Do you really know The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll? Beyond his revolutionary influence on American pop and the generations of artists inspired by him, Elvis Presley fascinates with astonishing quirks and unusual interests. He wasn’t just a global icon; he was a man with many hidden layers waiting to be discovered.
While the public remains well-informed about Elvis’s life, several little-known facts still linger in the shadows, rarely told. Here, we uncover some of these mysteries that deepen the legend of Elvis Presley.
1. He had an identical twin brother.
It might shock many to learn that Elvis was actually an identical twin. Beyond this, stories of Elvis’ generosity abound. Lisa Marie Presley fondly recalls her father’s charitable nature, sharing how he gifted cars to employees and strangers alike. His surprise guest appearances to benefit various charities only add to his generous reputation.
“Daddy’s heart was as big as his voice. He found joy in giving and helping those around him,” Lisa Marie Presley once shared.
His home at Graceland proudly displays numerous awards recognizing his philanthropic efforts.
4. He had banned fish from Graceland.
Elvis despised the scent of fish cooking, an aversion linked to the harsh memories of his impoverished childhood that the smell evoked. This hatred reached the extent that he banned fish from entering the very walls of his Graceland mansion.
5. He obsessively ate the same food for months.
Graceland archivist Angie Marchese revealed Elvis’s penchant for eating meals in monotonous repetition. For an incredible six months, meatloaf and mashed potatoes were his daily dinner choice. Yet his famed favorite snack was his unmistakable sandwich combining peanut butter, banana, and bacon.
6. He never naturally had black hair.
Though Elvis’s striking jet-black hair enhanced his icy blue eyes and irresistible charm, he was actually born a natural blonde. He began dying his hair black from an early age, leaving only a single rare photograph showing his true hair color—a treasured display at Graceland.
7. His iconic blue eyes might be a myth.
Surprisingly, Elvis sported brown eyes at times, wearing colored contacts during his role in the film “Flaming Star,” where he portrayed a Native American. This revelation begs the question: How genuine were his famous icy blue eyes?
8. The King is one of the highest-earning deceased celebrities.
Even decades after his death in 1977, Elvis Presley remains a massive commercial force. Forbes tops him among the highest-earning dead celebrities, with an estimated net worth of $23 million last year alone. The King’s influence endures as a powerhouse in entertainment.
9. How tall was Elvis?
There’s been much debate about Elvis’s actual height. His army medical records claim he stood 6 feet and a half-inch tall, yet his driver’s license lists him at 5 feet 11 inches, while a costume designer attested to him being 5 feet 11.5 inches—a small but persistent mystery in the King’s lore.
10. He owned a pet chimpanzee named Scatter.
Elvis’s eccentricities were many, but few compare to owning a pet chimpanzee that was notorious for getting drunk on film sets and cheekily peeking under women’s skirts. Scatter was a wild companion fitting for a man as iconic and colorful as Elvis himself.
“Scatter was more than a pet; he was a member of the Graceland family, always causing a stir,” recalled one crew member.
For a man whose life and private affairs were scrutinized relentlessly until his untimely death, every new detail unearthed adds an enthralling chapter to the enduring saga of Elvis Presley.
