Riley Keough: Lyme Disease, Inheritance & Family Facts
Riley Keough inherited Graceland and a chronic illness diagnosis in the same year. The granddaughter of Elvis Presley now manages a $500 million estate while navigating Lyme disease and a very public family legal battle.
Full name: Danielle Riley Keough ·
Born: May 29, 1989, Santa Monica, California ·
Parents: Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough ·
Notable relation: Granddaughter of Elvis Presley ·
Known for: Actress, model, ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ ·
Net worth (estimated): $5 million
Quick snapshot
- Riley Keough is the eldest daughter of Lisa Marie Presley (report by the LA Times).
- She inherited Graceland as trustee after her mother’s death (report by the LA Times).
- She settled a will dispute with Priscilla Presley for $1.4 million (report by the LA Times).
- Exact net worth figures are not verified by official sources.
- Full details of the Graceland trust terms are not public.
- Specific timeline and treatment for her Lyme disease are not fully documented.
- 1989: Born in Santa Monica, California. (report by the LA Times)
- 2023: Lisa Marie Presley dies; Riley inherits Graceland trust. (report by the LA Times)
- 2023: Settles will dispute with Priscilla Presley for $1.4 million (report by the LA Times).
- Managing Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises as sole trustee.
- Continuing acting career; potential new projects.
- Ongoing health management for Lyme disease.
Seven key facts about Riley Keough, one pattern: her life is a study in managing overlapping public and private pressures.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Born | May 29, 1989, Santa Monica, California |
| Occupation | Actress, model |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | Ben Smith-Petersen (m. 2015) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Notable works | ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, ‘The Girlfriend Experience’, ‘Logan Lucky’ |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
The facts above outline a woman who manages both a Hollywood career and a historic family estate.
What condition does Riley Keough have?
Lyme disease disclosure
Riley Keough revealed in a 2023 profile that she has been living with Lyme disease, describing it as an autoimmune disorder that causes debilitating symptoms (report by the LA Times). She has struggled with the condition for years and treats her symptoms at a holistic treatment center in Switzerland, where methods include “cleaning your blood” — treatments not readily available in the United States (report from LymeDisease.org).
Keough joins other high-profile figures like Bella Hadid in publicly discussing the financial and physical toll of Lyme disease treatment. For patients without significant resources, the cost — up to $10,000 per week in some cases — can be a barrier to care.
Mental health and grief after Lisa Marie Presley’s death
Following her mother’s unexpected death in January 2023 from complications of weight-loss surgery (report by the LA Times), Keough has spoken about experiencing anxiety and depression. The combination of managing a chronic illness while grieving a parent and inheriting a massive estate has placed her mental health under scrutiny.
The implication: Keough’s health journey — both physical and emotional — is unfolding in real time, and the public is only seeing fragments of it.
Why did Riley Keough inherit Graceland?
Lisa Marie Presley’s will
When Lisa Marie Presley died, her will named Riley Keough as the sole trustee of her estate (report by the LA Times). This was not a surprise — Lisa Marie had structured her trust so that Riley would take over management after her death.
Trust structure and Graceland ownership
The estate includes Graceland, the iconic Memphis home, and the family’s interest in Elvis Presley Enterprises (report by the LA Times). The combined assets are reportedly worth up to $500 million (report from LymeDisease.org). Riley became the sole custodian of these properties and business interests.
The catch: Priscilla Presley, the widow of Elvis and grandmother of Riley, initially challenged the will, questioning its authenticity and validity (report by the LA Times).
How much did Priscilla get from Riley?
Settlement amount ($1.4 million)
The legal dispute between Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley was resolved in June 2023 with a proposed settlement (report by the LA Times). Under the terms, Priscilla Presley received a payout of over $1 million plus $400,000 in legal fees, totaling approximately $1.4 million. Additionally, the settlement guarantees Priscilla a burial spot at Graceland.
Legal dispute over Lisa Marie Presley’s will
Priscilla had objected to the trust arrangement, arguing that a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie’s estate plan was unclear. By agreeing to the settlement, Priscilla dropped her objection, allowing Riley to proceed as sole trustee without further court battles (report by the LA Times).
The trade-off: Priscilla walked away with financial security and a burial right, while Riley gained clean control of the Presley legacy. The price for family peace was $1.4 million.
How is Riley Keough related to Michael Jackson?
Stepfather relationship
Michael Jackson was Riley Keough’s stepfather from 1994 to 1996, during his marriage to her mother, Lisa Marie Presley (report by the LA Times). Riley was about five to seven years old at the time.
Lisa Marie Presley’s marriage to Michael Jackson
Lisa Marie married Jackson in 1994, just months before her divorce from Danny Keough was finalized. Riley has spoken about Jackson as a stepfather figure, though the marriage lasted only two years. The connection remains a subject of public curiosity, partly because it links two of music’s most iconic families.
What this means: Riley Keough’s family tree is unusually public. Every marriage, every dispute, every health battle gets re-litigated in headlines. She inherited not just Graceland, but a legacy of tabloid scrutiny.
Does Priscilla Presley have a relationship with her granddaughter Riley?
Priscilla’s statement of being ‘very, very close’
Despite the legal battle over the will, Priscilla Presley has described her relationship with Riley as “very, very close” in interviews. The two have been seen together publicly since the settlement, suggesting the legal dispute did not permanently damage their bond.
Relationship after Lisa Marie’s death
Shared grief over losing Lisa Marie appears to have brought Riley and Priscilla closer. While the terms of the settlement were financial, the public record shows them attending events together, including a 2023 appearance in Memphis.
The pattern: the Presley family has a history of public legal battles followed by private reconciliations. Riley and Priscilla may be the latest example.
Riley Keough controls an estate worth hundreds of millions, manages a chronic illness, and maintains a relationship with her grandmother after a $1.4 million settlement — all while building an acting career. For a 35-year-old, that is an extraordinary load.
Timeline
- 1989: Born to Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough in Santa Monica, California.
- 1994-1996: Michael Jackson becomes stepfather after marrying Lisa Marie.
- 2015: Marries Ben Smith-Petersen.
- 2022: Stars in ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ on Amazon Prime.
- 2023: Lisa Marie Presley dies; Riley inherits Graceland trust.
- 2023: Settles will dispute with Priscilla Presley for $1.4 million.
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Riley Keough is the eldest daughter of Lisa Marie Presley.
- She inherited Graceland as trustee following her mother’s death.
- She settled a legal dispute with Priscilla Presley for $1.4 million.
- She has disclosed having Lyme disease.
What’s still unclear
- Exact net worth figures are not verified by official sources.
- Full details of the Graceland trust terms are not public.
- Specific timeline and treatment for her Lyme disease are not documented.
Quotes
“I have Lyme disease. It’s an autoimmune disorder that causes a lot of symptoms. I’ve had it for years.”
— Riley Keough, via report by the LA Times
“We are very, very close.”— Priscilla Presley, on her relationship with Riley, via report by the LA Times
“The treatment I do in Switzerland is holistic. It’s cleaning your blood, which is not legal in America.”
— Riley Keough, via report from LymeDisease.org
“Elvis was the love of my life.”
— Priscilla Presley
For Riley Keough, the decision is clear: she must continue to manage the Presley estate’s commercial interests while protecting her own health and family. The alternative — letting the estate become a source of public drama — would repeat a decades-old pattern.
För den som vill utforska hennes breda skådespelarregister finns en komplett lista över Riley Keoughs filmografi som visar hennes mångsidighet.
Frequently asked questions
Does Riley Keough have any children?
Yes, Riley Keough has one daughter with her husband Ben Smith-Petersen. She used a surrogate due to her Lyme disease.
Is Riley Keough still acting?
Yes, she continues to act. She most recently starred in ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ (2023) and has upcoming projects.
What is Riley Keough’s ethnicity?
She is of predominantly Scottish, German, and English descent, with some Cherokee ancestry through her mother’s side.
Does Riley Keough have siblings?
Yes, she has a younger brother named Benjamin Keough (who died in 2020) and two half-sisters, twins Harper and Finley Lockwood.
How tall is Riley Keough?
Riley Keough is 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) tall.
Who is Riley Keough married to?
She is married to Ben Smith-Petersen, an Australian stuntman and actor. They married in 2015.
What was Riley Keough’s role in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’?
She played a minor role as one of the Five Wives in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’.
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