Yes, Elvis Presley was a blood donor, making his first donation in Germany in 1959 while serving in the U.S. Army, and he continued his support for blood drives and charitable causes like the American Red Cross throughout his life, often donating anonymously and encouraging others to do the same. His blood donor card is even preserved at Graceland.
James Harrison (blood donor) James Christopher Harrison OAM (27 December 1936 – 17 February 2025) was an Australian blood donor known as the "Man with the Golden Arm" for his prolific history of donations, 1,173 times between the ages 18 to 81.
In 1961, he started a tradition of distributing checks to more than 50 charitable organizations, donating more than $100,000 a year. He supported St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis.
An analysis of The King of Rock and Roll's DNA identified a gene mutation known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes thickening and weakening of the heart muscle. Presley, who died on August 8, 1977 at the age of 42, gorged on junk food and became addicted to drugs in the last years of his life.
It's no secret that Elvis indulged in drug use, especially during the later years of his life. It's also no secret that he had serious health problems for the last 10 years of his life. He suffered from hypertension, Cushing's disease and high cholesterol, among other things.
For months, Elvis had suffered from severe constipation 🚫💩 — some reports say he hadn't had a proper bowel movement in over four months. This intense strain, combined with long-term prescription drug abuse 💊 (painkillers, sedatives, and more), took a devastating toll on his body.
Elvis Presley wiggled because his strong connection to the music naturally made him move his hips and legs, influenced by gospel and blues, combined with stage fright that he channeled into his movements, and amplified by the overwhelmingly positive, screaming reaction from his young female fans. He initially didn't intend it but leaned into it as audiences clearly desired the "sexual" and "primitive" display, making it his iconic, rebellious signature style.
Although he was aware of the problem in the early 1970s, Elvis was reluctant to undergo a colostomy, which involves removing part of the colon. "He thought he was really a man's man. ... He thought that this was a sign of weakness, and he wasn't going to be weak," Nichopoulos said.
Dolly Parton said no to Elvis Presley recording "I Will Always Love You" because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half of the publishing rights, which Parton refused to give up, as she wanted to keep ownership and the future earnings for her family. Despite her heartbreak at the missed opportunity, she held firm to her business principle, understanding that retaining the copyright was crucial for her financial security and legacy, a decision that paid off immensely after Whitney Houston's cover became a global phenomenon.
Fun Fact: Oprah Winfrey and Elvis Presley are distant cousins. Oprah's grandmother's last name is Presley.
“When it comes to estate earnings… It's MJ, then an enormous canyon, then everybody else.” For comparison, Elvis Presley's estate ranks second with $1.2 billion, despite having a 32-year head start. Rather impressively, Elvis has been on the list every year since Forbes began recording the list.
How Much Money Did Priscilla Presley Get in Her Divorce From Elvis Presley? After her 1973 divorce from Elvis, Priscilla received a one-time payment of $725,000 and five percent of Elvis' royalties. She also received spousal support and child support for their late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
Sir Elton John comes out on top of the list by donating a whooping £27 million to charity, which comes out as 5.7 percent of his net worth. The ”Sacrifice” hitmaker recently wrapped his insanely successful farewell tour.
There are fifty people on the entire planet with Rh-negative blood, nicknamed “golden blood,” which is completely devoid of Rh antigens. And there is only one individual known to have Gwada negative blood, which was only discovered earlier this year.
The Bottom Line: Don't Let Misinformation Stop You
Clearly, the idea that "females can't donate platelets" is a myth based on a partial truth. In reality, many women, especially those who have never been pregnant, donate platelets regularly.
Only 7% of the population are O negative. However, the need for O negative blood is the highest because it is used most often during emergencies. The need for O+ is high because it is the most frequently occurring blood type (37% of the population). The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood.
The concept of autoimmunity was just starting to be understood. Much to his credit, Dr. Nick gave Elvis the diagnosis of post-concussion syndrome, and believed his headaches were a result of his head injury of 1967 (outlined later).
Elvis actually disliked denim. To him, as to most people from real working-class backgrounds, it was just a reminder of working hard and being poor. The less denim Elvis wore, the happier he was. As for the company suits at Levi Strauss, they had no idea where their new customers would take them.
It was so indulgent it became part of his public image—decadent, Southern, over-the-top. But his last meal was quiet. A bowl of ice cream. Some cookies.
According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner's report, Lisa Marie Presley's cause of death was determined to be a small bowel obstruction (SBO), specifically “a strangulated small bowel caused by adhesions that developed after bariatric surgery years ago.” This tragic outcome might have been prevented had she ...
Elvis Presley's final words, spoken to his fiancée Ginger Alden on August 16, 1977, were mundane but poignant: "I'm going to the bathroom to read," followed by "Okay, I won't" when she told him not to fall asleep. He was found dead later that morning in the bathroom of his Graceland home.
Elvis Presley suffered from severe, chronic constipation, with autopsy findings revealing up to four to five months' worth of impacted fecal matter in his colon, a condition exacerbated by prescription medications and poor bowel motility, contributing significantly to his overall decline and eventual heart failure while straining on the toilet.
I can even remember what I was wearing: a red knit 70s jumpsuit ...' 'And in walks this guy, and he was soooo beautiful, that it just took my breath away, everybody's breath away. And he walked up to me, and he tussled my hair, and he said 'you look like a chicken that's just been hatched'.