Family of Utah law student, 25, say they found out from NEWS REPORTS that he'd been shot dead by cops 'after becoming non-compliant during traffic stop because his BMW didn't have license plate' . Despite earning over $100 million during his lifetime, at the time of his death Colonel Tom Parker was reportedly worth less than $1 million. [33] If Presley could show the world that he the same as any other young man, Parker told him, then more people would accept him and his music. [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. 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. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. He also influenced his decisions to join the military and marry Priscilla, among other . That's $35 million (28m) today and considerably less than what they were actually worth. 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. [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. He feels exploited and fires Parker on the stage during his Las Vegas show. "A couple times he set me up in the Elvis Presley suite on top of the Hilton, and I would go play Elvis for a week One night we were at the crap table together and he rubbed my head for luck. As per reports, Colonel Tom Parker's Cause of Death was revealed that he died of stroke . Presley had been living with Priscilla Beaulieu, ten years his junior, for the past four years, but it had not been public knowledge. [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". But behind the music, behind th. [4] At age 17, he first displayed signs of wanting to run away to the United States to "make his fortune". Blues," "Wild in the Country," "Blue Hawaii," "Viva Las Vegas," "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," "Clambake," and "Change of Habit." He's a very smart man. He facilitated Presley's rise to superstardom in the 50s, and also influenced his decisions to accept his military draft and to marry his wife Priscilla, among other things. [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. [55] The book was published one year later on July 12, 1977, one month before Presley's death. Colonel Tom Parker died on January 21, 1997 at the age of 87. 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 . [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. He was previously married to Loanne Miller and Marie Frances Mott. [59] Due to an ill-advised agreement between Parker and Presley that gave RCA sole ownership of all his recording royalties prior to 1973, the estate was relying heavily on the income from Factors Etc. 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. A symbiotic relationship," Hanks added. Parker believed that serving in the Army would help cure Presley of his increasing waywardness and convinced him to follow through with his draft as a normal citizen. [16] Remembering his previous experience with Sands, Sholes dismissed Sands as a viable replacement for Presley.[16]. He cared about making sure that his boy didn't just have a million dollars worth of talent . [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. . [55] As with all the talk about Presley touring overseas, Parker never followed through with the deal. Parker then managed a series of highly successful tours for Presley. Asked by a journalist what he would do now, Parker responded: "Why, I'll just go right on managing him! The contract, dated July 12, 1954, eight days after their first recording session, was signed by Presley and his parents. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. He said 'Did I really?' Meanwhile, his career began stagnating as the British Invasion took over the United States. What was his net worth in 2022? Tom Hanks describes the larger-than-life character he portrays in the new Baz Luhrmann film, "Elvis," which opens in theaters next Friday. That number is down significantly from an estimated $100 million . [19][20] Part of Parker's role was to secure a new recording contract with a bigger label. [1][4], At age 15, Van Kuijk moved to Rotterdam, gaining employment on boats in the port town. [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. In January 1958 Presley received his draft notice from the United States Army. "[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. [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. This proved very lucrative, especially when the single for Presley's first film, Love Me Tender, sold over one million copies in advance sales. The two had become almost strangers, and false reports in the media suggested that Presley's contract was up for sale. [16] NBC had originally wanted Presley for the role, but Parker had turned them down. [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. 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] First Artists, not used to such huge demands, didn't put forward a counter-offer and decided instead to offer the role, along with the original salary offer, to Kris Kristofferson, who accepted. Elvis' estate, on the other hand, reportedly owed the Las Vegas . Colonel Tom Parker made more than $100 million in his lifetime, but when he died, he was reportedly worth less than $1 million. [9] He began to build up a list of contacts that would prove valuable in later years. [33] He had arranged for Presley to record five singles before his induction,[35] guaranteeing RCA Victor enough material to release over a two-year period. 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. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. The pair worked together at carnivals early on before Parker's career in management took off. 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. Colonel Tom Parker's House. [4] He enlisted in the United States Army a few months later, taking the name "Tom Parker" from the same name of the officer who interviewed him, to disguise the fact he was an illegal alien. He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. "There would have been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker; there would have been no Colonel Tom Parker without Elvis. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. To hide that he was an illegal immigrant, he adopted the name Tom Parker, which was the name of the officer who interviewed him. While Neal was originally the singer's official manager, Parker was the one most involved in running Presley's career. He realized that by keeping RCA Victor, and more importantly the public, hungry for more Presley material, he would be able to negotiate a better contract when Presley returned from active service. It took a probate court to remove Parker and his 50% fee from future dealings. During the 1960s, after many years of ill health, Marie began to display signs of dementia. [21] In return for a larger financial stake in the deal, Neal agreed not to renew his management contract with Presley after it expired in March 1956,[22] allowing Parker the opportunity to claim the job for himself. Between 1969 and his death on Aug. 16, 1977, Presley played over 600 shows at the Hilton. 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. In the early days of their marriage, Marie and Parker worked together in the carnivals. 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. According to Alanna Nash, who wrote The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley . Presley's star continued to rise as Parker signed a merchandising deal with Hank Saperstein to fully commoditize the young singer. [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. [15] Eventually, Parker began getting more involved in music promotion again, this time for himself rather than the Society. So Where'd All The Money Go??? "Every entertainer should go to bed at night and pray he . [57], Parker set out to protect his future income. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. Parker encountered Presley in 1955, and by 1956 had become his primary representative. [43], It took the energetic 1968 television special Elvis, which the Singer Company sponsored, and a subsequent series of acclaimed recording sessions in Memphis, Tennessee, that included songs such as "Suspicious Minds" and "In the Ghetto", to restore Presley's musical reputation. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 - January 21, 1997), commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager.. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. [5] During a second, more detailed investigation, Tual discovered that all earnings were paid directly to the Trust instead of Parker. How Colonel Tom Parker built his net worth. However, after his re-enlistment, he went AWOL and was charged with desertion. [68] Marie died on November 25, 1986, of a chronic brain syndrome at age 78. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. [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. LOANNE PARKER Loanne Miller Parker, long-time resident of Las Vegas and widow of Elvis Presley manager Colonel Tom Parker, Dies at 84. [15] Both Mercury Records and Columbia Records showed interest, although their initial offers were nowhere near the $40,000 requirement. Tom Parker had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death. [16] He suggested to Sholes that Sands could record material similar to Presley's style. [8], In May 1929, Van Kuijk returned to the United States at age 19, finding work with carnivals due to his previous experience in the Netherlands. [15] Despite this, Phillips was not keen to let him go easily, advising Parker that he would require $40,000 (US$404,621 in 2021 dollars[11]) to secure the release of Presley's contract, a completely unheard-of sum at the time. [15] Parker and Snow eventually formed Hank Snow Enterprises and Jamboree Attractions, a successful promotional outfit for up-and-coming country singers. Part biography, part murder mystery and perhaps the most thoroughly researched . Then she was hired on as Elvis' tour secretary and traveled . However, he also continued to blow his fortune on his gambling addiction and he died heavily in debt. Returning to music, he began managing such singers as Eddy Arnold and Tommy Sands. 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. You're going to be a star.'"[71]. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. He also lost a big chunk of Elvis's own money. The King supposedly earned $100 million during his limelighted lifetime, which ended 10 years ago today. [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. According to Biography, Presley's father let Colonel Tom Parker have the run of things for two more years, but after the elder Presley also died in 1979, things got complicated for the manager. [46] Parker had also decided that it was time for Presley to return to New York, and had arranged for him to perform at Madison Square Garden in June. 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 . He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. [50] They hired private detectives to find out where the drugs were coming from and were successful in stopping any more from reaching Presley. As a reward, Davis gave him the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia.[2][3]. Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) Place of Birth: Breda, Netherlands. Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager from 1955 to his death in 1977, earned an estimated $50 million from the singer's estate. He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as . Colonel Tom Parker acted as Presley's promoter and, then manager and promoter, for most of his career. Additional Crew: Spinout. Nor did he ever suggest onstage that he knew of the colonel's immigration issues. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the Netherlands. Colonel Tom Parker used to earn a good amount of money while he was working for US army. [67] Author Alanna Nash has suggested that the couple may have simply placed their hands on a Bible and given themselves a "carny wedding".[67]. Published Jan. 22, 1997 | Updated Sep. 30, 2005. In 1968, Presley achieved renewed fame when he starred in the NBC television special "Elvis." And the value of his estate at the time of his death in 1997? In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star. Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. Many Parker biographers, including Dirk Vellenga and Alanna Nash, have stated that Parker's gambling habit began to get out of control in the mid-1960s. Following this, Neal chose not to renew his management contract with Presley, leaving Parker as the singer's sole manager. This is because Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had previously arranged a deal to sell those to RCA for $5.4 million, out of which only $1.35 million went to Elvis after Parker's 50% fee and income taxes. On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke, and died the following morning in a Las Vegas hospital. "That didn't come out in this country until 1981." [37] For the first few years Presley's films were somewhat successful, his albums topped the charts, and any singles that were released were mostly hits. Additionally, Tual determined that Parker's handling of Presley's business affairs was unethical. [4][5] Parker's final years were spent living in Las Vegas, in increasingly poor health before his death in 1997. Even Tom Hanks thought he was an odd choice to play Elvis Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker in . Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. [12] Despite having sold over 86 million records since 1924 and earning over $17 million, Austin's career was at a low point. [36] If Parker had had any doubts about his return, they were soon gone when he witnessed the turnout along the route. After a heated argument between the two, Presley told Parker he was fired. . [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). Although the films were profitable, Presley complained about the quality of the scripts. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonel_Tom_Parker&oldid=1141644408, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:32. 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. Col. Tom Parker, 87, a onetime carnival pitchman who shrewdly guided singer-actor Elvis Presley's career for 22 years, died here Jan. 21 after a stroke. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. No, Luhrmann has really framed this through a present-day lens. [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. [41] The Cadillac tour proved to be somewhat more successful than the film itself. to control the singer's merchandise. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! Later in 1975, the government of Saudi Arabia offered Parker $5 million for Presley to perform there. [68] Parker began to distance himself emotionally from her, heartbroken by her slow mental deterioration from the woman he once knew. . [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. A few actors have tackled Parker on screen, most notably Beau Bridges in 1993s "Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story" and Randy Quaid in the 2005 miniseries "Elvis." While Presley was serving in West Germany, Parker was hard at work keeping Presley's name known to the public. [4] It is believed that Parker lost at least $1 million a year from gambling. But this guy is like eighty years old too old to be taught the limits of racism He probably doesn't realize how horrible a thing that was to do. [26] He had even come up with the idea to market "I Hate Elvis" badges. [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. Colonel Tom Parker was best known as Elvis Presley's manager. By Alanna Nash. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. Colonel Tom Parker was born in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands in June 1909 and passed away in January 1997. [4], In 1935, Parker married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. 'Life with you was never dull' More on The Wanted At the time of Presley's death in 1977, it was suspected that Parker owed the Las Vegas Hilton over $30 million ($134,151,565 in 2021 dollars[11]) in gambling losses. "[42] Parker used the argument that Presley was his only client and he was thus earning only one fee.[42]. The truth about his early years was revealed in 1960 when one of Parker's sisters, Nel Dankers-van Kuijk, living in the Netherlands, recognized him in photographs standing next to Presley. [64] In 1993, in one of his last media appearances, Parker appeared in a television interview with Dutch TV director Jorrit van der Kooi where they spoke to each other in Dutch about the Netherlands and about Elvis Presley's life and career. [37] Parker signed long-term contracts with the film studios,[39] possibly to guarantee work and income for both him and Presley. Tt was this, rather than his entrance into the Army or the later death of Gladys, from which Presley never truly recovered and which ultimately killed him. Elvis had just as many white influences and announced as early as seventh grade that he was going to sing at the Grand Ole Opry . [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.