OJ Simpson's net worth: How former NFL star's finances were affected by legal battles

OJ Simpson's net worth: How former NFL star's finances were affected by legal battles
OJ Simpson’s net worth peaked in 1981 when he was worth $38 million (Lee Celano/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The death of OJ Simpson at the age of 76 has shed light on the financial legacy of the former NFL star, whose life was marked by both athletic triumphs and legal controversies.

Simpson, who lost his life to prostate cancer on April 10, was estimated to have a net worth of $3 million -- sustained primarily through pensions beyond the reach of creditors, his financial narrative is far more intricate.

OJ Simpson (Photo by Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images)
OJ Simpson lost his life to cancer on April 10 (Photo by Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images)

As the dust settles on Simpson's life, his meteoric rise to fame as a football prodigy was eclipsed by the shadow of the notorious trial in 1994, where he stood accused of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman.

Despite his acquittal in what became known as 'The Trial of the Century,' a subsequent civil court ruling held him liable for the deaths, ordering him to pay a staggering sum of over $30 million to the victims' families.

Portrait of American former foorball player OJ Simpson and his wife, Nicole Brown (1959 - 1994), as they attend a party at the Harley Davidson Cafe, New York, New York, 1993. Simpson was tried for the murder of his wife (on June 12, 1994) and, though he was acquitted in the murder trial, he was found guilty of wrongful death in a subsequent civil suit--still later, he was found guilty of other felony charges (unrelated to the murder) and convicted in 2008. (Photo by Rose Hartman/Getty Images)
Portrait of American former foorball player OJ Simpson and his wife, Nicole Brown (1959 - 1994)
(Photo by Rose Hartman/Getty Images)

Who stands to inherit OJ Simpson fortune?

Amid the legal turmoil, questions arise about Simpson's true financial standing. At the pinnacle of his career, Simpson boasted a substantial net worth of $10.8 million and a monthly income of $55,000, yet legal fees and settlements precipitated a dramatic decline in his fortunes, reported Independent.

Simpson's financial legacy raises questions about inheritance and restitution. His $3 million fortune is poised to pass to his four surviving children Sydney, Jason, Justin and Arnelle Simpson. One of his sons, Aaren, tragically drowned as a toddler in a swimming pool accident in 1979.

All about O.J. Simpson's five children (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson and their five children (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

What did he owe Goldman’s family?

The Goldman family, relentless in their pursuit of justice, contends that Simpson's debt to them has ballooned to an astonishing $96 million, fueled by accumulating interest and his purportedly scant payments towards the initial judgment.

Amid the legal maelstrom, Simpson's foray into publishing further complicates his financial narrative.

The notorious manuscript, originally titled 'If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer,' became a controversial focal point, with the Goldman family ultimately gaining control and renaming it.

OJ Simpson faced a murder trial for the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman (ABC News/YouTube Screengrab)
OJ Simpson faced a murder trial for the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman
(ABC News/YouTube Screengrab)

“It’s all blood money, and unfortunately I had to join the jackals,” the NFL player claimed at the time.

Simpson's advance payment of $880,000 for the book served as a fleeting financial reprieve before his subsequent arrest in Las Vegas for armed robbery, marking yet another chapter in his legal saga.

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