Elvis Presley shared his wealth with loved ones and strangers, bringing joy to many.
A testament to his compassionate nature, even after losing his mother Gladys in 1958, Elvis continued to show love and care for his step-family when his father Vernon remarried.
David Stanley, Elvis' stepbrother, now reveals to The Mirror the heartwarming memories of the music legend embracing him as part of his family from a young age.
Elvis Presley's Generosity Beyond Measure
David disclosed that during the early 1960s, Elvis Presley passionately encouraged Vernon to have his second wife Dee and their three children (David, Ricky, and Billy) move into Graceland.
Known for his generosity, the "Can't Help Falling In Love" singer often showered gifts upon people he encountered during his journeys.
"The first thing I noticed about Elvis was his heart. When we came into the house (Graceland), there was Dee, a hot, blonde, and beautiful woman. She was not his mother but Vernon's new wife-the stepmom-with three young boys. Elvis easily could have said, 'Pop, that is too much baggage emotionally.'"
David said that from the very beginning, Elvis defied expectations. Embracing his step-siblings as his own, he dedicated 17 years of his life to them. In fact, Elvis opened his home to them, declaring it as theirs as well.
"He was like a brother to me, nothing more. From the moment we met, he enveloped me in his family with the words, 'I've longed for a little brother, and now I have three."
"You know how much Elvis loved his mother, Gladys. He bought Gladys Graceland as a present. And we were told he slept in his mother's room, where we all prayed before bed. As the sun rose high in the sky, one day began with a surprise. We were roused from our slumber with a sudden jolt at the early hour of eight.
He continued, "He always threw me on his shoulders as at that time I had braces on my legs. I didn't know what an Elvis Presley was. I knew what a Santa Claus was. It was just my one had sideburns. That was the introduction to his heart and his joy of giving."
As a nanny and chauffeur, Elvis would sometimes take care of his brothers in Memphis.
David recalled, "My school days were filled with excitement as he often drove us to school. I was always amazed by the attention he received.
"He said, 'That's an autograph. Some people think I'm famous.' Billy asked, ' Are you more famous than Mickey Mouse?' And he laughed, ' Well, I don't think so.'"
"Long story short, I got this idea. I asked Elvis to sign 20 pieces of papers for me and I sold them for about five bucks a piece. I told Vernon and he reacted: 'right there, a little businessman.'"
In addition, David mentioned that Elvis generously spent large sums of money on individuals whom he believed needed goodwill gestures.
"Elvis had a natural inclination for giving," David said.
"Money didn't even cross his mind. He would gift people with cars. This wasn't just an occasional occurrence; it happened consistently. It became almost a daily routine for him."
At the time of his death, Elvis Presley had a net worth of $5 million, which amounts to $24 million in today's money.
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