Who is Riley Keough? Background, career, and the claim involving John Travolta’s son's biological mother

Brigitte Kruse, a former business partner of Priscilla Presley, has made shocking allegations in a new lawsuit involving John Travolta, Riley Keough, and Travolta’s youngest son, Ben. Kruse claims that Keough is Ben’s biological mother, alleging that Travolta and his late wife, Kelly Preston, used Keough’s eggs to conceive their son, who was born in 2010. These claims were outlined in court documents cited by Page Six. According to Kruse, Keough was allegedly paid between $10,000 and $20,000 and given an old Jaguar as part of the agreement.

Who is Riley Keough?

Riley Keough is an American actress, producer, and model best known for her work in film and television. She was born on May 29, 1989, and is the daughter of Danny Keough and singer Lisa Marie Presley and the granddaughter of music legend Elvis Presley. When Keough was five, her parents divorced, and her mother later had a short marriage to Michael Jackson from 1994 to 1996. Riley began her career as a model before moving into acting, where she earned praise for roles in movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, American Honey, and Logan Lucky.

She also starred in the TV series The Girlfriend Experience and Daisy Jones & The Six. In addition to acting, she works as a producer on various projects. Riley Keough has been married to stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen since 2015. According to Page Six, they are parents to daughter Tupelo, 3, and another child born in early 2025. She is also known for preserving her family’s legacy through her work with Elvis Presley’s estate.

The lawsuit further alleges that members of the Presley family tried to gain control of the estate and secure financial payouts after Lisa Marie Presley’s death, using Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko as negotiators and mediators. However, Priscilla Presley’s attorney, Marty Singer, strongly rejected the claims.

According to Page Six, he described the allegations as false, harmful, and unrelated to the actual legal dispute, accusing Kruse of attempting to hurt Priscilla Presley and her family. Meanwhile, John Travolta shares three children with his late wife, Kelly Preston: Jett, who died in 2009, along with Ella Bleu and Ben. Preston passed away in 2020 following a battle with breast cancer.