Jerry Weintraub: Elvis, a Million-Dollar Check, and Me (Nov. 10, 1998) | Charlie Rose

Legendary Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub talks to Charlie Rose about his first real break in show business: the opportunity -- after a year of daily phone calls -- to promote an Elvis Presley tour with Colonel Tom Parker. Weintraub died July 6, 2015 at age 77.
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About Charlie Rose:
Emmy award winning journalist Charlie Rose has been praised as "one of America's premier interviewers." He is the host of Charlie Rose, the nightly PBS program that engages America's best thinkers, writers, politicians, athletes, entertainers, business leaders, scientists and other newsmakers. USA Today calls Charlie Rose, "TV's most addictive talk show." New York Newsday says, "Charlie's show is the place to get engaging, literate conversation... Bluntly, he is the best interviewer around today."
Jerry Weintraub: Elvis, a Million-Dollar Check, and Me (Nov. 10, 1998) | Charlie Rose
/ charlierose

[@johnjames945]

Hold on ....where was Elvis's cut ? The colonel was a piece of work... Giving everyone and himself a piece of Elvis's pie .

[@ericheine2414]

I love a great story about men who do business on a smile and a handshake. Who keep their word. That's Magic Man!

[@Jay-vr9ir]

Yes I did business the same way and got screwed over.Oh well.

[@exdus235]

👍👍👍

[@tgamble1000]

@@Jay-vr9ir ...your name wasn't Elvis Presley

[@georgeegermayer6528]

I feel the same exact way!

[@magikp6636]

It's too bad it's not like that anymore. You used to be able to give someone your word and a handshake and you had a deal. Not no more!

[@justinherbert9146]

The sad part is that Jerry and the Colonel made more money then Elvis actually ended up with at they end of that tour - Parker was a manager - manager's are supposed to get 20 percent - but Parker took 50 percent from Elvis and probably more then that. Billy Joel who got robbed blind by managers stopped having one decades ago and manages himself - smart!

[@robbiejenkins4379]

I love this story, thanks for sharing

[@AngelaGrace2]

This sounds extremely unfair to Elvis. Elvis gets maybe 25% while Weintraub becomes a millionaire off of Elvis' talent and sweat.

[@jjb653]

That story is priceless!!

[@tgamble1000]

What a great story...Elvis was the Man...

[@dancingtrout6719]

He was It..

[@jennifernapoli8172]

Great story😊Thanks Jerry❤️ I Love Elvis❤️❤️

[@thehighhopes5336]

Jerry's book is really great.

[@garydonner7303]

Big Elvis fan , Elvis killed himself 🤔 no one else ! he was an compassionate man and an addict on everything he did 😔 He was the Greatest entertainer the world has ever seen 🤩

[@danc3693]

An Oasis Can That’s simply an idiotic statement.

[@janinefarris7565]

I love that story that Jerry Weintraub tells Charlie Rose and yet I'm not surprised!

[@danc3693]

Janine Farris You love hearing how The Colonel ripped money off from Elvis? He treated him like an ATM.

[@janinefarris7565]

No I don't love hearing how Elvis was treated like an ATM I'm impressed with the way that Jerry Weintraub was impressed and how far he went to be able to be associated and become part of the Elvis promotion that was impressive to me how he didn't give up that's the part that I like not the part where it turns out that Elvis was treated like an ATM I agree with you there

[@sorayasussman4760]

Why would you say Elvis killed himself.???is the kind of bull shit his X wife throws around and is shameful.

[@magregorswift5189]

Its great to hear true stories like that😊

[@rubbersole79]

Legend has it that Col. Tom Parker sold "I hate Elvis" buttons just so he could make money off the haters too.

[@georgeegermayer6528]

my favorite story maybe all time!!!!!

[@germanordonez9121]

A true phenomenon. Jerry, we should have meet during your lifetime, shame you left the party too early, would have been very fun to meet you ;)

[@janinefarris2748]

Well Jerry Weintraub has some good instincts and it paid off! I love the story a promise like Elvis was a good luck charm everything turned to Golden around him that was a gift from God to Elvis and to us. Thank you for a great story! Would love to hear more if you can

[@theogoldberg8919]

Jerry was amazing

[@andyroo9381]

What a story! These were just regular guys doing business based on a gentleman's agreement. That would never happen today.

[@FLG232]

what an amazing story

[@raysmusic49]

Awesome story.. thanks!

[@mirweiswassa8687]

Legendary!!!!

[@karlhungus5554]

Jerome Charles Weintraub (September 26, 1937 - July 6, 2015) Rest in peace, sir. Say hi to Elvis for us.

[@ShallExplore]

Mind-blowing!

[@kimberlyhardin8034]

Elvis got ripped off so bad from his manager its sickning.i can't understand why Elvis didn't figure this out. Elvis should have been 2 to 3 times richer than he was.such crookedness.

[@belingonza318]

Elvis figured without the Colonel he couldn't do himself he'd be nothing. So he did whatever was asked of him.

[@jms1471]

@@belingonza318 I think in a way, Elvis got lazy at trying to figure it out, apparently Elvis didn't care abouthe money , it was more like how he was being treat I Think?? He gave away a lot of money in the 22 year career, , when he died his net with was suppoenly only 5 million dollars, Thank god for Priscilla was a round to TCB . for Elvis or it would have never been what it is today ? Graceland>.

[@barbarajordan3145]

Elvis knew all about Tom Parker. Elvis fired Parker once for going behind his back through Vernon Presley to give himself, Parker, a bigger cut of the profit. Elvis actually hated Vegas choosing to sing to audiences around the country, so Elvis and Parker negotiated a better deal. Parker was a big time gambler and that was the reason Elvis played Vegas. Elvis had planned to fire Parker in the future. Elvis had a lot of people on his payroll starting with his father, Lisa Marie and Priscilla, his housekeeper, the Gardner and staff at Graceland the orchestra, Sweet Inspirations, Stamps quartet; and, the entourage. He bought Cadillacs, other cars, houses, motorcycles, vacations and college educations for their children. (He paid the schools and required proof they were attending and maintaining high grades.) For his last fiancee, Ginger Alden, he bought a house for her mother and one for Ginger, as I understand it.) He gave away cash to family and hired some of them. He also bought jewelry, expensive rings and necklaces; also for friends. I still love ❤️ Elvis. I was born and grew up in the South and turned 71 this year.

[@guilhermecabral4578]

Elvis needed to work less,parker did not ripped Elvis,there was a contract signed by Elvis,Elvis agree.

[@bonbon-gl8qo]

Elvis wasn’t a business man & neither was his dad. They were 2 southerners who got lucky. On the other hand the Colonial was a business man who was more like Elvis’s business Partner than his manager.

[@kathysharpe7339]

Miss you Jerry. Good man.

[@brianbrolly4348]

what a deal.probably the best one jerry ever made. imagine becoming a millionaire in 3 weeks back in 1970 it was worth far more.fantastic story.

[@opencurtin]

Pity he didn’t manage Elvis as well ...

[@GeorgiaOverdrive]

CBS67 We know now that Elvis could’ve easily paid that.

[@TomSmith-dt4tj]

vast majority of those who knew Elvis personally would disagree with you.

[@cynthiakutra2255]

@CBS67 Main recent he went with Colonel again was because his dad, Vernon, handled the bills and his went crazy when they received the bill that said they owed Parker $2M--he panicked and begged Elvis to fix it up with Parker right then. Elvis did so his dad could calm down

[@beautifulinsideout5258]

@Randal Toma What are you talking about, Elvis was/is a big star all over the world then and still is 43 yrs after his death even with Col. Parker as his manager or even on his own because Elvis had everything every performer should possess.

[@randychase305]

All this story really does is just reinforce how taken advantage of Elvis truly was.

[@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879]

No one knew about touring then. It was a risk to book Elvis believe it or not

[@dancingtrout6719]

most interesting story ive heard in a while

[@Harlemboi134]

That was a perfect ending.

[@johnjames945]

Nope not for Elvis....that was his pie the colonel was chopping up

[@rasputinsliver9092]

So...let's see here. He says at the end there that Elvis and the Colonel got 50% and he got 50%, while the Colonel got half of everything Elvis made and Elvis had to pay for the band, singers and orchestra as well as his retinue out of HIS own pocket. That means Elvis, the guy with all the talent and who did the job of making the other two, especially the Colonel, wealthy, got very little after all was said and done. Elvis made far more money for Parker, given all Parker's myriad side deals using Elvis' name, than he made for himself. Only performer I've heard of whose manager got 50% (and so much more) of the performer's intake. Usually we're talking about 20% for management and the rest to the performer. It's been known for decades that Parker, or as he was really known, Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, was a exploitative scoundrel and worked Elvis like a dray horse making Elvis pay for Parker's inveterate gambling habit. Terrible guy. And that's not including the murder allegations from his homeland in Holland. Back in the very early '70s there were quite a few of Elvis' peers, including Cher, Tom Jones, Wayne Newton, and so many more, urging him to dump Parker and sign on with Kirk Kerkorian who built the International Hotel in Las Vegas where Elvis re-emerged as a live performer again. Would've been the best thing for Elvis had he done that. The story goes, though, that whenever Elvis went to Parker to discuss splitting up their partnership Parker would say, sure. Just have two million in cash to Parker out. Elvis was never about the money and he apparently didn't think he could come up with such a cash amount so they never parted. Thing is, had Elvis realized it he could easily have come up with such amount through Kerkorian and banks, not to mention others who wished to see Elvis parted from Parker. Too bad Elvis remained a slave to Parker's greed and exploitation of him. Elvis was too ignorant of his own real worth and too damned humble and nice for his own good.

[@grantorino2009]

Yep, Bob...Tom Parker was a CRIMINAL.

[@Norwegian733]

There is another side to that story. According to Schilling, Elvis was in gratitude for what the Colonel did in the early days and wanted to honor the deal also when he had become the greatest star in the world. He just had problems with dumping him because of that. He did fire him at one point, but changed his mind. Dont think it was so much about the money Parker demanded though... he could have raised that amount. The guys working with Aloha, Comeback Special and Elvis on Tour were all clear that Elvis was his own man when it came to his side of the business. The colonel did not have anything to say about Elvis`s shows. Also, the bodyguards were clear that the colonel had tried to get Elvis off the pills, but were told clearly to stay out. He could do nothing. So the relationship was only to a point decided by the colonel, but in the end Elvis was the boss. No doubt about it. But he hated the business side of his life. He never cared so much about the money.

[@julieweintraub2146]

Bob Johnson I hate to fucking break it to you brother but I’m Julie Weintraub. It is a true rucking story. He called him the Coloner for 364 days on the 365 day the call came. He dreamt about it all in the middle of the night. My mum sad JERRY you’re fucking crazy go back to bed. So sorry that you are ill informed.

[@FullHouseFanatic]

@@julieweintraub2146 how is he disputing Jerry's story?

[@hazelevans1971]

@@julieweintraub2146 is there any need for such discussing language

[@LJS232]

What a great story

[@markchristopher2signal2]

I read his autobiography "when I stop talking you'll know I'm dead" This man is a man of action. I believe the turning of Jerry Weintraub's life was when he met with Jane Morgan and eventually married her. That and when Jerry worked for Lew Wassman as well at MCA.

[@Braglemaster123]

Wasserman’

[@sananto6896]

After Elvis died, Parker reworked the contract and was getting 80% of Elvis profits. Priscilla had to take him to court to get back to 50%.

[@brucesmith1544]

well he was probably doing 100% of the work lol

[@spencertrask8048]

San, I know a lot about Elvis . When Elvis died, Parker tried to keep getting paid...but Priscilla took Parker to court and won and all of Elvis royalties went to Lisa Marie. Parker made no more money off Elvis then. This was soon after Elvis died. Parker was just too greedy and Priscilla stopped his money train.

[@joshkarena3058]

Elvis's mum Gladys did not like or trust Colonel Tom Parker and the Colonel knew that, that is why in the early beginning days of Elvis's career, the Colonel made Elvis's dad Vernon, Elvis's manager to please Gladys that he's not in it solely for the money. That came later.

[@Obtaineudaimonia]

Superb story on arguably his greatest achievement. I spoke about this at length in the animated review I did of his book.

[@TiagoSoares17]

The story of this Sir is something. I highly recommend to check his biography.

[@jeffreykohlberg4211]

Jerry was going to take Elvis on world tour just before he died according to James Burton, Elvis guitar player. Jerry would've done a great job for Elvis and with some new challenges might have changed Elvis's early demise.

[@Gump-tion]

Freaking amazing story!

[@belingonza318]

The documentary they had on him was great. From nothing to a millionaire his father was a salesman and taught him about making money by selling.

[@michaelcrowson3174]

Exactly 💯

[@deborahcornell171]

I've still got my ticket stubs that say "Jerry Weintraub presents An Evening With Led Zeppelin" (saw them 3 times". And I saw Elvis twice in the 70's but I'm not sure where those ticket stubs are..pretty sure they're tucked away somewhere. I'd love to see if the wording is the same.💙🌿

[@MarkEdwards-i9x]

What did ELVIS GET!! NOTHING!!

[@MeMeDaVinci]

So, Jerry Weintraub got half of the merchandising money and didn't even work for it? That sounds like one crooked deal for Elvis in my book.

[@victorblock3421]

It was a short term deal and he took a big risk. It worked out and other deals were made later.

[@cricketcricket9749]

What did the initial investor with the million get? He certainty didn't just give them that money.

[@kippygeorges6059]

I believe Elvis would have made the big time,with Sam Phillips it would have taken a bit longer.but it would have happened..

[@user-zm5ih1gg3p]

The more elvis would have made the more he would give.

[@annamariafacchiano1688]

So many people, even those who had nothing to do with music, became rich and known because they had met or worked for a while with Elvis.For years. Especially his guys with interviews and books not always sincere and true.Some of them, if they wanted to be independent and start their own activity, a s for example Joe Esposito ,hoped that the important relashionship they had been connected with while working for Elvis, would be useful , but the calls never returned and Joe came back to Graceland broken, and as always Elvis hired him again.

[@danscott3880]

It is estimated Elvis bought over 250 cars in his lifetime. His dad Vernon did his books. For him ..

[@magikp6636]

And....??? What's your point?

[@cory2146]

my god what a story !

[@kathy-t5q]

Also the colonel told Binder you can’t talk to Elvis until you talk to me first and if I like you then you can talk to Elvis he was such a dck

[@santyv9466]

This is most inspiring story I ever heard. Thanks to Tai Lopez !

[@graziettacarcetta2498]

The real GIANT was ELVIS🕺🏆🤩

[@deanmanfredi6416]

So what i keep thinking about is Jerry said he got 50 percent and Elvis and the colonel got 50 percent. So you mean Elvis got 25 percent

[@deanmanfredi6416]

That’s exactly what I keep thinking about too. Exactly. So Elvis got 25 percent.

[@armandonieves1277]

I don't think Elvis was involved in that it was 50% Jerry, 50% the Colonel, as I understood

[@mtp4430]

He changed his story a bit. In other interviews he said the Colonel had two briefcases full of cash and told him to pick one. When he hesitated the colonel hit one of the briefcases with his cane and said this one is for me and Elvis and the other one is yours.

[@prepro595]

Everybody took a piece of Elvis. 🐍

[@truthhitman7473]

They never mention where Elvis was upset that Martin Luther King was murdered in his home town of Mississippi and wanted to make a public statement about it but Elvis's manger Tom Parker said something like " No, it's politics, it's none of your business. Stay out of it." Nevertheless Elvis say If I Can Dream as a tribute to Dr. King and Civil Rights Movement. Why is this never mentioned ?

[@cynthiakutra2255]

@@truthhitman7473 I'm aware of it--he actually sent MLK a donation occcasionally to help with CR movement--he deeply cared about blacks--he'd grown up with them in his neighborhood--his family were extremely poor, they played together, ate together, jammed together and he'd go to the black churches and enjoy their music.

[@Lakeshore14]

It’s fine to become a millionaire promoting Elvis. But anyone who knows the real story knows that col. Parker was nothing but a manipulator. He was a con man from day one and Elvis was too trusting. Story is that the reason NEVER toured overseas was because Parker was wanted for various schemes in Europe and he would not ever go back. Very sad that a good honest man like Elvis was taken advantage of.

[@theogoldberg8919]

Unlike some of his colleagues. Gosh what an elegance!

[@johnwright2911]

The artist himself gets 25%. So sad...

[@jms1471]

it should have been divided 3 ways 33,1/3% for each man, although the right split would have been Elvis 85%, Parker 15%, and Jerry zero...

[@davisdusty2]

Good deal for everyone but Elvis

[@bigcatdaddy7573]

Elvis should’ve been filthy rich even though he spent a lot. They stopped counting his record sales in 1979 after 1,000,000,000 records.

[@CooManTunes]

"They stopped counting his record sales in 1979 after 1,000,000,000 records." Source?

[@davidwatson3456]

I dont know how Weintraub made a million on 3 weeks of touring back then. Seems far fetched to me.

[@glasshalffull8471]

And Colonel Parker probably lost the money in the Casino by midnight.

[@aljomc6444]

Inspiration for Turtletaub in Bojack?

[@jefflanham1080]

This was the business I was gonna ‘run away with the circus’ for, learning EVERYTHING POSSIBLE ABOUT from the time I was a very young kid. For twenty plus years I did just that 89-2009..........but unfortunately it had been corrupted by corporations and wannabes who knew nothing of the magic of show-biz. Things were never the same. I was brought in by some heavy old school legends but as I said, it had changed and that was sad to see....

[@theogoldberg8919]

Jerry was the hell of a great producer. So filled with integrity. The anti weinstein actually.

[@randychase305]

Really? Cause it really sounds like he took major advantage of Elvis in this story.

[@ArcaneWeasel]

Elvis was so ripped off

[@ajsmith5295]

Elvis Presley done concerts in Arenas before him, what is he on about nobody done concerts in Arenas before me

[@jms1471]

One of the bad points of this interview is that Charles Rose never asked Jerry the right questions, why wasn't the money made split 3 ways? Elvis should have made more the 2 other guys, Jerry and The Colonel? It should have been split this way, Colonel, gets his 10% and Jerry made his part and Elvis got the most of the 3 of them, but he (ELVIS) got screwed. period. Elvis 80%, The Colonel 10%, Jerry, 10%

[@twomustangs]

And Elvis got the suitcases. "Col. Tom Parker" was awful.

[@TheBohemianAngels]

Damn did they rip Elvis off. Geez. That's the only thing so far I have against Elvis, why was he a big dumb dumb when it came to the power of money he brought and let it be taken away from him.

[@TwoMilesAwayWildlife]

He helped Mr. Papagiorgio get an ID too.

[@anadan4042]

Nu inteleg ce se vorbeste si nici in comentarii

[@anadan4042]

Nu stiu engleza tradu in romana

[@jms1471]

DId Elvis know about the money that the Colonel split with Jerry, 2 suitcase full of (Memobliea) money, more then likely a large sum of that money should have gone to Elvis and I'm sure it didn't, the Colonel more then likely took full advantage of the money coming in and of Elvis. These kind of stories Elvis seemed really blind to, and to many of the people around him. If Elvis would have had a manager that cared about him and the job he was suppose to do, Elvis may have lived much longer, then he did, the one person the Colonel cared more about was HIMSELF. Elvis appeared in Vegas a long to pay off the Colonel gambling debts, it a well known story on how the Colonel waa a foolish gambler, and blew millions he took off Elvis. The sad part is how many of the Elvis guys stuck up for the Colonel, apparently they knew exactly what he was doing to Elvis. It a sad story and many of the guys knew about it all along and it seemed at times Elvis felt sorry for the colonel and let him get away with it, surprisingly his fahte ( Elvis's) did step in and break it up??? that in it self is another story.

[@specialized29er86]

I just Googled Parkers net worth at his death and its stated one million dollars so what the farq was he doing with his 50% of Elvis's hard earnt money.

[@SheenaRea]

He gambled most of it away. He was known to drop one million dollars in about 15 minutes at the casinos.

[@r3dical1]

His son is biggest of graff writers that there is

[@elvis-jj1sc]

tcb jerry

[@peterpiperman9542]

Jerry screwed over John Denver

[@thyslop1737]

Yes, I read the same. Apparently, John Denver had no love affair with the man.

[@stevemiller641]

How does 3 ways of 50 percent go

[@randyclement2429]

I highly doubt Elvis start his share probably went to the crap tables

[@nildahudson3180]

I guess its parker who have the blood in hìs hand in Elvis life

[@DS-yg4qs]

What a cowboy economy. 😀

[@dennisweisenberger5317]

Too bad charlie rose wasn't his manager!

[@brucesmith1544]

oh, so this is who's responsible for those awful money-grubbing arena concerts. thanks.

[@sh73312]

charlie looks creepy, oh he is

[@cynthiakutra2255]

yes, we found that out this year didn't we? Sexual assaults for years caught up with him and there went his career...

[@dennisweisenberger5317]

Young and Nieve! Shame

[@CooManTunes]

The real enemy was Elvis' doctor. Anybody who puts most of the blame on Parker is only a fool.

[@lel2012]

Parker was the worst thing that ever happend to Elvis. Period. I wish I could have time machine and go back and tell Elvis "Woke UP Man, fire this batarad, he inly cares for fu***g $$$".

[@TomSmith-dt4tj]

@@lel2012 and what is the source of your opinion? Did you know Elvis and the Colonel personally? I seriously doubt it.

[@drewhendley]

He was a crook

[@stellapatchouli6652]

Charlie Rose show was great. Sad how we rid the entertainment and news media of some greatest talents...for money purposes. Only the rich and famous get sued...have ya noticed?😁

[@roccodinosantino1474]

How these guys make money without doing a damn thing

[@M-arie64]

Did he fart?