Full Breakdown
Navarone Garcia Turns to Crowdfunding for Driveway Pizza Venture Amid Public Criticism
7/13/2026, 12:38:48 PM
Core Event: GoFundMe Launch for an “Affordable Organic” Pizza Oven
On July 10, 2024, Navarone Garcia — the 37-year-old son of Priscilla Presley and screenwriter Marco Garibaldi — opened a GoFundMe campaign to raise $5,500 for an industrial pizza oven. The fundraiser is intended to support a low-cost, organic pizza business he plans to operate from his Los Angeles driveway.
Background & Context: Family, Music, and Entrepreneurial Aspirations
Garcia, also known as Navarone Garibaldi, is the half-brother of the late Lisa Marie Presley and the lead singer of the Los Angeles-based band Them Guns. He has acted in several films and toured nationally with his rock group. In a GoFundMe description he wrote, “I have always wanted to start my own business, but marketing and advertising always get in my way.” He says his mother, Priscilla Presley—81, the former wife of Elvis Presley—“loves the idea” but he does not intend to request her financial support.
Data & Statistics: Savings, Goal, and Intended Use of Funds
Garcia reports having saved $3,000 toward the project. The additional $5,500 sought on GoFundMe is earmarked specifically for purchasing the industrial pizza oven, which he describes as “damn expensive.” He emphasizes that donors will receive free pizza for life when they are in Los Angeles, and that he is contributing his own money to cover the remaining budget shortfall.
Official Statements & Responses
Garcia has repeatedly explained his decision not to ask his mother for money, telling TMZ, “She loves the idea but I can’t ask for money for every whimsical idea I have or we both would be broke.” On Instagram he posted that he “has a lot of bills, a budget, and also donates to other causes,” and that “if I just went all in every time I thought I had a great idea… I’d be broke in two days.” He frames the GoFundMe as a form of crowd-investing, noting that “some people have a few extra bucks… want an invite to hang out and have pizza for free for life.” In video updates on July 11 and July 12, he said the food will “speak for itself” and that donors contributing $20 will “be able to get free pizza anytime now.”
Criticism & Opposition
Several social-media users have labeled Garcia “extremely privileged” and argued that he “never actually worked for anything a day in your life.” One critic urged him to “save money how most normal people do,” to which Garcia replied, “That’s actually not how people do it. You think that every restaurant is started with one person? They take investors. So you obviously have no business experience, so you probably shouldn’t get involved.” He also remarked, “I’ve also acted in several films, as well as toured the country in a rock band. I’m sorry my jobs are more fun than yours.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Haters gonna hate… and I’m sure I’ll have to explain this many more times to ignorant people who think I should ‘ask my mom’ or that I have money….. YEAH, I also have a lot of bills, I also have a budget.” — Navarone Garcia
- “She loves the idea but I can’t ask for money for every whimsical idea I have or we both would be broke,” — Navarone Garcia
- “That’s actually not how people do it. You think that every restaurant is started with one person? They take investors. So you obviously have no business experience, so you probably shouldn’t get involved.” — Navarone Garcia
- “All the people that have doubt, you’ll see — everything is going to be worth it.” — Navarone Garcia
- “It’s crazy how many people seem to think every business is created by asking someone’s mom for money,” — Navarone Garcia
What’s Next
Garcia plans to purchase the oven once the campaign reaches its target and to begin serving free pizza to donors from his driveway, using the venture as a test case for a larger, affordable-organic pizza concept.
