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

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.