O.J. Simpson: The Man, The Legend, And The Money

O.J. Simpson's Financial Journey: Net Worth, Career Earnings, and Beyond

Let's dive into the story of O.J. Simpson, the legendary NFL star, actor, and sports commentator who, at one point, had a net worth of $3 million. In 1992, during a court filing for his divorce, O.J. claimed his net worth was a whopping $10.8 million. Adjusted for inflation, that would be equivalent to $25 million in today's dollars. That figure marked the peak of his financial success, with about half of it tied up in the value of his Brentwood estate. He purchased this estate in 1977 for $650,000, which translates to roughly $3.5 million today.

According to the settlement terms during his divorce, O.J. was earning $55,000 per month in 1992, which is equivalent to $125,000 per month today, or about $1.5 million annually. The bulk of his income came from his endorsement deal with Hertz, a brand that became synonymous with O.J. as he was often seen running through airports in their commercials. As part of the divorce settlement, O.J. agreed to pay Nicole $10,000 per month in child support, a one-time payment of $433,750 (adjusted for inflation, that's $1 million), and he handed over a rental property in San Francisco.

In 1995, after being acquitted of the murders of Ron Goldman and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J. faced a civil lawsuit from the Goldman family. The court ruled in favor of the Goldmans, ordering O.J. to pay $33.5 million in damages, which, with interest, has grown to nearly $100 million today. Over the years, only about $500,000 was paid through the sale of various assets and memorabilia. In 2007, O.J. was convicted of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, further complicating his financial situation.

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O.J.'s financial downfall began with the criminal trial, which drained his entire net worth. He lived in his Brentwood mansion until 1997, when he was evicted after defaulting on the mortgage. The 6,200-square-foot house was eventually auctioned off for $4 million and demolished in 1998. After his eviction, O.J. moved to Florida and filed for bankruptcy. However, because Florida law protects primary residences from bankruptcy claims, his home there remained untouched. His main source of income in the years following his acquittal came from a fully-funded NFL pension worth up to $5 million, which, combined with other pensions, generated approximately $400,000 per year. This income was protected from claims by the Goldman family. O.J. passed away on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76, following a battle with cancer.

O.J.'s Brentwood Mansion: From Luxury to Foreclosure

In 1977, O.J. bought a home at 360 N. Rockingham in Brentwood, Los Angeles, for $650,000. This wasn't the first celebrity to live there; it was previously leased by James Taylor and Carly Simon. O.J. and Nicole Simpson were married at this house in 1985, making it a place of joy and celebration. However, the house's fate took a darker turn in 1997 when O.J. failed to pay $86,000 in mortgage payments, leading to a foreclosure auction. Bidding began at $1.875 million, and the property was ultimately won by Hawthorne Savings, the lender holding O.J.'s $2,531,259 mortgage, for $2,631,259, just $100,000 more than what O.J. owed.

The mansion was a sprawling 6,200-square-foot estate featuring a tennis court, an Olympic-sized pool with waterfalls, and a guesthouse where Kato Kaelin famously resided during the time of the murders. In 1998, the home was demolished, and a new mansion was constructed at a new address to deter tourists. This new home was sold in 2005 for $13.6 million. In 1996, O.J. provided a detailed tour of the Rockingham estate to assert his innocence, which you can watch in the video below.

In 2000, O.J. purchased a home in Miami for $575,000. The property was foreclosed on in 2012 after his daughter stopped making mortgage payments. While O.J. was imprisoned in Nevada, the home was sold at a foreclosure auction for $513,000. The house was demolished in 2023, and the 1.6-acre lot was listed for sale for $2.4 million in February 2024.

Three Intriguing Facts About O.J.'s Financial Life

#1: A close associate revealed that before his arrest in the '90s, O.J. had a pension investment account worth around $2 million. Managed passively over the decades, this account grew to between $2 and $5 million. O.J. also had a small pension from the Screen Actor's Guild thanks to his acting gigs. Thankfully for O.J., pension funds are fully protected from legal judgments and bankruptcy, so the Goldman family couldn't touch this money. His various pensions reportedly generated around $400,000 per year.

#2: Every dollar O.J. earned outside of his pensions went straight to the Goldman family to help settle the $33.5 million civil judgment against him. In total, $500,000 of those damages were paid, much of which came from an auction of his personal items in the '90s.

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#3: Rumors swirled that O.J. had millions stashed overseas in the Cayman Islands. The Goldman family believed this for years. During O.J.'s 2008 robbery trial, a recording surfaced where someone overheard saying, "Nobody puts a gun in my face. I stood up for [him] while he was in jail. I stood up for him in the press... on the stand. I helped him set up his offshore accounts." This added fuel to the offshore money rumors.

O.J.'s Early Years: From San Francisco to the Big Stage

O.J. Simpson was born Orenthal James Simpson on July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California. Raised by his mother, Eunice, a hospital administrator, and his father, Jimmy Lee Simpson, a chef and bank custodian, O.J.'s early life wasn't without its challenges. His dad, known as a popular drag queen in the San Francisco Bay area, later came out as gay and passed away from AIDS in 1986.

O.J.'s parents separated in 1952, leaving him in the care of his mother. During his teenage years, O.J. joined the street gang The Persian Warriors and spent some time in a juvenile detention center. A pivotal moment came when he met baseball legend Willie Mays, who inspired him to turn his life around. After graduating from Galileo High School, O.J. attended community college before earning a football scholarship to the University of Southern California. At USC, he became a Heisman Trophy candidate as a junior and won the award as a senior.

O.J.'s NFL Career: From Rookie to Hall of Fame

In 1969, O.J. was drafted as the number-one pick by the Buffalo Bills. He demanded a then-record-breaking five-year, $650,000 contract, which, adjusted for inflation, would be around $5.5 million today. This led to a standoff with Bills' owner Ralph Wilson, who eventually agreed to O.J.'s terms after O.J. threatened to pursue acting instead of football. O.J. struggled in his first three seasons, averaging only 622 yards per season. However, in 1972, he rushed over 1,000 yards for the first time in his pro career. In 1973, he became the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. In 1975, he won the rushing title again, rushing for 1,817 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns. His 1977 season was cut short due to injury.

In 1978, O.J. was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for two seasons. His final NFL game was on December 16, 1979, in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. His final play was a 10-yard run for a first down on 3rd and 10. Over his career, O.J. was selected to six Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. In 2019, he was named to the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

O.J.'s NFL Earnings: A Star Player's Paycheck

When the Bills drafted O.J. in 1969, he demanded a five-year, $650,000 contract, equivalent to about $5.5 million today. After a brief standoff, he secured that deal, which was the largest in professional sports history at the time. Throughout his career, O.J. remained one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Even in his final seasons, he was the league's highest-paid player. In the 1978 season, his salary was $733,668, and in 1979, his final year in the NFL, he earned $806,668, equivalent to $3.5 million today. That year, the average NFL salary was $69,000, or $300,000 today, with Walter Payton being the second-highest-paid player at $450,000.

O.J.'s Iconic Nickname: The Juice

O.J. earned the nickname "Juice" as a playful take on "O.J.", the common abbreviation for orange juice. "Juice" also symbolizes power and energy, fitting for a powerful entity like O.J. During his peak years, the Bills' offensive line was nicknamed "The Electric Company," a nod to his electrifying presence on the field.

O.J.'s Entertainment Career: Beyond Football

O.J. wasn't just a football star; he was also a successful actor, television producer, and commercial spokesman. Even before retiring from the NFL, he was already making waves in TV and film. He appeared in movies like "The Towering Inferno" (1974), "The Klansman" (1974), and "Capricorn One" (1978). He starred in the "Naked Gun" comedy trilogy (1988-1994) as Detective Nordberg and appeared in various TV projects, including the acclaimed miniseries "Roots" in 1977. O.J. was even considered for the role of the Terminator in James Cameron's 1984 film but ultimately lost out to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As an NFL commentator, O.J. was a familiar voice on "Monday Night Football," working for ABC from 1969 to 1977 and again from