Colonel Tom Parker was born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, and his death certificate reportedly contains the same name. However, the musical entrepreneur born in the Netherlands changed his name to Tom Parker to allegedly illegally fit into the US.
Tom is best known as the manager of the late American singer and actor Elvis Presley, and they made their careers together. They first encountered in 1955, and Tom became his representative the following year.
Colonel Tom Parker met the 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott in 1935, and they allegedly married. However, there is no record or evidence regarding their marriage. Some claim he married her to be a US citizen because he lied about his birthplace and illegally entered the country.
Marie died in 1986, and Tom married his secretary Loanne Miller after four years. Some people accuse Tom of exploiting Elvis financially and pushing him to a downfall.
Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth
87-year-old Tom Parker had a net worth of $1 million when he took his last breath, though he earned over $100 million through his musical ventures and being Elvis’ manager. Tom helped him make big decisions, such as his marriage and military draft.
Tom’s gambling went out of control in mid 1960s, and he lost over $30 million in gambling debts. Thus, he was left with less than $5 million despite being successful during his lifetime. Elvis died in 1977, and Tom began controlling some of his assets.
Tom reportedly helped Elvis marry Priscilla Beaulieu to boost his fame and tame his wildness. Elvis’ career deteriorated before his final years and after he overconsumed prescription drugs. Meanwhile, Tom remained his manager till his death but occasionally saw him.
Tom reportedly began gambling when his wife showed signs of dementia, and Elvis’ career deteriorated. He allegedly made Elvis accept some deals to cope with his own financial loss. His downfall began when he lost $1 million a year in gambling and had to return over $30 million to Las Vegas Hilton.
By 1972, Tom took Elvis on the first tour in thirteen years, which helped the duo financially. Thus, Tom earned $50,000 a year as a consultant.
Tom Parker’s Control Over Elvis Presley’s Estate
Tom met the merchandising team with RCA Records to control Elvis’ products and dealt with Factors Etc. to control his merchandise. Thus, Tom handled Elvis’ estate after his death by heavily relying on income generated via Factors Etc.
Amid successful deals with renowned record companies, Tom gave some wrong advice to Elvis, who signed unsuccessful films. It is how the former unknowingly hammered the final nail to his wealth’s coffin. Tom owned 56% of Elvis’ company and 50% of his estate.
According to Tom’s wife, Priscilla, Elvis was happy to pay him 50% of his income. However, an attorney considered the percentage extortionate and tagged Tom’s attitude as ‘unethical.’ After Elvis’ death, Tom used to get less than $1 million per year after paying taxes, while expenditure on maintaining Elvis’ estate was $500,000 per year in the 1980s.
Career
Thomas Andrew Parker has ten siblings and was born to Adam van Kuijk, a liveryman, and Maria Elisabeth Ponsie. He entered The US illegally to pursue his career at eighteen, though he got a passport later to avoid getting caught in a mysterious murder case.
Tom worked for the US military, gaming carnivals, food concessions, and more. Thus, it was his struggle period. Later, he came closer to high-profile people. Elvis already had an official manager named Bob Neal when Tom Parker stepped in and began taking control of Elvis’ contracts.
Elvis could not escape the film contracts signed under the influence of Tom. The former was bothered by the script, while the latter by the financial status. Eventually, Elvis kept doing the films he did not like while other actors topped the chart. Tom arranged a tour for Elvis, which helped him financially to a certain extent.
Tom lived a controversial life with ups and downs and tried avoiding the media during his final years. He suffered various health issues, a stroke, and was home-ridden. He took his last breath at eighty-seven while his wife, Loanne, was beside him.
