Priscilla Presley has reportedly sued her business partner Bridget Crews and several others, claiming she was the victim of elder abuse and was scammed out of $1 million.
Presley alleged that Cruise and several others took advantage of her by controlling her fortune and forcing her into “a kind of indentured servitude.” TMZCrews allegedly misled her into believing that her former financial advisor was dishonest or incompetent, and then had her sign contracts and set up companies in an attempt to defraud her of 80 percent of her income.
According to TMZ, Presley is suing Cruise for more than $1 million in damages, and in the legal papers filed, she also wants to void any contracts she had with Cruise and other defendants.
VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 4, 2023: Priscilla Presley arrives on the red carpet for the film “Priscilla” during the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2023 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Stefane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Presley called Cruise a “con artist and pathological liar” and claimed the contract's wording and structure allowed Cruise to take full advantage of her existing assets and income. According to TMZ, Priscilla was only left with a minority stake in the company they founded, and that Cruise and his associates profited from using her name, image and likeness.
Elvis Presley's famous ex-wife pointed to her 2023 biopic “Priscilla,” alleging that money she was meant to make from the project was misappropriated.
VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 4, 2023: Priscilla Presley arrives at the 80th Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2023 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Ernesto Lucio/Getty Images)
According to TMZ, Priscilla was supposed to receive an ownership interest in the cosmetics company, but Cruise claims he settled for $300,000 up front and deposited the money in a bank account controlled by Priscilla. Priscilla also claims that Cruise and his associates withdrew smaller amounts of money without her permission from a separate account belonging to her son, Navarone.
According to TMZ, the lawsuit also alleges that they billed Priscilla for moving and storage expenses and tried to arrange Lisa Marie Presley's estate shortly after her death. (RELATED: 'I can't talk anymore': Priscilla Presley ends interview after discussing 'excruciating' deaths of multiple family members)
Priscilla met Cruise in 2021 when he was running a business selling Elvis memorabilia through an auction house.
