Priscilla Presley’s Bitter Feud Over Millions Ends With a Medical Revelation
For decades, the Presley name has carried enormous weight in music, film, and culture. Yet behind the legendary spotlight lies a complicated story of legal feuds, family disputes, and financial battles. Since 2023, Priscilla Presley—Elvis Presley’s ex-wife—has been entangled in lawsuits with former business partners.
What began as a business disagreement has spiraled into allegations of fraud, elder abuse, and shocking personal claims tied to the death of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
The First Legal Dispute in 2023
The conflict began in October 2023 when Priscilla Presley Partners—a company Priscilla co-founded with auctioneer Brigitte Kruse—filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit. According to court records, Priscilla and Kruse established the company in January 2023 with the goal of managing Priscilla’s name, likeness, and image.
Kruse and her associate, Kevin Fialko, claimed they pulled Priscilla out of serious financial trouble while Sofia Coppola’s highly anticipated film Priscilla was preparing for release.
Kruse and Fialko argued that they provided financial and professional support but that Priscilla cut them off just months later. The conflict escalated when Priscilla’s new adviser sent a cease-and-desist letter right before the movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival. After that, the parties stopped communicating altogether.
Instagram | @latimes_entertainment | Priscilla Presley and Brigitte Kruse faced a contract battle in 2023 as both sides accused each other of wrongdoing.
Priscilla’s legal team countered by alleging that she had discovered financial misconduct. Her attorney, Marty Singer, declared that the business partners misused funds and described the lawsuit as retaliatory. After months of disputes, a judge ordered the court to close the case administratively in late 2023.
Presley Responds with Elder Abuse Claims
In 2024, Priscilla filed her own lawsuit in Los Angeles. At that point, she accused Kruse and Fialko of elder abuse and fraud. In her filing, she claimed they manipulated her into handing over power of attorney as well as control of her trusts and bank accounts. She also alleged that they cut her off from trusted advisers, posed as caretakers, and tried to drain her resources.
In response, Kruse and Fialko forcefully denied the accusations. According to their attorney, Jordan Matthews, the partnership remained legitimate and well-documented, showing no sign of coercion. He also stated that video evidence and communications proved they had not committed elder abuse.
In turn, Matthews pushed back with sharp language, claiming his clients were the real victims. He went on to argue that they invested years of effort and millions of dollars into Priscilla’s brand, only for her to betray them once the finances stabilized. Finally, he emphasized that his clients demanded their day in court and refused to stay silent.
The $50 Million Lawsuit and Allegations
By mid-2024, the legal saga intensified further. In a $50 million complaint, Kruse and Fialko accused Priscilla of contract violations and fraud. The most shocking allegation was that Priscilla “pulled the plug” on Lisa Marie Presley in January 2023 despite her daughter’s directive to prolong her life.
Lisa Marie, who inherited Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate in 1993, had struggled with health issues before her sudden passing at age 54. The lawsuit claims she had warned her mother about her deteriorating health. It further alleges Priscilla prioritized public appearances over her daughter’s condition, including an outing at Chateau Marmont.
The most explosive claim accuses Priscilla of making the decision to end Lisa Marie’s life prematurely, even before her granddaughter, actress Riley Keough, could reach the hospital. It suggests she wanted to maintain control of family narratives and estate matters.
However, authorities never alleged wrongdoing. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office ruled Lisa Marie’s death as complications from surgery. Marty Singer, Priscilla’s attorney, called the lawsuit “shameful, salacious, and meritless,” stating it was designed to damage the reputation of an 80-year-old woman out of retaliation.
Riley Keough and the Future of Graceland
Instagram | biography | Riley Keough became the sole trustee of Graceland after a legal settlement with Priscilla Presley.
After Lisa Marie died, management of Elvis Presley’s famed mansion switched again. Her daughter, Riley Keough—star of “Daisy Jones & The Six” became the sole trustee following a legal settlement with Priscilla in August 2023. Keough now owns Graceland, ensuring the estate stays in Presley family hands.
In 2024, Graceland faced a scandal when prosecutors exposed a scheme to sell the property fraudulently. Investigators discovered that 53-year-old Lisa Jeanine Findley claimed Lisa Marie had pledged the mansion as collateral for an overdue loan. She admitted to mail fraud after threatening foreclosure and trying to auction off the historic landmark.
The sale was stopped by the court, protecting Graceland, and Findley’s sentence was set for September 23, 2024.
The Public and Legal Fallout
The Presley name sparks headlines not only because Elvis left a lasting influence but also because ongoing battles over money, power, and reputation keep surfacing. Courts sort through competing lawsuits, and the family legacy stands both celebrated and contested.
The unfolding drama shows that fame and fortune bring extraordinary challenges. The Presley story shifts from music history to courtroom disputes and reveals the struggle to maintain control in the shadow of cultural greatness.
With cases still pending, Priscilla Presley continues her fight with former partners, and the world keeps watching as each new twist emerges.