What will happen to Lisa Marie Presley’s legacy?

On August 16, 1977, rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Elvis Presley was found dead by his fiancé, Ginger Alden, in the bathroom of his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, at just 42 years old.

First he was buried in a cemetery, a few weeks later permission was granted to bury Presley in the meditation garden in Graceland. A place of pilgrimage for Elvis fans worldwide was created.

Presley moved into the property in the spring of 1957, shortly after his breakthrough. He only paid around $100,000 for it at the time. His parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley, chose the house for their son and stayed there with him for a time.

Presley also lived in Graceland with girlfriend Priscilla Beaulieu for five years before they married in Las Vegas in 1967. Their daughter Lisa Marie Presley spent her early years there. Shortly before Presley’s death and her parents’ divorce, she moved to California with her mother.

After his death, his only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who died Thursday at the age of 54, inherited the property. First her grandfather Vernon and later her mother Priscilla Presley acted as executors. Graceland has been open to the public since 1982. Because the enormous maintenance costs had to be financed somehow. Since then, around 650,000 Elvis fans have made the pilgrimage to Graceland every year to be able to be close to their deceased idol and to remember them.

Fans can be close to their idol

With a tour of Graceland, fans can learn details from Presley’s life. The tour leads through the living rooms and kitchen, shows the TV and billiard room installed in the basement – including the bar. The “Jungle Room” can also be visited. It was initially Presley’s study and later his recording studio. There are also numerous exhibits to see. Graceland loop ends at Elvis Presley’s grave. Cost point: between the equivalent of 80 and 215 euros.

Lisa Marie Presley is also said to find her final resting place on the property. A public memorial service is planned for Sunday. After his death in 2020, the family also buried their only son Benjamin Keough there.

“Nothing will change in the company”

Graceland is in a trust that now benefits Lisa Marie Presley’s three daughters – 33-year-old Riley Keough and 14-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood. This reports the “Los Angeles Times”. A Graceland spokesman told the paper: “There will be no operational or administrative changes.”

In addition to Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley’s estate also includes her father’s costumes, cars, prizes and other belongings, which she managed until her death. A legal expert told The Times that complications could arise “when a single wealth holder dies and his wealth passes to multiple people because they may have different needs and desires.”

The daughters may not want to keep the estate because they have no personal relationship with Elvis Presley and cannot maintain Graceland and pay the high taxes. It is very likely to be sold, and it is also possible that people will show up who want to claim the estate.