OJ Simpson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Was O.J. Simpson’s Net Worth, Salary, and Career Earnings?

O.J. Simpson, known as an American football player, sports commentator, and actor, had a net worth estimated at $3 million. In a legal document during his 1992 divorce, he assessed his net worth at $10.8 million. This amount turned out to be his highest net worth, and it’s worth noting that $10.8 million in 1992 would equate to around $25 million today. Approximately half of this net worth in 1992 was derived from the value of his estate in Brentwood, which he acquired in 1977 for $650,000 (about $3.5 million today). Based on the divorce settlement terms, O.J. reported a monthly income of $55,000 in 1992, equivalent to $125,000 monthly when adjusted for inflation, which is roughly $1.5 million annually today. Much of this income stemmed from his endorsement with Hertz. As part of the divorce settlement, he committed to paying Nicole $10,000 monthly in child support and made a one-time payment of $433,750 (adjusting to $1 million for inflation). Additionally, he transferred a rental property located in San Francisco to Nicole.

As you may know, in 1995, O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Ron Goldman and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. To protect her children from testifying against their father, Nicole’s family refrained from suing him in civil court. However, the family of Ronald Goldman pursued legal action against O.J. in civil court, leading to a judgment against him for $33.5 million in damages, equivalent to around $65 million today. Over the years, this amount has accrued interest, approaching $100 million. To date, approximately $500,000 has been settled through various asset and memorabilia sales. O.J. Simpson was also convicted of robbery and kidnapping offenses that occurred in Las Vegas in 2007.

The financial fallout from his criminal trial drained O.J.’s net worth entirely. He lived in his Brentwood mansion until 1997, when he was evicted due to mortgage default. The 6,200-square-foot property was purchased in foreclosure for $4 million and was demolished in 1998. After his eviction, O.J. moved to Florida and soon filed for bankruptcy. Significantly, he filed for bankruptcy in Florida, where state laws protect a primary residence from being seized. Moreover, in the years following his acquittal, O.J.’s main source of income was a fully-funded NFL pension worth up to $5 million, complemented by other pensions generating approximately $400,000 yearly. This pension income was safeguarded from the Goldman family’s claims due to state law. O.J. Simpson passed away on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76 after battling cancer.

Rockingham Mansion Foreclosure

As mentioned earlier, O.J. acquired a residence at 360 N. Rockingham in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood for $650,000 in 1977. He was not the first famous individual to occupy this property; prior to his acquisition, it was leased by the married couple James Taylor and Carly Simon. O.J. and Nicole exchanged vows at this home in 1985.

In July 1997, after O.J. failed to make mortgage payments totaling $86,000, the estate was put up for foreclosure auction. The bidding commenced at $1.875 million. After a three-minute auction, Hawthorne Savings, the lender holding O.J.’s mortgage of $2,531,259, emerged victorious. Their bid of $2,631,259 was exactly $100,000 more than what Simpson owed on the property. Only one additional bidder participated in the auction.

The former Brentwood mansion owned by O.J. encompassed 6,200 square feet and included a tennis court, an Olympic-sized swimming pool with waterfalls, and a sizable multi-unit guesthouse (notably…

was known for his vibrant performances. While growing up in this dynamic environment, O.J. faced various challenges and experiences that shaped his future. The family dynamics were complex; his parents were separated by the time he was a teenager, which influenced his upbringing significantly.

In July 1998, the house where Kato Kaelin stayed during the murders was torn down, replaced by a new mansion with a different address to deter tourists. The newly built property was sold for $13.6 million in November 2005.

To demonstrate his innocence after being acquitted, O.J. provided a comprehensive tour of the Rockingham estate in 1996. Watch the video tour below:

In 2000, he acquired a home in Miami for $575,000, situated at 9450 SW 112th Street. Unfortunately, after his daughter ceased mortgage payments, the home fell into foreclosure in 2012 while Simpson was serving time in Nevada. The property was sold at a foreclosure auction in 2014 for $513,000. Subsequently, in 2023, the house was demolished, and in February 2024, the 1.6-acre lot was listed for sale at $2.4 million.

3 More Facts About O.J. Simpson’s Net Worth

#1: O.J. Simpson had a pension investment account worth approximately $2 million before his arrest in the ’90s, as stated by a close associate. Over the years, this money was managed passively, and the friend estimated the current value of the pension fund to be between $2 and $5 million. Additionally, he earned a small pension from the Screen Actor’s Guild due to his appearances in film and television. Notably, pension funds are protected from legal judgments and bankruptcy, meaning the Goldman family could not access this money. This arrangement reportedly provided Simpson with an annual income of around $400,000 from his pensions.

#2: Every dollar Simpson earned outside of his pension funds was directed to the Goldman family to help satisfy the $33.5 million civil judgment against him. In total, about $500,000 of those damages were paid, largely sourced from an auction of his personal belongings in the ’90s.

#3: There were speculations regarding O.J. hiding millions of dollars abroad, particularly in the Cayman Islands, a notion the Goldman family believed for many years. During the 2008 robbery trial—after which Simpson was incarcerated—one man who was held at gunpoint by Simpson and his associates was recorded 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. I stood up for him… on the stand. I helped him set up his offshore accounts.“

Early Life

Orenthal James Simpson, known as O.J. Simpson, was born on July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California. He grew up under the care of Eunice, a hospital administrator, and Jimmy Lee Simpson, a chef and bank custodian. His father, a popular drag queen in the San Francisco Bay area, was well-known for his lively performances in the local scene.

Later in life, he came out as gay and succumbed to AIDS in 1986.

His parents parted ways in 1952, leading O.J. to be raised by his mother. As a teenager, he became involved with a street gang called The Persian Warriors and spent some time in a juvenile detention center. It was a serendipitous encounter with baseball star Willie Mays that motivated Simpson to turn his life around and avoid trouble. After graduating from Galileo High School, he pursued community college before receiving a football scholarship at the University of Southern California. While at USC, he was a Heisman Trophy candidate in his junior year and clinched the award during his senior year.

NFL Career

In 1969, the Buffalo Bills selected Simpson as their number-one draft pick. He demanded a record-setting contract worth $650,000 over five years, igniting tensions and a standoff with Bills’ owner Ralph Wilson. O.J. even threatened to abandon his football career to pursue acting. Eventually, Wilson acquiesced to Simpson’s demands. The initial three years were challenging for O.J., who averaged just 622 yards per season. However, he broke through in 1972 by rushing for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his professional career. In 1973, he made history as the first NFL player to rush for over two thousand yards in a single season. He reclaimed the rushing title in 1975 with 1,817 yards and 16 touchdowns. Unfortunately, an injury cut his 1977 season short.

Prior to the 1978 season, Simpson was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for two more seasons. His last NFL game took place on December 16, 1979, resulting in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. O.J.’s final play was a 10-yard run on 3rd and 10 to secure a first down. Throughout his career, he participated in six Pro Bowls and earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. In 2019, Simpson was included in the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

NFL Earnings

When drafted by the Bills in 1969, O.J. insisted on a contract valued at $650,000 over five years, which equates to approximately $5.5 million today when adjusted for inflation. Following a brief standoff, he ultimately secured the deal. At that time, it represented the largest contract in professional sports history. Throughout his career, he consistently ranked among the league’s highest-paid players, retaining the top position even in his final seasons. During the 1978 season, he boasted a salary of $733,668. In his last season in the NFL, he earned $806,668, which is roughly equal to $3.5 million today. The average NFL salary in 1979 stood at $69,000, amounting to approximately $300,000 in current dollars. Walter Payton was the league’s second-highest-paid player that year, earning a salary of $450,000.

Nickname

The nickname “Juice” originated as a play on O.J., a common abbreviation for orange juice. Additionally, “Juice” refers to electricity, symbolizing a powerful entity. During O.J.’s prime, the Bills’ offensive line earned the moniker “The Electric Company.”

Entertainment Career

Alongside his achievements in sports, Simpson excelled as a successful actor, television producer, and commercial spokesperson. Prior to retiring from the NFL, he was already landing roles in film and television. Notable films in which he appeared include “The Towering Inferno” (1974), “The Klansman” (1974), and “Capricorn One” (1978). He gained fame for portraying Detective Nordberg in the “Naked Gun” comedy trilogy (1988-1994). Additionally, Simpson participated in several television projects, with a standout role in the acclaimed series “Roots” from 1977. In 1984, James Cameron considered O.J. for the title role in “The Terminator,” but the role ultimately went to Arnold Schwarzenegger, leaving Simpson out of the film.

Beyond acting, Simpson also had a career as an NFL commentator, most famously on “Monday Night Football.” His tenure at ABC spanned from 1969 to 1977 and resumed between 1983 and 1986. He also provided commentary for NBC from 1978 to 1982.

Endorsement Deals

Before joining the NFL in 1969, Simpson inked an endorsement deal with Chevrolet, which paid him $250,000 annually. Throughout his career, he endorsed a plethora of products and services, gaining notable recognition for brands like TreeSweet Orange Juice, Pioneer Chicken, and HoneyBaked Ham. However, his most famous endorsement came from Hertz, the rental car company, where he served as their primary celebrity face from 1975 until 1992. His commercials, showcasing him sprinting through airports, became iconic. Simpson earned millions from this contract, and even after his primary endorsement status was reduced in 1992, he maintained a $45,000 monthly income from Hertz for attending golf events. Remarkably, on the night of the Brentwood murders, O.J. boarded a plane heading to Chicago for a Hertz golf tournament, but he was dropped by the company following his arrest.

Personal Life

At the age of 19, Simpson tied the knot with Marguerite Whitley. Together, they had three children: Arnelle, Jason, and Aaren Simpson. Tragically, Aaren drowned in their family swimming pool in August 1979.

In 1977, he crossed paths with Nicole Brown, a nightclub waitress. At the time, Simpson was still married, yet they began a relationship that continued after his divorce from Whitley in March 1979. Simpson and Nicole married in February 1985 and welcomed two children, Sydney and Justin. Their marriage endured for seven years, during which Simpson pleaded no contest to spousal abuse in 1989. Their divorce was finalized in 1992, and despite attempts at reconciliation in 1993, these efforts were unsuccessful.

Murders of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman

In 1994, O.J. Simpson faced charges for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The two were discovered stabbed to death outside Nicole’s condo in Brentwood on June 12, 1994. Immediately regarded as a person of interest, Simpson initially failed to turn himself in. It wasn’t until five days later, on June 17th, that he became the focus of a slow-speed police chase while riding in the notorious white Ford Bronco handled by his friend, Al Cowlings. The chase was broadcast live, interrupting the 1994 NBA finals and drawing an audience of approximately 95 million viewers.

The subsequent arrest and trial of O.J. Simpson became one ofthe trials that became some of the most publicized in American history. On October 3, 1995, after 11 months, the jury announced a not guilty verdict. An estimated 100 million viewers tuned in live for the verdict. Later, Simpson was convicted in a civil trial, with an order to pay $33.5 million in damages to the families of Goldman and Brown. At the time of his passing, he had made roughly $500,000 in payments towards those damages. Due to interest, the total he owed escalated to over $40 million.

Nevada Arrest and Conviction

In 2007, O.J. Simpson faced arrest in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to his involvement in an armed robbery at a hotel. Alongside several associates, he allegedly confronted two sports memorabilia dealers, asserting that the items they had were stolen from him. Guns were drawn during this altercation, and the group left with the memorabilia.

Multiple felony charges were brought against Simpson, including armed robbery and kidnapping. On October 3, 2008, precisely 13 years after his criminal acquittal, O.J. was convicted on all counts – robbery, kidnapping, coercion, and conspiracy. His sentence was 33 years in prison with the potential for parole after nine years, and he fulfilled the nine-year sentence before being paroled in 2017.

During a hearing in 2013, O.J. testified that he deserved a retrial, stating that he was merely attempting to recover personal belongings that held no value. He mentioned items such as a photograph with former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, family vacation photos, and a college All-American certificate. He argued that these personal items were not valuable to the Goldmans or the Browns and that he was only trying to retrieve them from a memorabilia dealer who had acquired them unlawfully. O.J. maintained that he did not break into the room and claimed he did not wield or use a weapon in a threatening manner. He believed his actions were entirely legal and that he was unaware anyone in his group had a gun. He insisted that the memorabilia dealers recognized that the items belonged to him, claiming they had obtained them illegally.

Following the incident, O.J. approached the police and presented them with the items he had taken, to demonstrate they were his personal possessions. A significant issue arose when someone in his group reportedly stole the memorabilia dealer’s cellphone, which constituted robbery. Additionally, an individual recorded him secretly during the confrontation, in which he appeared very agitated. The recording captured Simpson clearly stating:

“Don’t let nobody out of this room. Motherf@#ker, you think you can steal my sh@! and sell it? Think you can steal my sh@!?”

Another unidentified voice also commented:

“Backs to the wall. Walk your a$$ over there. You against the motherf@#ing wall!”

Pension Money

Upon reaching the age of 55, O.J. became eligible for a pension from the NFL. It is generally believed that he delayed receiving his pension payments untilAt the age of 65, he became eligible for a higher monthly payment of $10,565 instead of the previous $4,034. Assuming this information is accurate, the NFL initiated payments of $10,565 each month starting in 2012.

With his other pension sources included, O.J. was said to have an annual income amounting to $400,000.

As he was unable to utilize or access these funds during his incarceration, his bank account would have accumulated approximately $602,000. One of his close companions mentioned that O.J. also possesses a fully funded personal pension, valued between $2-5 million, contingent on the investment choices and performance of the assets. Additionally, he is reported to have a Screen Actor’s Guild pension providing around $1,700 monthly. Notably, pension income is protected from bankruptcy or legal judgments, making it entirely inaccessible to the Goldman family.