Riley Keough Finds Her Voice Vanity Fair

Riley Keough: A Rising Star And The New Face Of The Presley Estate

Riley Keough Finds Her Voice Vanity Fair

This past fall, Daisy Jones & the Six star Riley Keough officially became the face of her famous family as the sole trustee of the Presley estate. She jumped right into the role, hosting a holiday TV special at Graceland and, most recently, defending the Nashville, Tennessee, estate from an attempted sale. Keough’s new title also came with quite a chunk of change.

But the 34-year-old has also been steadily building her assets by working as an actor for close to 15 years. Her breakout was The Runaways back in 2010, but she’s had parts in Magic Mike, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Girlfriend Experience (which got her a Golden Globe nomination), and The Terminal List. Her performance as Daisy Jones on the 2023 Amazon Prime Video series earned Keough her first Emmy Award nomination, and this year, she’s appeared in the Hulu true-crime series Under the Bridge and the indie flick Sasquatch Sunset.

As a result, Riley Keough’s total net worth is a reported $20 million as of this month. In the past year alone, her wealth has quadrupled after officially inheriting the estate of her grandfather and music icon Elvis Presley. Below, we delve into that whole saga and how Keough has built her bankroll.

What Did Riley Keough Make for Daisy Jones & the Six?

Keough’s paycheck hasn’t been confirmed by Amazon Prime Video, but there’s an unsubstantiated claim that she made $1.5 million for the series, which would break down to about $150,000 per episode. This significant paycheck highlights the demand for her talent, especially following the success of the series.

Keough Now Owns Graceland: What Does That Mean?

Keough’s mother, Lisa Marie Presley, suddenly died in January 2023. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lisa Marie claimed she “had very little or nothing left of her inheritance from her father,” but did own the Graceland estate as well as some of Elvis’ personal effects. Lisa Marie also owned a 15 percent stake in Elvis’ intellectual property rights, which THR notes “may generate future revenue for her heirs in the form of post-mortem book deals and movies.”

Now, that all belongs to Keough, who officially became the sole trustee of her late mother’s estate in August 2023. This transition not only solidifies her role within the Presley legacy but also places significant financial responsibility on her shoulders.

Challenges and Legal Matters Surrounding Graceland

Keough and her sisters, 15-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, were set to inherit Graceland from their mother—but things got complicated in January 2023 when their grandmother Priscilla Presley filed a petition to challenge her late daughter’s will. Specifically, she questioned a 2016 amendment that replaced her as a co-trustee with Riley and her late brother, Benjamin Keough. After a months-long standoff that reportedly left Riley upset, the two sides reached an agreement out of court in May 2023.

Priscilla was reportedly paid $1 million in the settlement (plus $400,000 to cover legal fees) and is receiving a monthly stipend as a special adviser to the estate, but Riley and her sisters are the real winners. Their 15-percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises—Lisa Marie sold the rest in 2005—and Graceland ownership are believed to be worth tens of millions, according to The New York Times.

Future Prospects and Ongoing Projects

Riley told Vanity Fair in a 2023 interview, “Things with Grandma will be happy.” She emphasized the importance of family and expressed her commitment to preserving the legacy of Graceland and the Presley family. Keough's future acting gigs will also boost her net worth, especially with new projects on the horizon.

In 2018, Keough and her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, purchased a Tudor-style cottage in Los Angeles for $1.3 million. Since Lisa Marie died, the couple and their daughter, Tupelo, have been living in nearby Calabasas to be closer to Keough’s teenage sisters. The move seems to be a permanent one, as Keough and Smith-Petersen have placed their Atwater Village house on the market, hoping to sell for just under $1.6 million.

Future acting gigs will also boost Keough’s net worth. This March, news arrived that the actor is slated to appear in an upcoming Netflix movie directed by Noah Baumbach. The coming-of-age tale, focused on adults, will also star George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Billy Crudup.

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Riley Keough Finds Her Voice Vanity Fair
Riley Keough Finds Her Voice Vanity Fair
Riley Keough asks court to approve settlement over mom Lisa Marie
Riley Keough asks court to approve settlement over mom Lisa Marie
Riley Keough Discusses Elvis Estate Drama With Priscilla Presley
Riley Keough Discusses Elvis Estate Drama With Priscilla Presley