Elvis Inc.: The Fall and Rise of the Presley Empire [Hardcover]

Sean O'Neal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 1996

Elvis Presley made more money in his lifetime than any other performer in history. Yet, when he died, his estate was nearly bankrupt. In Elvis Inc., author Sean O'Neal reveals the abysmal condition the estate was in when Elvis died, and how Elvis Presley Enterprises turned the estate into the huge success it is today, raking in more than $100 million a year.Here is a glimpse of what's revealed in Elvis Inc.:
Why the second floor of Graceland is off-limits to the public
Why Elvis never toured outside the United States
How much Elvis' relationship with Colonel Tom Parker cost himAbout the AuthorSean O'Neal is an acknowledged Elvis expert and collector of Elvis memorabilia. He has been studying Elvis Presley's life and music for over twenty years.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Just as the King of Rock n' Roll will never really die, so will his financial empire continue to fascinate. Part way between a biography of the musical icon and a business book, Elvis Inc. recounts the fiscal rise of the legend and details the problems and possibilities that later developed with the massive estate he left behind. Penned with the sensitivity of a fan and the perception of a business writer, Sean O'Neal recounts how Presley's fortunes crashed and burned and then were resurrected to previously unimagined heights -- even after the King had abdicated his position in the material world.

Review

This is the story of what has happened
to Elvis Presley's estate since his death.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (August 21, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761503986
• ISBN-13: 978-0761503989
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,006,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Elvis Empire uncovered, April 9, 2000

By 

Anton Karidian (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Elvis Inc.: The Fall and Rise of the Presley Empire (Hardcover)

ELVIS INC. is one-stop shopping for anything to do with Elvis and money. All but the first chapter deal with events after Elvis' death. Especially good are the sections on the estate's lawsuit against manager Parker in the early 1980s, and on the stratospheric rise of Graceland after near-bankruptcy in the two years after Elvis died. There is more detail in this book on these subjects than I have seen anywhere else. Toward the end I did feel that the book loses a little focus, and is not quite as pertinent as the first half. As, O'Neal goes off on some tangents, such as the marriage of Lisa Marie to Michael Jackson. To be fair, though, more recent events are just not as salient. But O'Neal keeps it always interesting. And I love that pink cover - groovy, man!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, Informative and a real Eye-opener of EPE, January 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Elvis Inc.: The Fall and Rise of the Presley Empire (Paperback)

As an Elvis fan, I have read a great number of books about Elvis and his life. What makes this book stand out from the others is the fact that the reader gets a good look at how Elvis Presley, the person has grown into Elvis Presley Enterprises, the money-maker. It is well known by now that Colonel Tom Parker hindered Elvis' career in many ways. Even though he helped Elvis make it to the top, Elvis had the sheer talent to make it with or without Parker. In this book, it is revealed how much Parker actually took from Elvis in the monetary sense. When Elvis died, his estate was nearly bankrupt due to his lavish spending and poor management of his money. But as you realize when you read this book, Elvis Presley Enterprises has gone to great lengths to make it the money machine it is today. O'Neal gives details on lawsuits EPE has won and lost and tells you of some of the future plans EPE has in store. There is also a chapter on Elvis' only heir, Lisa Marie and there is a detailed account of her inheritance as well as the "relationship" with Michael Jackson. I would recommend this book to anyone, Elvis fan or not. Every page had something interesting and new and I found it hard to put down.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, December 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Elvis Inc.: The Fall and Rise of the Presley Empire (Hardcover)

Elvis fans, buy this book. You fill find out just what a business Elvis really was (before and after death) to people like Priscilla and Parker to name a few. Terrific book!