Priscilla Presley was Elvis Presley’s first wife, married to him from 1967 to 1973 and the mother of Lisa Marie Presley, his only child. She entered public life as a teenager in Germany, spent a decade inside the Elvis world at Graceland, and after their divorce built a second career in acting and business — most importantly as the person who helped save Graceland from financial collapse and turn it into a museum.
How She Met Elvis
Priscilla Ann Wagner was born on May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York. Her father, a Navy pilot, died in a plane crash when she was a baby. Her mother later married Paul Beaulieu, a U.S. Air Force officer, and the family moved with his postings.
In 1959, at age 14, Priscilla met Elvis Presley in Bad Nauheim, West Germany, where Elvis was stationed with the U.S. Army. Priscilla was living there with her stepfather’s family. The age gap — Elvis was 24 — and the circumstances of their meeting have been widely discussed, and Priscilla herself has described the early years as a period when her parents insisted on chaperoned visits and strict rules.
Elvis returned to the United States in 1960, but the two stayed in touch. In 1962, with her parents’ permission, Priscilla moved to Memphis. She lived first with Elvis’s father, Vernon, and his wife, and later moved into Graceland. She completed high school in Memphis.
Marriage, Motherhood, and Divorce
Elvis and Priscilla married on May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas. Their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was born on February 1, 1968.
By the early 1970s the marriage had broken down. Elvis’s touring, film work, and lifestyle, and the pressures of life at Graceland, contributed to the split. Priscilla later said she wanted a life of her own outside the Elvis orbit. The couple divorced in 1973.
After the divorce Priscilla pursued acting. She appeared in television and film, including a long run as Jenna Wade on Dallas from 1983 to 1988, and roles in The Naked Gun films. She also developed business ventures, including a clothing boutique in Los Angeles.
Saving Graceland
After Elvis died in 1977, Graceland became a financial burden on the estate. Lisa Marie was a minor, and the cost of maintaining the house threatened its future. Priscilla, as a co-executor of Elvis’s estate, backed a plan to open Graceland to the public.
Graceland opened as a museum in 1982. It became one of the most visited private homes in the United States and the financial engine of the Elvis Presley estate. Priscilla’s role in that decision is often cited as her most consequential business achievement — she preserved the house, protected her daughter’s inheritance, and created a lasting public memorial to Elvis.
She later served as chair of Elvis Presley Enterprises and remained involved in Elvis-related projects, including the film Elvis (2022) and the biographical film Priscilla (2023), based on her memoir Elvis and Me (1985).
Later Life
Priscilla has remained a public figure, appearing in television, documentaries, and Elvis-related events, while also supporting charitable work. Her daughter Lisa Marie died in January 2023. Priscilla has since been involved in family and estate matters concerning Lisa Marie’s children.
What Is Not Established About Her Finances
No verified personal net-worth figure for Priscilla Presley is reported here. Estimates published by celebrity-finance websites are not audited and vary, and the value of the Elvis estate is not the same as Priscilla’s personal assets. This article reports her documented roles — as Elvis’s wife, as an actress, and as a businesswoman who helped preserve Graceland — rather than a fortune figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Priscilla Presley married to? Elvis Presley, from May 1, 1967, until their divorce in 1973.
How did Priscilla Presley meet Elvis? In 1959 in Bad Nauheim, West Germany, where Elvis was stationed with the U.S. Army and Priscilla was living with her stepfather’s family.
How old was Priscilla when she met Elvis? She was 14 and Elvis was 24, a fact widely noted in biographies of both.
What did Priscilla Presley do after her divorce? She acted, including on Dallas, and helped open Graceland as a museum in 1982.
Did Priscilla Presley have children? Yes, one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, born in 1968 and died in 2023.
3 thoughts on “Priscilla Presley: Elvis Presley’s First Wife, Her Life at Graceland & After Divorce”