What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? Part biography, part murder mystery and perhaps the most thoroughly researched . After all the money he took from Elvis???? Profession: Elvis' manager. For a time, Parker lied about his childhood, claiming to have been born in Huntington, West Virginia, in the early 1900s to explain his Dutch accent as being a Southern accent, and to have run away from home at an early age to join a circus owned by an uncle before serving in the U.S. Army prior to his involvement with being a music manager. [60] In 1993, interest in Presley's enduring legend, interest that is sometimes notable for its obsessiveness, provoked Parker to remark: "I don't think I exploited Elvis as much as he's being exploited today. "Every entertainer should go to bed at night and pray he . His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as the Netherlands, and his citizenship as American. He also lost a big chunk of Elvis's own money. In 1973, Colonel Parker sold the master tapes for 700 of Presley's songs to RCA for $5.4 million. His films still made money and his albums still sold well, but the profits were falling. [16] In the drama, the role of Sands was portrayed as a "twisted psychopath". . During this time, Parker also served as a field agent for the Hillsborough County Humane Society, helping to raise funds and awareness for its work. [33] [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the Netherlands. In early 1929, a 23-year-old newlywed woman, Anna van den Enden, was found beaten to death in the living quarters behind a greengrocer store. But as time went on, as the Beatles began their dominance of the music charts and the worldwide phenomenon known as Beatlemania began, Presley became less significant. In 1994, following the marriage of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson, Parker stated that Presley would not have approved. to control the singer's merchandise. [15] However, Parker remained involved in many of Arnold's live tours and demanded a buyout of $50,000 (US$506,405 in 2021 dollars[11]) to settle their contract. Alanna Nash's biography of Parker, The Colonel, claims he may have been trying to avoid passport scrutiny because he might have been a suspect in a murder in Breda. [53] Seeing it as a chance to finally be taken seriously as an actor, Presley agreed to take the role if the contracts could be worked out. He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. 26 Jun 1909. When he came out, he suffered from a psychosis that led to a brief stay at a mental ward, causing him to be discharged from the Army. The 30th Anniversary of the death of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. [53] According to Parker himself, he did privately attempt to talk to his client a number of times about the matter, but allegedly every time Parker casually told Presley to quit or at least tone it down with the pill popping and binge eating, Presley would respond by telling Parker to stay out of his personal business. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so. Colonel Tom Parker was a music entrepreneur, well-known for being Elvis' manager. and he was hired as a hotel consultant for $50,000 per year (323,906 in 2021 dollars). He arranged for Presley to appear on popular television shows, such as The Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, securing fees that made Presley the highest-paid star on television. The King of Rock 'n' Roll's only daughter inherited his iconic Graceland estate and was once married to Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage - but now she's reportedly US$16 million in debt In any case, Parker remained Presley's manager without a break until Presley's death in 1977. Parker was also afraid that any attempt to block Presley from being drafted would result in a more detailed look into his own service record. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. She said she was at home with him when he had his stroke. Meanwhile, his gambling habit increasingly eroded the huge fortune he had built up, and he died worth only US$1,000,000. Although Parker infrequently saw Presley over the ensuing years, he remained his manager until Presley's passing in 1977. Austin offered Parker the opportunity to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where music was becoming a big business, but for reasons unknown Parker turned him down. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! His immigration status wasn't revealed for years. Parker's main role during these tours was to plan the logistics and make sure tickets were sold. [33], Presley had been showing signs of rebellion against Parker, and Parker believed that a stint in the Army would cure him of this. [10] Parker later said that at times they had had to live on as little as $1 a week (US$20 in 2021 dollars). [69] In October 1990, Parker married Loanne Miller, his secretary since 1972. [4] It is believed that Parker lost at least $1 million a year from gambling. While Presley was serving in West Germany, Parker was hard at work keeping Presley's name known to the public. [51] In her book, The Colonel, she writes: "in the days before the Betty Ford Clinic, the Colonel didn't know where to take him for discreet, effective help and loathed risking the loss of work if the truth got out". Let's find out. [44] At the time, Presley's back catalog was not considered very important and RCA initially calculated it at being worth much less, but in later years it would become one of the most valuable record catalogs in the music business. [52] Angered by this outburst, Parker declared: "You can't fire me. This led Parker to insist that films be made cheaply, on a strict schedule, and with as little hassle as possible. Their's was probably the most unique artist-manager relationship ever in show business, clearly one of the most successful. [12] Parker, with the task of promoting Austin, found the career transition smooth, using much of his "carny" experience to sell tickets and attract the crowds. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? Colonel Tom Parker's home (former), 409 Park Ridge Avenue, Temple Terrace, Fl. [46] Originally planned as three performances, demand was so high that Parker decided to add a fourth performance, making Presley the first performer to sell out the venue four consecutive times. He was one of the most influential voices in the industry. Mourners recall being surprised at his wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, smoking his trademark cigar, and purposely avoiding the casket. [8] This may have motivated Parker to avoid seeking a passport, as the Netherlands has an active extradition treaty with the United States, and he may have wanted to avoid criminal arrest by Dutch authorities. He is also said to have had gambling debts of up to $30 million at different times. Luhrmann hasn't really . [4], "Colonel Tom Parker rubbed my head in Vegas", Eddie Murphy stated in 1989. . Presley was never one to stand up against Parker, but he knew that this TV show was his one chance at a true comeback, and with Binder backing him, Presley told Parker he was doing it "Binder's way". [37] Parker signed long-term contracts with the film studios,[39] possibly to guarantee work and income for both him and Presley. Parker privately acknowledged his brother and even introduced him to Presley. [62], One of Parker's brothers, Adam "Ad" van Kuijk, visited Parker once in Los Angeles in April 1961. Compare Colonel Tom Parker's Net Worth. [67] According to interviews given by Parker to the Associated Press many years later, he and Marie were married in Tampa, Florida, during the winter of 1932,[67] but the Florida Office of Vital Statistics had no record of such a marriage any time between 1927 and 1946. On March 26, 1956, after Presley's management contract with Neal expired, Presley signed a contract with Parker that made him his exclusive representative. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. At the time, many people predicted that he would have a long and lucrative career . The next morning he died from complications of the stroke at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. Potomac, was going to be salvaged. "That didn't come out in this country until 1981." However, other friends and members of Presley's entourage have stood by the suggestion that Parker didn't want to admit there was such a problem because he didn't know how to deal with it, and he was also worried about any negative publicity it would create. While the film shows Elvis firing his manager during a show after realising he's being deceived by the Colonel, this is not what happened in real life. The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash Aurum 19.99, pp394. [49] The album was released simultaneously around the world, and went to number 1 on the US charts, the first Presley album to do so since the Roustabout soundtrack, in 1964. [15] However, RCA Victor producer Steve Sholes was convinced that Presley's style of music would be a huge hit with the right label, and he began talks with Parker. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. [65] Unbeknown to Parker at the time, she had a second son from her first marriage, but had given him up for adoption at birth due to his disability (a club foot). Colonel Tom Parker died at the age of 87 years. During the interview, Parker said that he was not aware that another one of his sisters, Adriana van Kuijk, had died in the Netherlands a few years before. [15], A young singer, Tommy Sands, caught Parker's eye in 1952, and Parker immediately set about promoting him. He . During this time, Parker secured him long-term deals with film studios. He is portrayed by Tom . What was Colonel Tom Parker's net worth when he died? Between 1969 and his death on Aug. 16, 1977, Presley played over 600 shows at the Hilton. There were no witnesses and almost no evidence, except that the killer spread pepper on and around the body before fleeing in hopes that police dogs would not pick up the scent. Just the opposite. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. [36] If Parker had had any doubts about his return, they were soon gone when he witnessed the turnout along the route. [citation needed], After the success of Presley's return to live performing in Las Vegas, Parker decided it was time to take him back out on tour for the first time in 13 years. [65] However, there is no definite proof that anything other than romance led to their marriage. June 30, 2022. To hide that he was an illegal immigrant, he adopted the name Tom Parker, which was the name of the officer who interviewed him. [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. [50] Presley's main doctor, George C. Nichopoulos, would often replace Presley's medication with placebos in an attempt to wean him off the drugs. Despite the shady financial dealings Parker maintained with Presley, his net worth when he died was much less than that of Elvis, who died with a net worth of $5 million - around $20 million when adjusted for inflation. According to Presley's biographer Peter Guralnick, Presley and Parker "were really like, in a sense, a married couple, who started out with great love, loyalty, respect that lasted for a considerable period of time, and went through a number of stages until, towards the end of Presley's life, they should have walked away. Colonel Tom Parker used to earn a good amount of money while he was working for US army. No, he didn't. That's the kicker. Tom Parker. "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. [4], In The Colonel, her 2003 biography of Parker, Alanna Nash wrote that Parker may have been a suspect or a person of interest in an unsolved murder case in Breda. ", "Photos: Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker", https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/a-new-light-on-colonel-tom-parker.shtml, "A Larger-Than-Life Look at a Larger-Than-Life Star", "Meet the Fifth (Jewish) Beatle Manager Brian Epstein", "The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies", Tom Parker collection and interviews with co workers, ED Bonja Interview Elvis Photographer - the Elvis Information Network exclusive. [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. [39], For the remainder of the 1960s, Presley made films that relied heavily on exotic locations and mundane songs, and he was tied into contracts that he could not escape. [26] Parker, with his 25% share of profits, found ways to make money from his artist that other managers before him had never thought of. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:32, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Tom Parker Is Dead at 87; Controlled Presley's Career", "Colonel Parker Managed Elvis' Career, but Was He a Killer on the Lam? Elvis Presley & Colonel Parker. [53] Streisand's production company, First Artists, offered Presley a salary of $500,000 ($2,517,934 in 2021 dollars[11]) and 10% of the profits. "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. Parker was the Tampa dogcatcher known as The Colonel, who managed Elvis Presley with a deal that controversially landed him 50% of the King of Rock and Roll's earnings. The document that was signed on November 21 pertained to the record label transfer. "[27][28], Parker signed a deal with Beverly Hills film merchandiser Hank Saperstein for nearly $40,000 to turn Presley into a brand name. What was his net worth in 2022? The two had become almost strangers, and false reports in the media suggested that Presley's contract was up for sale. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. Elvis Presley shot to stardom as a rock 'n roll legend, a legacy that still continues almost 50 years after the King's death. [15] Both Mercury Records and Columbia Records showed interest, although their initial offers were nowhere near the $40,000 requirement. [48] The press were told that an audience of one billion was expected to tune in to see the "first entertainment special to be broadcast live around the world",[48] although Parker had not taken into account the fact that many countries, including parts of Europe and America, would not see the concert live due to the time of the broadcast. [32], In 1957, Parker finally managed to give Tommy Sands his big break by arranging for him to audition for and star in The Singin' Idol, a drama for NBC that was loosely based on the life and career of Presley. Colonel Tom Parker net worth: Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch American talent manager who had a net worth of $1 million at the time of his death in 1997. By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. [citation needed] After a cold reception during his first few shows,[30] Parker cut Presley's appearance to two weeks. Guralnick, Peter (1994). [26] With over 78 different possibilities, from charm bracelets to record players, Presley merchandise brought in $22 million by the end of 1956. The pair worked together at carnivals early on before Parker's career in management took off. Colonel Tom Parker died on January 21, 1997 at the age of 87. Net Worth: $1 Million; Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) What is Colonel Tom Parker worth? But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. Death. According to Presley's friend, Jerry Schilling, Presley was excited about the opportunity to take on a new challenge. [53] Despite this, however, the deal never materialized. Published Jan. 22, 1997 | Updated Sep. 30, 2005. At the time of Elvis' death, he was worth just $5 million, a relatively-modest amount considering his enormous level of success and fame. [14] The job not only offered him a secure wage, it also offered a rent-free apartment above the Humane Society in a remote part of West Tampa for him and his family. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke, and died the following morning in a Las Vegas hospital. A few years after that, he illegally entered the United States by jumping ship from the boat of his employer. Elvis is signed exclusively to the Colonel. 1. [53] Promoters in South America also made offers, as much as $2.5 million, and all of them were turned down by Parker; "Well, whenever I need $2.5 million I'll call you," he once said to them. Colonel Tom Parker made more than $100 million in his lifetime, but when he died, he was reportedly worth less than $1 million. In 1969, she was an employee of the International Hotel when Elvis made his record-breaking performances there. Parker's net worth was estimated to be $50 million as of 1977. [15] As Presley was still a minor, his parents had to sign the contract with Parker on his behalf. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. He had expressed interest in making films when he first met Parker, and now Parker was working to make that happen. Nor did he ever suggest onstage that he knew of the colonel's immigration issues. However, the music scene had radically changed. [4] By this time, with the IRS demanding almost $15 million in taxes, the estate was facing bankruptcy. He would call his flamboyant manager, Col. Tom Parker, and ask Parker to book another tour (Presley's average concert gross in the mid-'70s was $130,000 a night) or schedule another recording . While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. Little, Brown. Parker was still worried that Presley would return to nothing, that the public would have found a new star to fawn over by then, and that his golden goose would be reduced to nothing more than a "has-been".[35]. [43] A breakfast reception was arranged, taking place after the media got their photographs of the couple. I quit! At that time Parker believed Elvis to be black. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. [37] He envisioned him as an entertainment machine, pumping out three films and soundtracks a year, until the end of the decade. Parker encouraged Presley to make film musicals which became the focus of his career during his commercial decline in the 1960s until his 1968 comeback and return to touring. How Colonel Tom Parker built his net worth. "[24], With his first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel", in 1956,[25] Presley became a recording star. With Parker's help, Presley signed a recording contract with RCA Victor, leading to his commercial breakthrough in 1956 with his sixth single "Heartbreak Hotel" and propelling him to become one of the most popular and commercially successful entertainers in the world. The Colonel was involved in Elvis' music career from very early on. "He fully believed the colonel's story that Parker hailed from Huntington, West Virginia; Elvis died not knowing the truth," she says. [35] He sent Presley's friends to keep him company, arranged for business associates to watch over him while they were working in Europe, and kept in regular contact with him. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. [13] Within a year, he had the opportunity to become a legal citizen of the United States a new law allowed illegal aliens the chance to become citizens in return for their promise to fight for the country during World War II, if required. [53] Parker, who had always dealt with Presley's film contracts and viewed the offer as a starting bid to earning more money, instead asked for a salary $1 million ($5,035,869 in 2021 dollars[11]), 50% of the profits, plus another $100,000 ($503,587 in 2021 dollars[11]) for expenses, and spoke of needing to arrange details of a soundtrack deal. [16] Parker had intended to mold Sands into the next Roy Rogers, but Sands had no interest in such a plan. By Alanna Nash. [33] Parker, on the other hand, was fully aware that any special treatment given to Presley would instantly be used against him in the media and by those who disliked his style of music. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? [56] Other accounts suggest he slumped in his chair at his office, muttered, "Oh, dear God", and then quickly phoned Vernon Presley, where Parker advised Presley's father that his son's image needed to be protected. [26] By the summer Presley had become one of the most famous new faces of the year, causing excitement among the new teenage audience and outrage among some older audiences and religious groups. [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. According to several people who knew Presley at the time, the talks with Hulett got so far along that it seemed almost inevitable the deal would be done. Hanks said, "I was anticipating hearing horror stories about this venal, cheap crook. For two years he served in the 64th Coast Artillery at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. During this part of Presley's career, Parker and Presley agreed to a 50/50 "partnership", which, with Parker controlling merchandising and other non-music related items, resulted in Parker earning more than his client. Austin had spent much of his fortune on partying, cars, mansions, and women, and his popularity had been eclipsed by other singers, such as Bing Crosby. [31] Parker made sure that the contract allowed Presley the freedom to make at least one film a year with another studio, and also managed to set up an office, with staff, at Paramount. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films. [4][5] Tual, once appointed as Lisa Marie's guardian ad litem, chose to investigate the entire period of Parker's management of Presley; his preliminary finding was that Parker's management deal of 50% was extortionate compared to the industry average of 1520%. He arranged for a screen test with Paramount Pictures, and after impressing them with Presley's acting ability, Presley was signed to a seven-picture contract. 21 Jan 1997 (aged 87) Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. Presley's star continued to rise as Parker signed a merchandising deal with Hank Saperstein to fully commoditize the young singer. Colonel Tom Parker's House. In 1963, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's audacious manager who had gotten his start selling candy apples in carnivals, read in the paper that Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht, the U.S.S. When critics questioned this arrangement and that Parker was exploiting Presley for more money because of greed, Presley quipped "I could have signed with East Coast Entertainment where they take 70 percent! 2. "[42] Parker used the argument that Presley was his only client and he was thus earning only one fee.[42]. Parker was able to receive more than half of the income from the enterprise, an unprecedented figure for a music manager. [13] Instead, Parker decided to stay in Temple Terrace, Florida, with his family, perhaps to avoid having to submit paperwork that could expose his illegal status. With Presley serving in West Germany, Parker did everything he could to keep the singer's name on everyone's lips, as he worried that Presley would fade in the public eye. [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. On January 20, 1997, Parker's wife heard a crashing sound from the living room, and found him slumped over in his chair after having a stroke. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 January 21, 1997),[1] commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager. 3. For all intents and purposes, this should have made Elvis Presley a very wealthy man, yet when he passed away in 1977, the King was down to his last $1million and prior to his death The Colonel . [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. How Elvis Presley Died Nearly Broke Then Became One Of The Richest Dead Celebrities Of All Time. RCA was eager for Presley to record in West Germany, but Parker insisted that it would ruin his reputation as a regular soldier if he was able to go into a recording studio. Snow attended the signing, thinking that Elvis had signed a management contract with Jamboree Attractions, which he owned with Parker. [18] Neal was struggling at the time to accommodate his new client's success, and in February 1955, following a meeting with Parker, Presley agreed to let Parker take some control of future bookings and promotions. In addition to its considerable value, the estate of Elvis . However, he also continued to blow his fortune on his gambling addiction and he died heavily in debt. [54] Vernon also threatened to find a new manager if Parker wouldn't continue to tour Presley. [54], In July 1976, three of Presley's personal bodyguards and members of the "Memphis Mafia", Robert Gene "Red" West, his cousin Sonny West and David Hebler, were fired by Vernon Presley and decided to write a tell-all book about their life in his inner circle, Elvis: What Happened? [35] Parker had declined to travel to Europe, denying that he spoke any language other than English. [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. He was best known for being the manager of Elvis Presley. In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star.