Priscilla Presley Reveals $1M Earnings Amid Legal Battle.
Priscilla Presley, the 79-year-old former wife of Elvis Presley, has revealed her substantial earnings from public appearances in 2023, just as her legal fight with her ex-business associate, Brigitte Kruse, intensifies. The ongoing legal drama, which includes a financial elder abuse lawsuit filed by Priscilla, has reached new heights as the two parties continue to clash over business deals and accusations of misconduct.
Priscilla Presley’s Financial Declaration Amid Legal Battle
On Thursday, March 20, Priscilla Presley filed a declaration as part of her lawsuit against Brigitte Kruse, accusing her of financial elder abuse. This declaration, sheds light on the extent of Priscilla’s earnings from public appearances in the past year.
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Priscilla shared details of her 2023 earnings and revealed she had made twelve public appearances, though she claims she does not know the exact amount she received due to her former associate controlling her finances. However, the declaration states that in 2024, Priscilla made 34 paid appearances worldwide, grossing a total of approximately $1,000,000.
Priscilla Presley’s Earnings from Public Appearances
Priscilla’s earnings from appearances have become a major point of focus in her ongoing legal battle with Kruse. According to Priscilla, she relies heavily on income from her public appearances, which often consist of stage discussions under the name “An Evening With Priscilla.” She emphasized that these appearances are her primary source of income, which enables her to support herself financially.
In 2024, Priscilla made $62,000 from two shows in Florida. She claims that Brigitte and others involved in the legal dispute have sent a series of “baseless” cease-and-desist letters to her associates, family members, and contractual partners in an effort to interfere with her ability to earn a living.
Priscilla further stated that she had to spend significant resources defending against these legal threats. She revealed, “Recently, in an effort to directly and improperly interfere with my ability to earn a living, Brigitte and others have started barraging my associates and family members with cease-and-desist letters, demanding they stop doing business with me.”
The Ongoing Legal Dispute: Financial Elder Abuse and Retaliation Lawsuits
Priscilla Presley’s lawsuit claims that Brigitte Kruse, whom she met in 2021 while managing an auction house selling Elvis Presley memorabilia, took control of her finances and caused significant financial harm. She accused Brigitte of coercing her into business deals that paid the business associates up to 80% of her income. Priscilla claims she was unaware of the extent of the damage caused by Kruse until much later.
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In response, Brigitte Kruse filed a separate lawsuit against Priscilla in Florida, accusing her of financial misconduct in their business dealings. A lawyer representing Brigitte told TMZ, “The elder abuse lawsuit filed by Priscilla is retaliatory, following the legal action filed by our clients last year. We are confident the facts will speak for themselves.” The lawyer further expressed disappointment over Priscilla’s lawsuit, stating, “It saddens all of us who dropped our lives to provide aid to a woman who needed help. Now she’s attempting to ruin the lives of hardworking, kind individuals.”
Financial Mismanagement and Allegations of Fraudulent Transfers
The financial abuse allegations in Priscilla Presley’s lawsuit are severe, with the claim that Brigitte and other associates transferred over $620,000 of Priscilla’s money between December 2022 and June 2023. In her declaration, Priscilla described how Kruse transferred large sums of money from a $500,000 deposit she received from the director of the film Priscilla, Sofia Coppola. Priscilla claims that Brigitte transferred $60,000 to herself on December 13, 2022, and another $60,000 to another associate on December 20, 2022.
Priscilla also mentioned that she had no knowledge of how much money Kruse and others collected from third parties or the personal expenses they charged to companies they created. “To this day, I am still in the dark about everything that Defendants did to me,” Priscilla stated, revealing her confusion and frustration over the financial mismanagement.
The Impact on Priscilla Presley’s Career and Personal Life
The financial turmoil and legal disputes have affected more than just Priscilla’s finances. She claimed that Brigitte’s interference negatively impacted her relationship with Sofia Coppola, who directed the 2023 film Priscilla based on Priscilla’s early life with Elvis Presley. According to Priscilla, the original deal for the film was negotiated before she gave Brigitte control over her finances, yet she still blames Brigitte for the ensuing financial confusion.
Priscilla accused Brigitte of being a “con artist and pathological liar,” and she is seeking $1 million in damages from the defendants. Both lawsuits remain unresolved, with the judge yet to decide whether the case will be heard in California or Florida.
Priscilla Presley’s Financial Future and Legal Outcomes
As Priscilla Presley continues to fight for financial independence and justice, her legal battle with Brigitte Kruse is expected to have far-reaching consequences for both women. Priscilla’s financial struggles, brought to light through her public appearance income and legal disputes, have made her case a high-profile example of elder abuse and financial exploitation.
This ongoing case also underscores the complex nature of celebrity finances, where personal relationships, business dealings, and financial control are often intertwined. As the legal drama unfolds, Priscilla Presley remains determined to reclaim control over her life and earnings, while Kruse maintains her innocence.
What’s Next for Priscilla Presley?
Priscilla Presley’s fight for financial freedom and accountability continues as she battles both legal and emotional challenges. With a potential $1 million in damages on the line, her case could set a significant precedent for how financial elder abuse is handled in the celebrity world.
As Priscilla presses on with her elder abuse lawsuit, it will be important to watch how the legal proceedings unfold and what impact it has on her personal and professional life moving forward.
