[18] When the contract expired, the Memphis radio personality Bob Neal stepped in and made a deal with Phillips to become Presley's manager. [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. At the time, many people predicted that he would have a long and lucrative career . Growing up, he worked as a carnival barker in his hometown. In the early 80s, an investigation was launched into Parker's management of Presley. Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager for more than 20 years, and was with him when he died on August 16, 1977. . Inc.[4] However, because Parker was still entitled to 50% of all Presley's income, and after taxes were taken off, the overall amount going towards the upkeep of the estate was less than $1 million a year.[4]. [60] On the surface, however, relations between the two were as good as ever, with Parker helping the Hilton to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Presley's death. What Elvis Gets RightAnd WrongAbout the Real Colonel Tom Parker [15] Eventually, Parker began getting more involved in music promotion again, this time for himself rather than the Society. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and musical entrepreneur who had a net worth of $1 million at the time of his death in 1997. Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth 2023 Snow attended the signing, thinking that Elvis had signed a management contract with Jamboree Attractions, which he owned with Parker. A suit between Parker and the Presley estate was settled out of court in 1983. In 1956, Presley was launched to superstardom with the release of his first single for RCA Victor, "Heartbreak Hotel." [50] As well as being their employer and paying their wages, he was also their main source of access to drugs for themselves. Col. Tom Parker, the former carnival barker who helped guide Elvis Presley to stardom, died Tuesday of complications from a . These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). [4] A year later at 18, with enough money to sustain him for a short period, he entered America illegally by jumping ship from his employer's vessel. He subsequently performed at three charity events, and then suspended his live performing until 1968. "[52], Parker accepted that their working relationship was over, Parker telling them over the phone that Dr. Nick's services are no longer required, and demanded that Presley pay him $2 million to end their contract; money Parker claimed he was owed. "[27][28], Parker signed a deal with Beverly Hills film merchandiser Hank Saperstein for nearly $40,000 to turn Presley into a brand name. On March 26, 1956, after Presley's management contract with Neal expired, Presley signed a contract with Parker that made him his exclusive representative. [72] Priscilla Presley attended the funeral to represent the Elvis Presley Estate and gave a eulogy that, to many in the room, summed up Parker: "Elvis and the Colonel made history together, and the world is richer, better and far more interesting because of their collaboration. [1][4], At age 15, Van Kuijk moved to Rotterdam, gaining employment on boats in the port town. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too . Colonel Parker died of a stroke on January 22, 1997, aged 87. . He also influenced his decisions to join the military and marry Priscilla, among other . 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. [41], To make up for lack of earnings, Parker arranged for Presley's gold Cadillac to go on tour. With 1956 coming to a close, Parker had made Presley one of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the world. For his part, Parker himself died with a net worth of $1 million, or roughly $1.8 million in today's money (via Dollar Times ). 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? The King supposedly earned $100 million during his limelighted lifetime, which ended 10 years ago today. 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. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. Breda, Breda Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. He was 87. Tom Hanks took on the role of the so-called villain. [15] Although Neal remained Presley's official manager, Parker was becoming increasingly involved in the running of his career, and by the summer of 1955 he had become Presley's "special advisor". Later, in 1990, Parker married his longtime secretary Loanne Miller. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. After Parker's death in 1997, the home was used as a law . [67] As Parker's management career began to take off, Marie became more of a housewife, although she would occasionally travel with him to various parts of the country. In January 1979, it was discovered that Presley had lost out on royalties for songs on which he had been listed as an author or composer because Parker had unwisely advised him not to sign up to ASCAP or its younger competitor, BMI. [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. [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. In 1953 Parker bought a house in Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would visit and stay while recording. After all the money he took from Elvis???? The Wanted singer Tom Parker has died from a brain tumour at the age of 33. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. [65] However, there is no definite proof that anything other than romance led to their marriage. [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. What happened to Colonel Tom Parker after Elvis Presley died? The world's music and pop culture changed forever when the greatest performer of them all joined . No, Elvis didn't fire the Colonel from the stage at Las Vegas in real life. [33] Presley had wanted to join Special Services, allowing him the opportunity to perform while at the same time getting an easier ride than other soldiers. Phillips told them to make a separate deal with Elvis. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. "No, he never would have done that," Nash says. According to Alanna Nash, who wrote The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley . Later in 1975, the government of Saudi Arabia offered Parker $5 million for Presley to perform there. He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as . [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? [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. 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. He was previously married to Loanne Miller and Marie Frances Mott. He first met the future star in 1955, when Elvis was already being managed by the guitarist in his band. [44] The tours were so popular and financially successful that they determined Presley's workload for the remainder of his life and career. By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. In Elvis biopic, Tom Hanks plays the Tampa dogcatcher who managed the King At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. [56], In September 1978, shortly after the first anniversary of Presley's death, Parker arranged a fan festival, Always Elvis, where he, Vernon, and Presley's ex-wife Priscilla, dedicated a bronze statue of him in the lobby of the Las Vegas Hilton. Colonel Tom Parker died at the age of 87 years. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." Colonel Tom Parker was born as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909 in Breda, Netherlands as the seventh of eleven children of Adam and Maria. Who Owns Elvis Presley's Rights? Royalties, Estate, and More [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. [33] Parker had seen many acts come and go during his earlier years in management, and felt that it would be foolish to believe that Presley, despite being Parker's most successful act to date, would be any different. The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash Aurum 19.99, pp394. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. The Dark Side Of Colonel Parker - An EIN Spotlight [10] Parker later said that at times they had had to live on as little as $1 a week (US$20 in 2021 dollars). [37] Parker, not one to forget harsh criticism, stated that the fee would be $125,000 (equivalent to about $1,145,000 in 2021) for two songs, a total of eight minutes on screen; Sinatra himself was receiving a lower sum for the whole show,[38] but he agreed. How Colonel Tom Parker built his net worth. He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. That's $35 million (28m) today and considerably less than what they were actually worth. Remembering Loanne Parker - Graceland [15] RCA Victor, Hank Snow's current label, also showed an interest, but they were put off by the cost of the contract. [41] With Priscilla's father dropping heavy hints, and fear that their relationship might become public beforehand, Parker persuaded Presley that he should make an "honest woman" of her in the very near future. [68] Marie died on November 25, 1986, of a chronic brain syndrome at age 78. [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. Who was Colonel Tom Parker? The story of Elvis Presley's - Gold He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. In 1994, following the marriage of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson, Parker stated that Presley would not have approved. [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. The talks had included details about European tours, and buying out Presley's contract would not have been a problem for Hulett and his company. He then re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas in Florida. The claim of Parker's Dutch heritage was publicly confirmed when Parker unsuccessfully tried to avert a lawsuit brought against him in 1982 by asserting in open court that he was a Dutch citizen. [15] As Presley was still a minor, his parents had to sign the contract with Parker on his behalf. At the time of Elvis' death, he was worth just $5 million, a relatively-modest amount considering his enormous level of success and fame. Following an investigation in the early 80s, a judge ruled that Parker's management of Presley had been unethical. Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth (Producer) 26 Jun 1909. While Neal was originally the singer's official manager, Parker was the one most involved in running Presley's career. 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. In January 1958 Presley received his draft notice from the United States Army. [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. His Dutch birthplace and immigrant status were not revealed for many years. Presley's star continued to rise as Parker signed a merchandising deal with Hank Saperstein to fully commoditize the young singer. Colonel Tom Parker - Elvis, House & Death - Biography Tom "Colonel Tom" Parker (1909-1997) - Find a Grave Memorial 'Elvis' Ending, Explained: Was Tom Parker Responsible For The - DMT [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. . Attorney Blanchard E. Tual concluded that Parker's deal of taking 50% of the singer's profits was extortionate, as the industry standard was closer to 15-20%. [16] Remembering his previous experience with Sands, Sholes dismissed Sands as a viable replacement for Presley.[16]. A large part of Tom's net worth he made from his Salary as a Colonel. Colonel Tom Parker used to earn a good amount of money while he was working for US army. At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. The Truth About Elvis Presley's Relationship With Colonel Tom Parker Colonel Tom Parker Net in death: Despite earning more than $ 100 million during his lifetime, at the time of his death Colonel Tom Parker was worth less than $ 1 million. [15] The rank was honorary, since Louisiana had no organized militia, but Parker used the title throughout his life, becoming known simply as "the Colonel" to many acquaintances. . [41] Frank Sinatra had married Mia Farrow in 1966, and it had produced enough publicity for Parker to sit up and take notice. The pair worked together at carnivals early on before Parker's career in management took off. Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager from 1955 to his death in 1977, earned an estimated $50 million from the singer's estate. [39] Throughout the 1960s Parker would continually renegotiate Presley's film contracts, often paying little attention to the scripts or the concerns of his client. Let's find out. This was, with hindsight, a mistake on his part; if he had negotiated each deal separately based on the profits of the previous film, he could have received more money. Answer (1 of 2): In addition to what is noted in the other answer, he had legal disputes with the Presley estate but ultimately continued to earn money from Elvis's legacy. He is portrayed by Tom . Elvis Presley Net Worth at Death: Who Inherited His Estate? Salary COL. TOM PARKER DIES AT 87 - The Washington Post [65] Marie was one of six children,[65] had been married twice before, and had a son from her first marriage. Blues," "Wild in the Country," "Blue Hawaii," "Viva Las Vegas," "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," "Clambake," and "Change of Habit." 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. [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. 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. He's a very smart man. The majority of Elvis's reported net worth at the time of his death was comprised of royalties from record sales, publishing, film and concert tickets. Stick around for t. He . What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? Parker privately acknowledged his brother and even introduced him to Presley. Following this, Neal chose not to renew his management contract with Presley, leaving Parker as the singer's sole manager. [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. Colonel Tom Parker - Wikipedia [41] In Houston alone in one afternoon, 40,000 people paid to see it, with one woman offering to have sex with the tour manager if he would allow her to sit in it. His immigration status wasn't revealed for years. He was mysterious and colorful, and, under his guidance, his one and only client -- Elvis -- reached unimaginable heights. Hanks said, "I was anticipating hearing horror stories about this venal, cheap crook. [4], In 1935, Parker married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. He died of complications from the stroke[72] the following morning at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth : $1 Million. Tom Hanks on controversial 'Elvis' biopic: 'What have I done?' [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. His mother was giving him a pep talk to calm his nerves. Obituary: Col Tom Parker | The Independent | The Independent He was punished with solitary confinement, from which he emerged with a psychosis that led to him spending two months in a mental hospital,[4] and he was discharged from the Army because of his mental condition. "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. Specifically: The services for Tom Parker were held at Palm Mortuary Downtown location, but his cremains were taken to Memphis, TN and the mortuary has no record of the exact location. [26] He had even come up with the idea to market "I Hate Elvis" badges. [4][5] Parker's final years were spent living in Las Vegas, in increasingly poor health before his death in 1997. The next morning he died from complications of the stroke at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! 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. 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. The Amazing ComebackOf Colonel Tom Parker. 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. He also reportedly had as much as $30 million worth of gambling debts at various times in his life. [15] Presley had been at Sun Records since the beginning of his career, but Sam Phillips, the owner of Presley's current label, was aware that to have any kind of a successful future Presley would need the backing of a much larger label. 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. [53] Parker later claimed that Presley had asked him to make the contract so demanding so that they would not offer him the part, although many of Presley's friends have contradicted Parker's statement because they had said Presley was furious at losing the role.[53]. [60] However, he did occasionally bother them by criticizing some decisions. Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. From someone who knew him - Chicago Tribune He said 'Did I really?' Instead, Parker sent demonstration recordings to record producer Steve Sholes at RCA Victor. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. [19][20] Part of Parker's role was to secure a new recording contract with a bigger label. The Life Of Colonel Tom Parker: Elvis Presley's Manager [1], Parker was born as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909, in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands,[4] and was the seventh of eleven children. After the Sinatra special, Parker decided that Presley's future lay in Hollywood. Allegedly $1 Million, more or less. After a lifetime of earning well over $100 million managing Elvis, The Colonel's estate was barely worth $1 million upon his death. 4. to control the singer's merchandise. But the Colonel quickly got to work, starting as Elvis' advisor before they signed a contract giving him sole rights .