A house Elvis Presley called home for six years in the late 1960s and early 1970s has sold for $25.46 million. The five-bedroom French Regency-style was listed in 2016 for $30 million.
It was 1967, and Elvis and Priscilla had been living in Palm Springs. Post nuptials—the pair tied the knot on May Day—the King and ‘Cilla cut out for Beverly Hills, where they set up long-term residence in a 5,400 square-footer in Trousdale Estates.
The new buyer of the 1958 home is Harry Morton, the son of Hard Rock Café founder Peter Morton. Peter Morton owned the property for a short time earlier in this decade, so the purchase was a restoration of sorts—although his plan for the property included demolishing the house and developing the land. His son’s plans for the home are unknown at this time.
The 1.2-acre property features a gated entrance with brick pilasters and partial brick drive. The house is a single-floor sprawler, with a grandiose double-door entry, oversize windows, a lengthy series of clerestories, and an open-concept shared living area. The dining room features a circular skylight, and opens onto the pool area via a sliding glass door.
The pool is sort of angular free-form, modern-influenced; stone walls and mature trees distinguish the acreage. The views are sublime, downtown L.A. and the ocean are offered in a panoramic vista from multiple positions on the property.
“The King” was born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi; he and his family moved to Memphis when he was 13. Presley received a C in music in eighth grade; his music teacher informed him that he had no aptitude for signing. In January 1954, Presley failed an audition for a quartet and was told he “couldn’t sing.” Presley went to work as a truck driver and soon tried out for a professional band but was turned down and advised to stick to truck driving because he was “never going to make it as a singer.”