Priscilla Presley's Effort to Conceal $1.4M Settlement from Granddaughter Riley Keough Revealed, Cites Family Safety Concerns
Priscilla Presley's efforts to keep the sum of money received from her granddaughter, Riley Keough, as a settlement over Lisa Marie's estate confidential, have come to light, according to information acquired by Radar Online.
Previously, it was reported that Priscilla had made an immediate legal appeal to be appointed as co-trustee of her late daughter's trust, following Lisa Marie's passing. Despite Lisa Marie's considerable debt, estimated between $3-$4 million to multiple creditors at her time of death, the estate still held value. This was due to numerous life insurance policies taken out by Lisa Marie that reportedly injected $35 million into her trust posthumously.
Riley and her younger twin siblings, Harper and Finley, were listed as the sole beneficiaries of the trust. Priscilla contested that Lisa Marie's will designated her and Barry Siegel, Lisa Marie's former business manager, as trustees. She disputed a purported 2016 amendment which, allegedly, assigned Riley as trustee and removed her from her position. Priscilla raised concerns about the signature on the amendment, citing it as uncharacteristic of Lisa Marie's hand.
Riley was reportedly angered by Priscilla's legal pursuit. However, it was unveiled that Riley had paid $1.4 million to her grandmother, comprising $1 million and an additional $400k to cover Priscilla's legal expenses, as part of a settlement agreement that names Riley as the exclusive trustee of Lisa Marie's estate.
In an attempt to maintain confidentiality over the settlement sum, Riley requested the court to seal the dollar amount, stating Priscilla wished it to remain private.
Priscilla, who described her daughter's passing as "both devastating and heartbreaking," submitted a statement to the court expressing that the settlement's private details regarding her daughter's Trust were for the benefit of her minor granddaughters. She argued that if these details became public, it could pose risks to her and her family's safety, cause emotional distress, harm her physical and mental health, and expose her son and minor granddaughters to potential harassment and bullying.
"We have all been through enough," Priscilla said, adding that the settlement resolution was the result of "diligent and tireless" work from both parties.
Despite Priscilla and Riley's concerted attempts to keep the settlement amount confidential, the sum was eventually disclosed.