Elvis Presley's jet fetches Rs 2 cr at US auction after collecting dust in the desert for 40 years!

After wasting away in the desert for more than four decades, Elvis Presley’s beloved private jet has finally returned to glory.

Once the pride possession of the King of Rock & Roll, the battered 1962 Lockheed 1329 Jetstar fetched a whopping $260,000 (about Rs 2 crore) on January 8 - the late rock icon’s birthday! According to reports the jet was lying abandoned at the Roswell International Air Center in New Mexico for the past 40 years, gathering dust!

The jet was sold off at the Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car auction. The opening figure was $100,000 but the hammer finally fell on the winning price of $260K! An unnamed bidder bought the heritage item.


The rockers' ex-wife Priscilla who was present at the auction spoke fondly about her former spouse’s addiction to four-wheelers and planes. She said that the ‘Unchained Melody’ hitmaker got “great joy” from collecting planes and fast cars.

Speaking about the jet, a Mecum Auctions representative told the media, "This JetStar is a truly rare bird with immense appeal and one that will do nothing but shake up the crowds at Mecum's 2023 Kissimmee auction. Elvis and his effect on the music industry are known the world over, and this opportunity for a new owner to acquire an extravagant piece of his aviation past is a momentous occasion with untold room for flights of rock 'n' roll fancy."

According to the auction site, the ‘Hound Dog’ hitmaker bought the aircraft in 1976, for a staggering sum of $840,000. The jet was used to transport his band members, crew, and his manager Colonel Tom Parker to various destinations.

According to a report by People.com, although the outside looks worse for wear, the interior is still intact and gloriously luxurious. It includes the original '60s red velvet seats, wood panels, and gold finishing, plus a retro entertainment system consisting of an RCA VCR player and a cassette player. There’s also a lavish lavatory with vanity. The cooking area also includes a Kenmore microwave.

According to the Robb Report, Californian entrepreneur Jim Gagliardi purchased the jet at a 2017 auction for $430,000. However, for some reason, the businessman never managed to relocate the jet from New Mexico. According to the report, he had never visited to see it in person since the auction.