How much was Elvis Presley worth when he died? A look at the King's finances then and now

According to CelebrityNetWorth, a (sometimes disputed) website that estimates the wealth and finances of celebrities, Elvis Presley had a net worth of $5 million when he died on Aug. 16, 1977 .

Adjusted for inflation, that $5 million equals about $24 million today. That's nothing to sneer an Elvisesque curled lip at, but it's not much, considering Elvis' phenomenal sales, his movie contracts , and his incalculable fame as the so-called King of Rock 'n' Roll.

According to Forbes, Elvis during his lifetime earned "anywhere from $100 million up to one billion dollars," but when he died he left "a cash-poor estate, with only about $5 million and a lot of debt." The singer's generosity, his purchases of cars and other "toys," his divorce, his support of family, friends and various hangers-on, and his arguably disadvantageous contract with his manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, contributed to his lack of funds. In a 1989 story, the singer's ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, told the Los Angeles Times that "the only thing Elvis ever did with money was spend it."

Not that it's doing Elvis any good, but Priscilla and the other managers of Presley's estate certainly have changed the singer's fortunes in the years since his death. In 2023, Presley ranked just behind the first-place Michael Jackson in Forbes' annual list of "the world's highest paid dead celebrities." Elvis earned $100 million last year, according to Forbes.

In fact, Elvis has never been outside the top 10, since Forbes initiated the list in 2001; from 2001-2005, he ranked No. 1, and in many recent years he has finished second to Michael Jackson (who died in 2009). Some other regulars on the list include Dr. Seuss; John Lennon; and "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz.

THE STORY OF 'MEMPHIS': How new Elvis box set brings listeners closer than ever to the King

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How much was Elvis Presley worth when he died? A look at the King's finances then and now