Quick Read
- Legal filings allege Riley Keough donated an egg used by John Travolta and Kelly Preston for son Ben.
- Keough reportedly received a Jaguar and $10,000–$20,000 for the arrangement in 2010.
- The claim ties into ongoing Presley estate lawsuits and family disputes after Lisa Marie Presley’s death.
- No public comment or confirmation from Travolta, Keough, or their representatives.
- Documents suggest Scientology and Priscilla Presley oversaw the arrangement.
Riley Keough: At the Heart of a Presley-Travolta Legal Storm
In a twist worthy of Hollywood itself, Riley Keough—the granddaughter of Elvis Presley and a rising star in her own right—has found her name embroiled in a high-stakes legal drama. According to amended court filings obtained by National Enquirer and first reported by Globe, Keough may be the biological mother of Ben Travolta, the son of John Travolta and the late Kelly Preston. This explosive allegation, if confirmed, would add another layer to the already complex tapestry of the Presley family saga.
Legal Documents Reveal Alleged Egg Donation
The claim surfaced in a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed December 16, 2025, by Priscilla Presley’s former business partners, Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, against Priscilla’s son, Navarone Garibaldi Garcia. Central to the filing is a revelation from Lisa Marie Presley’s ex-husband, Michael Lockwood, who allegedly told Kruse that the Travoltas had sought help from the Presley family after Kelly Preston was unable to have children. Lockwood claimed that Lisa Marie Presley’s eggs were first used, but when concerns arose about her opioid addiction, the Travoltas turned to Riley Keough for an egg donation in 2010.
According to the documents, Keough was compensated with an old Jaguar and between $10,000 and $20,000. The arrangement was purportedly overseen by the Church of Scientology, reflecting the close ties between the Travolta and Presley families at the time. Kelly Preston gave birth to Ben Travolta in November 2010, a year after the tragic death of her and Travolta’s son Jett.
Presley Family, Scientology, and Estate Battles
This legal claim does not confirm Ben Travolta’s biological parentage but fuels speculation about the Presley estate’s future. Since Lisa Marie Presley’s death in 2023, the family has been locked in a series of lawsuits and disputes, with questions about inheritance and secret heirs swirling in the media. The lawsuit alleges that Lockwood sought to use these revelations as leverage in settlement negotiations for his daughters, Harper and Finley.
Priscilla Presley, now 80, has strenuously denied all allegations made against her, with her attorney calling them “shameful, ridiculous, salacious and meritless.” She is also pursuing separate legal action against Kruse and Fialko for fraud and elder abuse. Meanwhile, Garcia reportedly reacted angrily to the suggestion that Ben Travolta could claim the Presley musical legacy, insisting he remain the family’s only male musician and demanding a multi-million-dollar settlement.
Riley Keough: From Family Tragedy to Hollywood Spotlight
Amid the legal storm, Riley Keough’s own journey is remarkable. Born in 1989 to Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough, Riley began modeling for major brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Tommy Hilfiger at age 15. She made her acting debut in The Runaways (2010) and achieved breakout success in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and The Girlfriend Experience (2016). Most recently, her performance in Daisy Jones & The Six (2023) earned her a Golden Globe nomination, cementing her status as a Hollywood force.
Keough’s life has not been without hardship. She faced public scrutiny over her family’s connection to Scientology and endured the tragic loss of her brother Benjamin in 2020, followed by her mother’s death in 2023. Her marriage to stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen and the birth of their daughter Tupelo via surrogate in 2023 have added new chapters to her personal story. Through it all, Keough has maintained a degree of independence, founding her own production company, Felix Culpa, and promoting her mother’s memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown.
The Egg Donor Allegation: Fact or Fiction?
Despite the sensational nature of the claims, neither the Travolta family nor Riley Keough’s representatives have commented publicly. The legal filings, while detailed, stop short of providing definitive proof of Ben Travolta’s biological parentage. The documents have been used as leverage in ongoing Presley estate negotiations, but the central allegation remains unverified.
This controversy highlights the intricate connections between celebrity families, the influence of Scientology, and the high stakes involved in legacy and inheritance. The Presley family’s continued legal battles—now complicated by questions of secret heirs and biological ties—underscore the challenges of managing fame, fortune, and family secrets in the public eye.
Looking Ahead: The Impact on Riley Keough’s Legacy
For Riley Keough, the latest allegations represent another test of resilience. Her career continues to flourish despite the shadows cast by family tragedy and public scrutiny. As she navigates the fallout from these legal disputes, Keough’s story remains emblematic of the ways in which personal history and public persona intersect for those born into celebrity dynasties.
Whether or not the egg donor claim is ever substantiated, it has already left its mark on the narrative surrounding both the Presley and Travolta families. The legal filings have drawn attention not only to the individuals involved but also to the broader questions of privacy, inheritance, and identity that often follow in the wake of high-profile legacies.
The facts currently available do not confirm Riley Keough’s biological connection to Ben Travolta, but they reveal the extraordinary lengths to which family, fame, and legacy intertwine in the Presley saga. Until more concrete evidence emerges, this allegation remains part of the ever-evolving story of a family whose private dramas continue to play out on a very public stage.