Elvis – Astonishing cost of Graceland lion statues and their origin | Music | Entertainment

Having shot to fame the year before, Elvis Presley decided to purchase the Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1957 – 66 years ago this weekend. Designed by architects Furbringer and Ehrman and built in 1939 for the Moore family, the Colonial Revival style house was named after Ruth Moore’s aunt Grace, who she had inherited the grounds from. Elvis bought Graceland for $102,500, which is around $1.1 million in today’s dollars.

This particular house on Cherry Road had the two white lions, so after buying Graceland Elvis headed over and asked to buy them. And it turned out they belonged to TJ Malone, the owner of a marble company, so the lions were his own personal marble statues.

As documented by Elvis expert Billy Stallings Spa Guy in the video above, the lion statues cost The King $1000 including the moving and installation. In today’s dollars, that’s over $9300 for the iconic sculptures outside the front of Graceland. Interestingly, the lion statues are slightly different on closer inspection with the right one holding a shield.