Does The Presley Family Get Royalties? The Truth About Elvis’S Estate

Elvis Presley’s estate is a significant source of income, but the family doesn’t receive royalties from his music. This is due to a deal made before his death that rerouted all royalties. Back in 1973, Elvis and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, struck a deal with RCA. They offered the record label all future royalties from Elvis’s music in exchange for a large upfront sum.

This deal was quite lucrative for both Elvis and RCA. It allowed Elvis to have a large sum of cash on hand, and it gave RCA the rights to all future earnings from Elvis’s music. While it meant his family wouldn’t get royalties, it also ensured a steady flow of money to Elvis during his lifetime. This deal also cemented Elvis’s legacy as a musical icon. It’s important to remember that this deal was made before Elvis’s death and was likely a sound financial decision for him at the time.

Today, Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), which manages his estate, generates income from various sources. These include:

Graceland: Elvis’s iconic home, now a popular tourist destination.
Elvis-themed merchandise: A huge range of merchandise with his image and likeness.
Licensing agreements: Allowing companies to use his name and image in products.
Music publishing: While the family doesn’t receive royalties from the sales of his music, they do get a percentage from the music publishing rights.

It’s clear that Elvis’s estate is still thriving and that his legacy lives on through these diverse sources of income. The family may not receive royalties from his music sales, but they do benefit from a very successful estate.