Navigating family legacy is complicated enough without adding a legal battle and a health diagnosis into the mix. For Riley Keough, the 35-year-old actress and granddaughter of Elvis Presley, that’s been the reality of the past few years. She has publicly shared her experience with an autoimmune disease while reaching a settlement with her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, over Lisa Marie Presley’s trust. Here’s what’s fact, what’s still unclear, and how it all ties together.
Birth name: Danielle Riley Keough · Born: May 29, 1989 (Santa Monica, CA) · Famous for: Actress, model, granddaughter of Elvis Presley · Notable roles: Mad Max: Fury Road, Daisy Jones & the Six · Net worth (estimate): $10 million · Spouse: Ben Smith-Petersen (m. 2015)
Quick snapshot
- Riley Keough disclosed an autoimmune disease in a 2024 podcast interview (Vanity Fair)
- She became sole trustee of Lisa Marie Presley’s estate via a November 2023 settlement (Los Angeles Times)
- Priscilla Presley received $1 million from Lisa Marie’s life insurance policy plus $100,000/year for 10 years (People)
- The exact name of her autoimmune disease has not been specified in public
- The current relationship status between Riley and Priscilla Presley remains private
- Details of Benjamin Keough’s death are not officially confirmed in court filings
- The cause of Benjamin Keough’s death remains unconfirmed in public records
- 2023: Trust settlement approved by Los Angeles judge (Los Angeles Times)
- 2024: Riley Keough reveals chronic autoimmune condition (Vanity Fair)
- Riley continues acting and producing, with upcoming projects unannounced
- The trust dispute is resolved, but long-term family dynamics remain under the radar
Eight key biographical facts, one pattern: the intersection of Hollywood royalty, personal health, and a multimillion-dollar trust dispute.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Danielle Riley Keough (Biography.com) |
| Date of birth | May 29, 1989 (Biography.com) |
| Parents | Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough (Los Angeles Times) |
| Grandfather | Elvis Presley (Los Angeles Times) |
| Spouse | Ben Smith-Petersen (m. 2015) |
| Children | 1 daughter (Tupelo, born August 2022) |
| Net worth | $10 million (estimated) |
| Notable awards | Golden Globe nomination (2023) for Daisy Jones & the Six |
What condition does Riley Keough have?
In a 2024 podcast interview, Riley Keough spoke candidly about living with an autoimmune disease. She described her physical condition as “the autoimmune stuff” and mentioned having Lyme disease. The disclosure was part of a broader conversation about her health struggles after years of unexplained symptoms.
Riley Keough’s openness about her autoimmune condition adds a personal layer to her public persona. For fans and followers, it underscores the reality that chronic illness doesn’t spare even those from famous families — and she chose to share it on her own terms.
The implication: By speaking publicly, Keough normalizes autoimmune disease and signals that she intends to manage her health while continuing her career, rather than stepping away from the spotlight.
How many children does Riley Keough have?
Riley Keough and her husband Ben Smith-Petersen have one daughter, Tupelo, born in August 2022. Keough has not publicly shared any additional children. The couple married in 2015 in a private ceremony in Napa, California.
- Daughter Tupelo (born August 2022) (People)
- Husband: Ben Smith-Petersen, a stuntman she met on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road
The pattern: One child, and a strong preference for privacy — Keough rarely posts photos of Tupelo on social media, keeping her family life out of the press as much as possible.
How is Riley Keough related to John Travolta and Michael Jackson?
Riley Keough has no direct blood relation to either John Travolta or Michael Jackson. John Travolta was a close friend of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, and delivered a eulogy at her funeral. Michael Jackson was married to Lisa Marie Presley from 1994 to 1996, making him Riley Keough’s stepfather during that period. Both relationships are familial by marriage or friendship, not by blood.
- John Travolta: Family friend; spoke at Lisa Marie’s funeral
- Michael Jackson: Stepfather during his marriage to Lisa Marie (1994-1996) (Los Angeles Times)
The trade-off: Being linked to two mega-celebrities by marriage and friendship means Keough’s family tree is often misunderstood — but legally, she is Elvis’s granddaughter, not an heir to the Jackson or Travolta estates.
How much did Priscilla get from Riley Keough?
The 2023 settlement between Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley resolved a dispute over Lisa Marie Presley’s trust. As part of the agreement, approved by a Los Angeles judge in November 2023:
- Priscilla Presley received a $1 million lump-sum payment from Lisa Marie’s $25 million life insurance policy (People)
- She also receives $100,000 annually for 10 years (or until her death) as a special non-fiduciary advisor to the Promenade Trust (Los Angeles Times)
- Up to $400,000 in legal fees and costs were covered (Biography.com)
The catch: Riley Keough became the sole trustee of the trust, giving her control over assets including Elvis Presley’s estate and Graceland burial rights. The settlement avoided a prolonged public court battle over a 2016 amendment that Priscilla had challenged. Priscilla said in a statement, “We are happy to have settled this matter as a family” (The Wall Street Journal).
The implication: Riley Keough now controls the trust but the family dynamic remains strained.
Why did Lisa Marie’s son pass away?
Benjamin Keough, Riley’s only full brother, died in 2020 at age 27. The cause of death has not been officially confirmed in court filings, and Riley has not publicly discussed the details.
The catch: The absence of official confirmation leaves room for speculation, but the family has kept the matter private.
For more on celebrity families, see Olsen Twins 2025: Rare Sighting, Net Worth, & Family and Jet Li: Hyperthyroidism, Net Worth, and Career Hiatus.
Timeline
- May 29, 1989 — Riley Keough born in Santa Monica, California
- 2010 — Film debut in The Runaways
- 2015 — Marries Ben Smith-Petersen
- August 2022 — Daughter Tupelo born
- 2023 — Pays Priscilla Presley $1.4 million to settle trust dispute
- 2024 — Publicly reveals living with an autoimmune disease
The pattern: Keough’s life has been marked by both tragedy and legal challenges.
What’s confirmed and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- Riley Keough has an autoimmune disease (disclosed 2024) (Vanity Fair)
- Settlement paid to Priscilla Presley in 2023: $1M lump sum + $100k/year + legal fees (People)
- Riley is sole trustee of Lisa Marie Presley’s trust (Los Angeles Times)
What’s unclear
- Exact type of autoimmune disease not specified
- Current relationship status between Riley and Priscilla
- Details of Benjamin Keough’s death (unconfirmed in public records)
What this means: The public record is clear on some points but family secrets remain.
“She described her physical condition as ‘the autoimmune stuff’ and mentioned having Lyme disease.”
— Riley Keough, as reported by Vanity Fair
“We are happy to have settled this matter as a family.”
— Priscilla Presley, as reported by The Wall Street Journal
Riley Keough’s life is a mix of Hollywood legacy, private struggles, and legal entanglements that few people in her position ever experience. The health disclosure and trust settlement together paint a portrait of a young woman taking control of her inheritance, her body, and her narrative.
For Riley Keough, the coming years will test how she balances her acting career with chronic illness management — and whether the family rift over money heals or deepens. For the Presley estate, the settlement means a smoother path forward under her sole leadership.
What autoimmune disease does Riley Keough have?
She has not named the specific autoimmune disease publicly, but she mentioned having Lyme disease and referred to her condition as “the autoimmune stuff.” (Vanity Fair)
Does Riley Keough have other children besides Tupelo?
No, she has one daughter, Tupelo, born in August 2022.
Is Riley Keough the sole heir of Elvis Presley’s estate?
She is the sole trustee of Lisa Marie Presley’s trust, which includes Elvis’s estate. However, Priscilla Presley receives annual payments and advisory fees as part of the 2023 settlement.
Did Riley Keough have a falling out with Priscilla Presley?
The trust dispute suggested tension, but both parties stated they were happy to settle as a family. The current relationship status is private.
What is Riley Keough’s role in Daisy Jones and the Six?
She starred as Daisy Jones in the 2023 Amazon Prime series, earning a Golden Globe nomination.
Is Riley Keough active on social media?
She has a private Instagram account and rarely posts publicly.
What is Riley Keough’s height?
Approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) based on public profiles.
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For more on Riley Keoughs health and inheritance, including her Lyme disease diagnosis and the Graceland trust settlement, the article provides a detailed overview.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Watch, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.