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Few entertainers have achieved greater acclaim than the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley. From his humble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi, to his lavish later years spent at Graceland, Elvis lived a fascinating life, and his performances and songs remain almost as beloved today as when they were first recorded. In honor of the King’s birthday on January 8, we’ve compiled six facts about one of the most renowned musicians of the 20th century.

Elvis Never Performed Outside of North America

Despite being a global sensation — an estimated 40% of his record sales occurred internationally — Elvis never performed outside of North America. In fact, the only time he ever held a show not on U.S. soil was during a series of three Canadian concerts, in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver, all in 1957.

His tendency to stick stateside had little to do with his rumored fear of flying, however, as he still traveled by plane to perform in Hawaii in 1973. The most widely accepted (if still unconfirmed) reason for the lack of foreign gigs has to do with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Parker was born in the Netherlands, and reportedly feared that his status as an undocumented immigrant would make returning to the United States impossible. That may have been why he only booked Elvis on North American concerts.

Elvis Was a Natural Blond and Used Shoe Polish as Hair Dye

You’d be hard-pressed to find evidence of Elvis’ natural blond hairstyle, as only one known photo exists, hanging on the wall of Graceland. From a young age, Elvis dyed his hair jet black with shoe polish — which was cheaper than hair dye — in an effort to make his blue eyes stand out. Elvis also began applying eyeliner to further accentuate his eyes around 1960, a trick he learned from actor Tony Curtis. As Elvis rose to fame, he continued to dye his hair to maintain his image, though he eventually shifted from shoe polish to a patented hair dye combination of Miss Clairol 51D and Black Velvet/Mink Brown by Paramount. Elvis later enlisted the services of Larry Geller, a beloved stylist in West Hollywood who also worked with stars such as Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen.

Elvis Didn’t Write Any of the Songs He Performed

Despite recording over 600 songs throughout his career, Elvis’ skills were lacking on the songwriting front. In a 1957 interview with Dig magazine, he explained, “I never wrote a song in my life… I’ve never even had an idea for a song.” In fact, Elvis never learned how to read or write music. That didn’t stop him from being credited as co-writer on many tracks, as his label demanded that certain songwriters give up 50% of authorship for any songs that Elvis recorded.

This isn’t to say Elvis went about the recording process lazily — quite the opposite. In the recording studio, he sometimes did 40 takes of a single track until it was perfect.

Elvis Earned Several Black Belts in Karate

Elvis began training in the shotokan style of karate in 1958 under a man named Juergen Seydel while he was stationed in Germany as a member of the U.S. Army. Upon returning to the United States in 1960, Elvis earned his first black belt in the style of chito-ryu from Hank Slemansky. Elvis later studied in a Memphis dojo under Kang Rhee, where he received a seventh degree black belt in 1973 and an eighth in 1974. Rhee wrote a book about his experiences training Elvis, noting that he “was the only person I ever saw wear boots into the dojo,” and that the musician “insisted on using real firearms” during training instead of wooden ones. Elvis was so passionate about karate that he later co-founded the Tennessee Karate Institute in 1974. Some have questioned whether his black belts had more to do with his celebrity status than his skills, but his love for martial arts was undeniable.

Elvis Appears on the Most Popular Commemorative U.S. Stamp of All Time

First issued by the United States Postal Service on January 8, 1993, a stamp featuring Elvis Presley went on to become the most popular commemorative stamp of all time. In 1992, two prospective designs were presented — one of a young Elvis from the 1950s and another of an older Elvis from his 1973 performance in Hawaii — with the former eventually selected by a whopping 75% of 1.2 million mail-in votes. Some 500 million copies of the stamp — three times the usual run — were printed by the USPS. Elvis would be honored with yet another commemorative stamp in 2015, making him the only musical artist with two USPS stamps featuring their likeness.

Elvis Purchased FDR’s Old Presidential Yacht

During his presidency, Franklin Delano Roosevelt recommissioned a 165-foot former Coast Guard cutter known as the USS Potomac as his official presidential yacht. Dubbed the “floating White House,” the yacht went largely unused after FDR passed away in 1945, though it was later purchased by Elvis Presley in 1964 for $55,000. Elvis didn’t purchase the yacht for personal use, however; instead, he donated it to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in 1964 so that they could resell it to raise money.

The yacht isn’t the only presidential connection that Elvis shares. Genealogists also discovered that Elvis is actually a sixth cousin once removed of President Jimmy Carter.

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Few are immune to the lure of a hidden treasure, its location well-protected by natural fortifications and/or the obscure clues of an old map or legend. The intrigue has spawned an array of popular novels, such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1880s Treasure Island, and movies including 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, but there are also a few real-life stories of secret valuables and the explorers who sought them. Here are seven of history’s most famous treasures — some real and others possibly pure fantasy — that have kept fortune-seekers on the hunt for years.

The Copper Scroll Treasures

Discovered in the mid-20th century, the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls represented the archaeological find of a lifetime, yet one of them points to hidden riches of even greater value. The lone manuscript written on a copper scroll, officially designated “3Q15,” reveals that around 160 tons of gold and silver are buried in 63 spots throughout modern-day Israel. Unfortunately, some of the wording in the ancient Hebrew text is a mystery to contemporary scholars, while other passages describe vague locations that are nearly impossible to pinpoint. It’s been speculated that the valuables have already been dug up by later generations of Jews or the Knights Templar (see below), though the more tantalizing possibility exists that the billions of dollars worth of gold and silver remain up for grabs.

The Knights Templar Treasure

The Knights Templar, founded as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, wasn’t so poor in its heyday, as it loaded up its coffers through the spoils of war, donations of royal benefactors, and oversight of an extensive banking network. Unsurprisingly, the medieval military order’s wealth and influence drew the scrutiny of other powerful figures, and in 1307, King Phillip IV of France set about disbanding the order and claiming its riches. Although many of its members were arrested and executed, the Knights Templar allegedly smuggled their valuables out of Paris via hay carts or vessels. As such, its artifacts could be almost anywhere in the world, although a few collectors in recent years have pieced together what looks to be an impressive assemblage of Templar keepsakes, including a sword, libation cup, helmet, and obsidian chalice.

The Lost City of Paititi

If the idea of secret caves and boats overflowing with gold tickles your fancy, then how about an entire city? Legend points to one such place in the Peruvian Andes, rumored to be a refuge for the Incas who escaped Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Expeditions have been trying to find Paititi for decades, but the biggest obstacle is its alleged location, in the midst of dense Amazonian growth, treacherous cliffs, and unwelcoming native tribes. In recent years, French explorer Thierry Jamin has followed clues toward an unusual “square mountain” in the Megantoni National Sanctuary of southeastern Peru, though time will tell whether this locale holds the secret city he and legions of predecessors have sought.

The Honjo Masamune

While some treasures consist of sparkling gems, others, like the creations of 13th-century Japanese swordsmith Goro Nyudo Masamune, are one-of-kind works of craftsmanship. Masamune forged one particularly potent blade that took on the name of an early wielder, Honjo Shigenaga, and passed through generations of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan into the 19th century. However, shortly after the Honjo Masamune was named a National Treasure in 1939, the loss of World War II led to an order for the Japanese to turn over their swords, including the Tokugawas’ 700-year-old katana, to American occupiers. Sleuths have since sought to recover the priceless artifact, with some following the dead-end trail of a “Sgt. Coldy Bimore” who supposedly took possession. Others are resigned to the idea that it sits in the dusty basement or attic of an unknown veteran’s surviving family.

Nazi Gold in Lake Toplitz

While the Japanese surrendered their treasures at the close of World War II, the Nazis supposedly hid theirs by dumping millions of dollars of gold into the Austrian Alps’ Lake Toplitz. But while rumors of the lake being a Nazi repository gained steam when counterfeit Allied currency was found submerged there in the 1960s, divers haven’t uncovered any of its alleged crates of gold. This is partly due to the difficulty of accessing the densely forested region, as well as the characteristics of the lake; frozen for much of the year, it also lacks oxygen in its deeper reaches, allowing the giant trees that fall in to remain preserved and block the path of explorers.

The Dutch Schultz Stash

Famed gangster Dutch Schultz met his demise in a hail of gunfire at a New Jersey restaurant in October 1935, but not before delivering a stream of deathbed ramblings that reportedly included clues to a stash of loot hidden in the Catskill Mountains near Phoenicia, New York. Of course, the details of just what was squirreled away and where have changed over the years; it’s either a load of cash, jewels, or bonds, and it’s located near a sycamore … or maybe a pair of pine trees. It’s also worth considering the reliability of the source, who uttered such nuggets as, “Oh, oh; dog biscuit, and when he is happy he doesn’t get snappy,” as his life slipped away. However, the uncertainty hasn’t stopped the treasure-seekers who regularly descend on Phoenicia with the hope of uncovering what could be upwards of $50 million in mob funds.

Blackbeard’s Treasure

No list of missing treasures would be complete without mention of a long-lost pirate trove, and this infamous buccaneer reportedly left behind a haul worthy of his formidable reputation. After nearly two years of plundering vessels in the West Indies, Blackbeard’s ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, ran into a sandbar off North Carolina in June 1718. From there, it’s believed he transferred his valuables to other boats, leaving little sign of his haul when he was killed a few months later by a British Royal Navy force. Although Queen Anne’s Revenge was discovered in 1996, it seems the whereabouts of its captain’s big prize became a massive mystery to all except, as Blackbeard once eloquently put it, the legendary pirate himself and the devil.

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From fine art to classic cars, many incredibly valuable items have been offered up at auction. But while some bidders have their sights set on buying a prized gem, others are more keen on bidding for quirky and unusual items that are once-in-a-lifetime finds. Certain people will pay any price for the chance to add a weird relic to their collection, whether it’s a decades-old pastry or even the surgically removed body part of a famous musician. Here are six of the strangest items ever sold at auction.

A Slice of Cake From Queen Elizabeth II’s Wedding

On November 20, 1947, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were married in a lavish ceremony. Following the service, a reception was held at Buckingham Palace, where the 2,000 guests in attendance were each given a slice of the 9-foot-tall, four-tier wedding cake designed by confectioner Fredrick Schur. The indulgent cake included ingredients from across the British empire: dried fruit from Australia, butter from New Zealand, flour from Canada, brandy from South Africa, and Jamaican rum. But while some guests chowed down on the delicious dessert, others held on to their portions for decades to come.

In 2013, a slice of said cake went up for sale at Christie’s auction house, with an eventual hammer price of £1,750 (more than $2,000 today). The slice was wrapped and placed in a box inscribed with the words “EP Buckingham Palace 20th November 1947.” The package also included a card reading, “With the Best Wishes of Their Royal Highnesses The Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh.” Despite some evident decay, the dessert — which had been given to a man who formed part of the Guard of Honour at the royal wedding — attracted many bids. Two years later, in 2015, yet another slice of the cake went up for auction, this one selling for £500 (around $610 now). 2022 saw a portion of Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding cake go up for sale yet again, and this time the auction house warned potential buyers that the item is no longer edible.

The Self-Destructing Banksy Painting

Banksy is an anonymous graffitist who is heralded as one of modern art’s most prolific figures. Among his most notable works is 2006’s “Girl with Balloon,” a canvas version of which was put up for auction in 2018. Moments after the work sold for $1.37 million, a motor within the painting’s frame initiated a self-destruct sequence. The canvas began slowly descending through the frame, which shredded part of the spray-painted work into dangling strips while a shocked auction gallery looked on.

Banksy — who later posted an anonymous video taking credit for the self-destructive act — claimed that he had installed the shredder to destroy the painting should it ever be auctioned. While Banksy’s intent may have been to render the painting worthless, it did quite the opposite. In 2021, the partially shredded work, now renamed “Love Is in the Bin,” went up for auction yet again, this time selling for $25.4 million.

John Lennon’s Tooth

Sometime between the years 1964 and 1968, the Beatles’ John Lennon gave his housekeeper, Dot Jarlett, a tooth of his to dispose of. Lennon had had the tooth removed at the dentist earlier that day, though later changed course and said that Jarlett should give the tooth to her daughter, who was a huge Beatles fanatic. The family held on to Lennon’s stained and partially rotted tooth for decades before the molar ultimately hit the auction block in 2011, when it sold for $31,200. The tooth was purchased by a Canadian dentist named Michael Zuk, who even wrote a book about celebrity teeth. He claimed that when he heard about the auction, he “had to have it.” Oddly enough, the tooth isn’t the only body part of a famous musician to sell for thousands. In 2009, a lock of Elvis Presley’s hair from the year 1958 sold for $18,300.

Justin Timberlake’s Leftover French Toast

Around the early 2000s, eBay was all the rage, as the online auction site had debuted just a few years prior. At the same time, few bands were more popular than ’N Sync, and heartthrob Justin Timberlake was a member. On March 9, 2000, Timberlake participated in an interview at New York’s Z-100 radio station, during which he partially consumed some French toast. Rather than throw the two slices of uneaten French toast in the trash, the station DJ took the food and listed it on eBay. The half-eaten breakfast sold for $1,025 to 19-year-old ’N Sync superfan Kathy Summers, who claimed that she planned to “probably freeze-dry it, then seal it… then put it on my dresser.”

The World’s Largest Cat Painting

In 2015, Sotheby’s put the purr-fect painting up for auction. Considered the world’s largest cat painting, “My Wife’s Lovers” was created around 1893 by Austrian artist Carl Kahler, who spent three years on it. The painting measures 75 inches by 102 inches and weighs a staggering 227 pounds — so humongous that Sotheby’s had to construct a special reinforced wall to ensure it could be safely displayed.

Kahler was commissioned to create the painting by San Francisco philanthropist Kate Birdsall Johnson, a devoted cat lover who cared for around 350 cats. Of those 350, 42 made it into the piece, most prominently her cat Sultan, who had been purchased for $3,000 on a trip to Paris. Cat lovers came out in droves to view the painting in person while it was on display prior to the auction, with the work ultimately selling for a whopping $826,000.

The Roman Empire

Didius Julianus is far from the most notable Roman emperor, but he was certainly one of the wealthiest. On March 28, 193 CE, the then-reigning emperor, Pertinax, was assassinated by Rome’s Praetorian Guard, leaving no apparent successor. The soldiers — who served as protectors of the throne — vowed that no successor would be allowed without their approval, which in turn led to an auction to determine who would ascend to the throne.

Didius Julianus, who boasted vast wealth, outbid Pertinax’s father-in-law, Titus Flavius Suspicianus, to purchase the position of Roman emperor for himself. Julianus’ bid is believed by some historians to have been in the range of 25,000 sesterces per Praetorian soldier, equating to a total payment of over 200 million sesterces. After handing over the winning bid, Julianus was declared emperor by the Roman senate, despite the fact that he was both feared and abhorred by that body. Julianus’ reign was short-lived, however — he was killed on June 1, 193 CE, by invading Danube forces.