Net Worth Ranker
What Is O.J. Simpson’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on April 10, 2024, O.J. Simpson’s net worth was estimated to be $3 million. This figure represents a significant decline from his peak net worth, which he himself estimated at $10.8 million during his 1992 divorce proceedings. In today’s dollars, $10.8 million in 1992 would be equivalent to approximately $25 million, illustrating the extent of the financial setbacks he faced later in life. The majority of the decline in O.J. Simpson’s net worth can be attributed to civil liabilities stemming from the 1994 deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, as well as legal fees and other financial obligations incurred throughout his life.
O.J. Simpson’s Salary and Career Earnings
O.J. Simpson’s income in 1992, according to divorce settlement terms, was $55,000 per month. This amount is equivalent to roughly $125,000 per month in today’s dollars, translating to an annual income of approximately $1.5 million. A large portion of this income was derived from his endorsement contract with Hertz, a deal that made him a familiar face in commercials and public appearances.
When Simpson was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1969, he asked for a 5-year $650,000 contract, around $5.5 million today after adjusting for inflation. He eventually received the deal, making it the largest contract in professional sports history at the time. In 1978, his salary was $733,668, and in his final NFL season in 1979, he earned $806,668, equal to $3.5 million today.
Financial Impact of Legal Battles and Judgments
In 1995, O.J. Simpson faced a civil trial related to the deaths of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. The court ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages to the Goldman family, which is approximately $65 million in today’s dollars. Over the years, with accrued interest, this amount has grown to nearly $100 million. To date, only about $500,000 has been paid towards this judgment through the sale of assets and memorabilia. The substantial financial burden imposed by this judgment significantly impacted O.J. Simpson’s net worth, leading to bankruptcy and the loss of several assets.
His entire net worth was drained by his criminal trial. He continued to live in his Brentwood mansion until he was evicted in 1997 after defaulting on the mortgage. The 6,200-square-foot house was bought in foreclosure for $4 million and demolished in 1998.
O.J. Simpson’s Real Estate Holdings
O.J. Simpson’s real estate holdings played a significant role in his overall net worth. In 1977, he purchased a home at 360 N. Rockingham in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles for $650,000. In July 1997, after Simpson failed to pay $86,000 worth of mortgage payments on his home, the estate was offered at a foreclosure auction. Bidding started at $1.875 million. At the end of a three-minute public auction, the winner was Hawthorne Savings, the same lender that held O.J.’s $2,531,259 mortgage. The bank’s winning bid was $2,631,259, exactly $100,000 more than Simpson owed on the property. Only one other bidder participated in the auction. The Brentwood mansion was 6,200 square feet and featured a tennis court, an Olympic-sized pool with waterfalls, and a large multi-unit guesthouse. After being evicted, O.J. bought a home in Florida and soon declared bankruptcy.
In 2000, Simpson acquired a home in Miami for $575,000, located at 9450 SW 112th Street. However, this property was foreclosed on in 2012 after his daughter stopped making mortgage payments. In 2014, the property was sold at a foreclosure auction for $513,000. The home was razed in 2023, and in February 2024, the 1.6-acre lot was listed for sale for $2.4 million. These real estate transactions reflect both the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson’s financial fortunes.
NFL Pension and Protected Assets
One of the few assets that remained protected from legal judgments was O.J. Simpson’s NFL pension. It was reported to be worth as much as $5 million and generated approximately $400,000 per year when combined with other pensions. According to reports, the NFL began paying him $10,565 per month starting in 2012. Additionally, a close associate suggested that O.J. had a fully funded personal pension potentially worth between $2 and $5 million, along with a Screen Actor’s Guild pension of around $1,700 per month. Pension income can not be touched by bankruptcy or legal judgment so it’s completely off-limits to the Goldman family. This pension income was shielded from creditors, including the Goldman family, due to legal protections afforded to retirement funds.
O.J. Simpson’s Endorsement Deals and Entertainment Career
Before joining the NFL in 1969, Simpson signed an endorsement contract with Chevrolet, paying $250,000 per year. He had endorsement deals with TreeSweet Orange Juice, Pioneer Chicken, and HoneyBaked Ham. His most famous deal was with Hertz from 1975 to 1992. Simpson earned millions from his Hertz endorsement, and even after he was downgraded as the primary endorser in 1992, he continued to earn $45,000 per month from the company to attend golf outings. He appeared in films like “The Towering Inferno” (1974), “The Klansman” (1974), and “Capricorn One” (1978). Simpson starred in the “Naked Gun” comedy trilogy (1988-1994) as Detective Nordberg. He also appeared on various television projects, most notably 1977’s “Roots.” O.J. was an NFL commentator for “Monday Night Football,” working for ABC from 1969 to 1977 and again from 1983 to 1986. From 1978 to 1982, he worked for NBC.
