis’ modifications to Graceland included a pink Alabama fieldstone wall surrounding the grounds, that now has years of graffiti. Presley also had Abe Sauer, a local artisan, design and build a wrought-iron gate designed in the shape of sheet music with silhouettes of him playing guitar.
The mansion also includes a kidney-shaped swimming pool and a racquetball court.
The exterior of the mansion is a Colonial Revival style, with a side-facing gabled roof covered in asphalt shingles. Two one-story wings are featured on the north and south sides of the property. The mansion has two chimneys, one on the north and south side. The central block’s front and side faces are veneered with tan Tishomingo limestome from Elvis’ birth state, Mississippi.
Graceland also features a shooting range and a full horse stable. Presley also had a meditation garden designed and built by Bernard Grenadier that he used as his thinking space.
The mansion boasts 17,552 square feet of space and 23 rooms, including eight bedrooms and four bathrooms. There is a first floor, second floor and basement. Elvis also had rooms for his trophies, which are now on display in the first-floor museum portion of the property. Known for his love of cars, the property also features an extensive garage.
When Elvis originally bought the property, it followed a momentous time in his career. The previous year, 1956, saw the singer and actor make network television appearances, perform numerous concerts and saw many of his albums be certified gold. Due to his career, Elvis spent much of his time on the road or in Los Angeles, but Graceland was always his home base.
Upon Elvis’ death in 1977, his father Vernon Presley served as the executor of his estate. Lisa Marie became the sole heir of the estate; her inheritance was held in a trust until her 25th birthday, on Feb. 1, 1993.
After Elvis’ death, Graceland cost around $480,000 a year to keep up, according to LA Times. Faced with estate’s expensive costs, Priscilla came up with a plan to turn it into a business opportunity.
She hired a chief executive officer to turn Graceland into a museum, making it a tourist destination. Graceland opened to the public in 1982, attracting around 300,000 visitors throughout the year.
Visitors are not allowed on the second floor, which is where Elvis’ body was discovered when he was pronounced dead in 1977.
In 1968, Priscilla gave birth to their daughter Lisa Marie Presley, who spent her early years at Graceland until her parents’ divorce in 1972, when she moved to California with her mother. She would frequently visit throughout her childhood.
The last member of the Presley family to occupy Graceland mansion was Elvis’ aunt Delta, who died in 1993.
Lisa Marie Presley’s estate has full ownership of Graceland mansion and her father’s personal belongings ranging from costumes to cars. Before her death, she made the mansion permanently available for tours.
In 2006, Graceland was declared a National Historic Landmark and now attracts 650,000 visitors annually. The mansion is so famous that’s even inspired a wedding chapel in Las Vegas.
Lisa Marie Presley passed away on Jan. 12 at 54, hours after being hospitalized following an apparent cardiac arrest. She was the only daughter of the late music legend Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley.
The mansion itself was passed onto Lisa Marie’s oldest daughter, Riley Keough, following her death. Presley’s son, Benjamin Keough, passed away at 27. In August, a Los Angeles judge approved Riley Keough as the sole heir of her late mother’s estate, also making her the owner of Graceland.
The mansion remains not only a tourist attraction, but a staple in pop culture. In June 2022, actors Austin Butler and Tom Hanks visited the mansion and were interviewed virtually for “Good Morning America” to talk about their biographical film “Elvis.” The film featured a recreation of the iconic estate. Sofia Coppola’s film “Priscilla” documenting the life of Priscilla Presley, will also feature scenes at a recreation of Graceland, showcasing her life at the mansion with Elvis. “Priscilla” was released in theaters on Oct. 27.
