Final answer:
The exact amount of money Colonel Parker allegedly took from Elvis Presley is debatable and not definitively known. Estimates suggest that Parker received about 50% of Elvis's earnings, which was an abnormally high management fee.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of how much money Colonel Tom Parker, who was the manager of Elvis Presley, possibly diverted from Elvis's earnings has been a subject of debate and speculation. Estimates of the amount vary widely, and there is no definitive answer because the financial arrangements between Parker and Elvis were complex and not fully transparent.
However, it is widely reported that Colonel Parker took about 50% of Elvis's earnings as his management fee, which was significantly higher than the standard at the time. Furthermore, there are allegations that Parker was involved in financial mismanagement or even outright theft, but these claims have not been conclusively proven.
Understanding this aspect of Elvis’s career provides insight into the potential pitfalls of the music industry, particularly in the earlier years of rock 'n' roll when managerial abuse was more common.