Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley’s marriage may have ended in 1973, but their divorce settlement involved far more than a one-time payment. When the couple finalized their split, Priscilla received $725,000 in cash, ongoing financial support and a share of the proceeds from the sale of their home.
The former couple’s divorce was finalized on Oct. 9, 1973, at a courthouse in Santa Monica, California, after six years of marriage. They had separated the previous year and shared one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who was 5 years old at the time.
According to accounts of the settlement, Priscilla received $725,000, along with spousal support and child support. The arrangement also included half the proceeds from the sale of the couple’s Beverly Hills home and 5 percent of the stock in two of Elvis’ publishing companies.
Priscilla and Elvis agreed to share custody of Lisa Marie. Reports of the settlement listed monthly child support at $4,000, in addition to payments to Priscilla.
Although the financial terms were substantial, the couple’s behavior outside the courthouse offered a striking contrast to the end of their marriage. Rather than leaving separately or appearing at odds, Elvis and Priscilla reportedly walked out together, hand in hand.
Their relationship had begun years earlier, when they met in Germany in 1959 while Elvis was serving in the U.S. Army. They married in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967, and welcomed Lisa Marie the following February.
The couple’s separation became public in 1972, and Priscilla later spoke about how their lives had grown apart. Despite the end of their marriage, they continued to co-parent Lisa Marie and remained in contact.
Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42. Priscilla went on to build a career in entertainment and help preserve his legacy, including playing a major role in opening Graceland to the public in 1982.