Elvis Presley was an American musician and actor who displayed common ESFP traits according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator defines 16 different personality types in order to help people communicate and understand themselves, the way they feel about different situations, and how they navigate relationships with those around them. ESFPs have dominant functions for Extroversion, Sending, Feeling and Perception. Elvis Presley’s personality combination is ESFP Enneagram Type 3.
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Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor born during the Great Depression on the 8th of January, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. His parents were Vernon Presley, an odd-job worker, and Gladys Presley, an actress. Elvis had a twin brother who died at birth and no other siblings. Elvis’s ESFP personality helped him become one of the most successful musicians of his generation despite his poor upbringing, and still to this day, his music and his legacy live on. Presley married Priscilla Ann Presley in 1967, and while they divorced in 1973, they had one daughter, Lisa Marie. Elvis tragically died from a cardiac arrest in 1977 at just 42.
Elvis Personality Type | |
Elvis Myers-Briggs MBTI Personality Type | ESFP |
Elvis Enneagram Type | Enneagram Type 2 |
Elvis Matching Personality Type | ISFJ and ISTJ |
Occupation | Singer and actor |
Famous Quotes | I ain’t no saint, but I’ve tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God. From the time I was a kid, I always knew something was going to happen to me. Didn’t know exactly what. I was training to be an electrician. I suppose I got wired the wrong way round somewhere along the line. A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It’s my favorite part of the business, live concerts. I don’t think I’m bad for people. If I did think I was bad for people, I would go back to driving a truck, and I really mean this. |
Songs | Now or Never, Jailhouse Rock, All Shook Up, Love Me Tender, Hound Dog |
Birthdate | January 8th 1935 |
Birthplace | Tupelo, Mississippi |
Father | Vernon Elvis Love |
Mother | Gladys Love nee. Smith |
Children | Lisa Marie |
Siblings | Jesse Garon Presley |
Elvis Presley’s Personality Type, Enneagram Type and Zodiac Sign, career, successes, and behaviors in work life, family life, and social life are analyzed according to Enneagram and MBTI Types based on scientific research and studies.
What was Elvis Presley’s Myers-Briggs (MBTI) analysis?
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Elvis Presley was an ESFP personality type. ESFP personalities have dominant functions for Extroversion, Sending, Feeling, and Perceiving. The ESFP is also known as the Performer.
Five key traits of the ESFP Performer help analyze Elvis Presley’s personality type.
- Spontaneity: The ESFP is a spontaneous character who acts on a whim and gives little thought to the long-term impact of their actions. Elvis demonstrated strong spontaneous tendencies jumping headfirst into situations without fully considering the ramifications.
- Vivacity: ESFP types have a strong zest for life. Elvis was a thrill-seeking ESFP personality who loved the rush of performing on stage and being recognized by his fans. Elvis loved to party and lived a fast-paced lifestyle that typifies the fun-loving ESFP Performer.
- Boldness: Naturally extroverted, ESFPs like Elvis are bold and unafraid to show their true character or voice their opinions. ESFP types are self-confident and do not find themselves knocked back by criticism or life’s stresses.
- Impatience: The ESFP personality is highly impatient. ESFPs go through life at full speed and expect everybody around them to keep up. Elvis was a personality who wanted things his way and when he felt like it. Even his relationship with his future wife, Priscilla, was dominated by his impatience and quick reliance on the power of his celebrity.
- Overindulgence: The ESFP is a highly addictive personality and is prone to overindulgence of sensory experiences. Elvis Presley is well-known for his lavish lifestyle and multiple addictions to pain medication and food. Elvis, much like other ESFP types, used sensory overindulgence as a way to keep the party going but also as a means of blocking out emotional pain.
Which subtype of ESFP was Elvis Presley?
Elvis Presley is an ESFP-A subtype due to his motivated and goal-driven personality. The ESFP-A subtype‘s most prominent characteristic is its rebellious streak. Elvis demonstrates his ESFP-A personality with his charismatic and rebellious nature, fighting against the social norms of the day. Elvis became so popular amongst the public because he changed people’s views on sex and racism as much as he entertained them with his music. The ESFP-A personality subtype is also highly charismatic and able to hold people’s attention. Elvis Presley embodied these traits, from his personality to his showmanship on stage; Elvis commanded attention everywhere he went.
What are the personality traits of Elvis Presley?
Below are the five core personality traits that identify Elvis as an ESFP.
- Spontaneity: ESFP types enjoy living in the moment, a trait typified by Elvis’ fun-loving and spontaneous character. Elvis acted on impulse with the sole intention of having a good time.
- Charm: EFSP-A types are charming and able to hold a crowd’s attention. Elvis thrived on the adulation of his fans and was always quick to turn on the charm with smooth words and a rebellious attitude that many found infectious.
- Energetic: Natural extroverts, ESFP types feed on social energy. Elvis lived his life in the fast lane, and the quicker he moved, the more energy he gained from it.
- Enthusiasm: ESFP personalities have an enthusiastic approach to life. Elvis embodied this trait, approaching everything he did with tremendous zeal.
- Generosity: The ESFP is a highly generous personality, a trait evident in the way Elvis Presley lived his life. Elvis was generous to a fault, giving to charity and helping friends without hesitation.
How was Elvis Presley’s personality type in family life?
Elvis Presley’s ESFP personality type in family life was caring, polite, and generous. Elvis grew up in a poor family with a very close bond. Despite his fame, family remained very important to Elvis. ENFPs always like to have, and as such, in family, there is always a good time to be had. ESFPs like Elvis dislike conflict and would rather be out having fun with their family than stuck home alone. Elvis’s love for his family extended through blood relatives to his wife and the extended family he found along the way. Elvis worked closely with his father during his career and famously bought homes for many of his family members.
How was Elvis Presley’s personality in work life?
Elvis’s ESFP personality in his work life was gregarious, loud, and fun-loving. The ESFP goes by the moniker of The Performer, as their extroverted nature and vivacity propel them to life’s center stage. Elvis had an undeniable talent for music, and his ESFP personality afforded him the chance to make the most of himself.
How was Elvis Presley’s personality in social life?
Elvis’s EFSP personality in his social life was loud, outspoken, and always looking for a good time. An extroverted character, Elvis was the life and soul of the party. Much has been written about Elvis’ lavish and fast-paced lifestyle. Elvis exhibited the generous spirit of the ESFP personality and famously purchased 32 Cadillacs in a single day before handing them out to his friends.
Was Elvis Presley an ESFP?
Yes, Elvis Presley was an ESFP personality type. Elvis demonstrated many traits that typify the ESFP Performer. An extrovert who fed on the crowd’s energy, Elvis was a larger-than-life character who had a charm and charisma that re-wrote the then-established definition of celebrity. Elvis had an infectious personality and, much like many ESFPs, struggled with an addiction to external stimuli.
What is the best matching personality type for Elvis Presley?
Two of the best-matching personality types for Elvis Presley and other ESFPs are ISFJs and ISTJs. The introverted personality of an ISFJ and an ISTJ help to balance out the extroverted personality of the ESFP. The ISFJ and ISTJ personality have dominant functions for judging, making them a great match for perceptive types as they help them establish some structure in their lives.
Which Enneagram Type was Elvis Presley?
Elvis Presley was an Enneagram type 3. Enneagram type 3s are driven by status, need to be seen as high achievers, and are motivated by attention and adulation. Elvis Presley loved his fans and drew motivation from their cheers. The more adulation he received, the higher Elvis valued himself and strove to achieve even greater success in his career. Analysing Elvis’ Enneagram type, we see that Elvis was an Enneagram 3w2, as he was focused on pleasing others in order to achieve their praise.
What was the Enneagram type level of Elvis Presley?
Elvis Presley is considered to be an Enneagram 3 Level 3. At the height of his celebrity, Elvis stood as a role model to millions, and in turn, their love and adulation motivated and energized Presley. The level three Enneagram type 3 is considered a healthy level. However, in later life, Elvis become more withdrawn as his addictions took control. This shows that while being an Enneagram Type 3 level 3, Elvis was following his path of disintegration. Disintegration for Enneagram 3 results in the display of negative traits commonly associated with Enneagram 9.
What are the wings for the Enneagram type of Elvis Presley?
Enneagram Type 3 forms wings with Enneagram Types 2 and 4. Elvis Presley was an Enneagram 3w2. An Enneagram 3w2 is the more extroverted of the two wings. Elvis displayed strong extroverted tendencies and was driven by a desire to receive praise for his efforts. Enneagram 3w2 wants to be the one standing center stage in people’s world. Elvis adopted Enneagram 2s trait for helpfulness through a desire to be the best at giving people what they want. Enneagram 3w2 is a social butterfly and seldom spends time alone, which are two traits exemplified in Elvis Presley.
How did Elvis Presley’s personality affect his career?
Elvis Presley’s ESFP personality helped his career by giving him the charisma and extroverted nature needed to thrive on stage. Presley created a groundswell of popularity and rose to stardom by giving the fans exactly what they wanted. Elvis had the boldness and self-confidence needed to stand up and be different and true to himself. ESFP personality types love life, and Elvis typified this zest for living, especially when one stage or the big screen. Two additional ESFP traits that aided Elvis in his carer were his boldness and non-conformity. Elvis bucked the normal social trends and was a vocal advocate for African Americans and their music during the 1950s when America was still in the midst of segregation.
How did Elvis Presley’s songs reflect his character?
Elvis Presley’s songs reflected his extroverted and feeling ESFP character as he created both energetic and more relaxed love-inspired music.
Below are three examples of Elvis’ personality shining through in his lyrics.
- ESFPs form deep connections with people and are finely attuned to others’ emotions. Elvis demonstrates this in his chart-topping his It’s Now or Never, released in 1960. “When I first saw you with your smile so tender, my heart was captured, my soul surrendered.”
- Elvis loved life and lived it in the fast lane, thriving under the spotlight. His energy is reflected in many of his songs, but few more so than this lyric from A Little Less Conversation, released in 1968. The lyrics capture Elvis’ love for activity and action. “A little less conversation, a little more action, please. All this aggravation ain’t satisfactioning me. A little more bite and a little less bark. A little less fight and a little more spark”
- As an ESFP Enneagram 3, Elvis was driven to succeed and crush his goals. The following lyrics from his 1962 movie theme song, Follow that Dream. “You’ve got to follow that dream wherever that dream may lead.”
How do quotes of Elvis Presley reflect his character?
Below are five quotes from Elvis Presley that reflect his ESFP character.
- The ESFP draws their energy from being around people and struggles with time spent alone. Elvis captures the powerful need for company succinctly in the following quote.
“I’d rather go on hearing your lies, than to go on living without you.”
- Elvis was a generous and kind-hearted ESFP who wanted to be a positive influence on the world around him.
“I ain’t no saint, but I’ve tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God…I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world.”
- ESFPs are natural extroverts, and Enneagram three is fueled by a need for external validation. The following quote from Elvis Presley captures this ESFP Enneagram 3 mindset.
“A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It’s my favorite part of the business – live concerts.”
- ESFPs are hypersensitive characters that are easily defeated by criticism. The following quote from Elvis captures his fear of leaving a negative impression.
“More than anything else, I want the folks back at home to think right of me.”
- ESFPs are often the life of their social circle. However, they are rarely party animals, preferring to seek out thrills rather than waste time on drink, a sentiment echoed by Elvis.
“I’ll never feel comfortable taking a strong drink, and I’ll never feel easy smoking a cigarette. I just don’t think those things are right for me.”
What was the harmony between Elvis Presley’s Zodiac sign and his personality type?
The harmony between Elvis Presley’s ESFP personality type and Capricorn zodiac sign was strong. Capricorns are determined, ambitious, loyal, supportive, and aware of others’ feelings and emotions. Elvis’ ESFP personality of being extroverted, caring, and generous seemingly aligns with his zodiac sign. However, there is no scientific data that qualifies a direct link between astrology and any of the different personality typologies.
Who are other ESFP Singers besides Elvis Presley?
Below are five other singers besides Elvis Presley who share the ESFP personality type.
- Miley Cyrus: Miley Cyrus is an energetic performer who exhibits the same adulation-seeking traits as Elvis Presley. Cyrus is naturally extroverted and knows how to keep all eyes on her wherever she goes.
- Pink: Pink is a fellow ESFP to shares the same non-conformist ways as Elvis. Pink refuses to sacrifice who she is regardless of what social trends or popular culture say she should be or behave.
- Paul McCartney: Paul McCartney is an ESFP singer-songwriter who embodies the kind and generous nature of their personality. Elvis and McCartney’s musical abilities make them role models the world over.
- James Brown: ESFP James Brown was a lively character who lived life fast and according to his rules. Energized by the crowds, Brown brought life and vivacity that few keep up with.
- Dolly Parton: Country music legend Dolly Parton is a generous and kind-hearted soul. Much like Elvis, she gives without thinking of rewards and makes a great many charitable contributions each year.
Who are similar ESFP characters to Elvis Presley?
Below are five other ESFP characters similar to Elvis Presley.
- Steve Irwin: The Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin had the same zest for life and charismatic personality as Elvis. Both embraced their natural flair for extroversion and commanded attention anywhere they went.
- Bob Hope: Comedian Bob Hope loved being on stage and is fondly remembered for his charitable endeavors. Hope and Presley both understood that their success gave them a platform from which they could be a positive influence on the world.
- Ronald Regan: Ronald Regan was an actor who become president of the United States. Regan and Presley shared the same dedicated and driven approach to life. They set clear goals and worked tirelessly to fulfill them.
- Serena Williams: Serena Williams is a multi-grand slam winning tennis star that embodies the same bold and driven traits as Elvis. Serena works hard and delivers a performance, using the crowd’s energy to propel her through tough matches and long tournaments.
- Tony Robbins: Tony Robbins and Elvis Presley are both charismatic characters who command attention wherever they go. Charisma is one of the tell-tale traits of the ESFP personality.