Some Elvis Collectibles Recently Sold at Auction Could Be Fake, Graceland Execs Allege

Abby Montanez
·3-min read

Elvis Presley’s estate wants to set the record straight about recent memorabilia sales.

GWS Auctions, a California-based auction house known for selling collectibles belonging to the King, Johnny Cash, and more, has raised concerns over the authenticity of its offerings, leading Graceland executives to question whether some of the items are fake.

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Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, told NBC News he became wary once he saw the late musician’s black grommet jacket from 1972 hit the auction block. According to Weinshanker, not only was the garment one-of-a-kind, but it was currently hanging in Graceland’s private collection—and he even has the receipt for its purchase.

“We know there was only one made, and guess what? We have it in our archives,” Weinshanker told the outlet. Graceland admitted they have suspicions about several other Elvis-related items put up for sale by GWS Auctions too, including multiple pieces of his jewelry and his private jet. Also, the auction house is disputing items sold with a letter of authenticity signed by his ex-wife Priscilla, considering some of the objects would have been from when the couple was already divorced.

“If they hadn’t talked for months and months and months in person, how does she [Priscilla] know what Elvis did and didn’t do?” Weinshanker told NBC News.

GWS Auctions was founded in 2009 by Brigitte Kruse, who was also one of Priscilla’s former business partners. Last week, Priscilla, 79, filed a lawsuit against Kruse, accusing her and three other former financial associates of stealing over $1 million in an elder abuse scheme, TMZ reported.

The court documents noted that Priscilla and Kruse met in 2021 and contained several other allegations including that “by isolating her and immersing themselves in every aspect of her life, the Defendants were able to fraudulently induce [Priscilla] into giving them power of attorney, control over her family and personal trusts, and control over her bank accounts.”

Kruse had previously sued Priscilla in September 2023 for an alleged breach of contract. In that case, the suit accuses the actress of cutting Kruse out of business deals in August 2023, including the premiere of the Sofia Coppola-directed Priscilla movie starring Cailee Spaeny (Knives Out 3) and Jacob Elordi, which she helped negotiate.

“I always wish the best for Priscilla and her entire family,” Kruse said in an interview with NBC News before the countersuit. “It’s a business dispute. They happen. What I would love to see, more than anything, is everybody kind of working together. “I don’t want to do anything to hurt the fans or Elvis’ legacy.”

GWS later issued a statement in response to the news segment that aired and noted that the personal and business disputes between Kruse and Priscila do not involve the auction house.

“EPE [Elvis Presley Enterprises] is not the only source of expertise with respect to Elvis Presley memorabilia. While experts can legitimately form different opinions regarding the authenticity of any item in any asset class, GWS stands behind everything that it sells, and categorically denies trafficking in fake or inauthentic items attributed to Elvis Presley, or otherwise. Through innuendo, and without proof, a shadow has been unfairly cast over GWS and its operations after over 15 years of stellar service to its consignors, bidders, and buyers.

“GWS Auctions is one of the most respected and reputable names in the Elvis Presley marketplace. GWS stands behind everything that it has sold in the Elvis Presley space, and otherwise, all of which has passed GWS’s strict internal qualification standards.”

This story was updated on July 26, 2024.

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