"[Simpson] died without penance. He did not want to give a dime, a nickel to Fred, never, anything, never," Goldman family lawyer says
O.J. Simpson paid the family of Ron Goldman just a small fraction of the $33.5 million wrongful death judgment he owed them at the time of his death, an attorney for the Goldman family revealed Friday.
In 1997, after Simpson was acquitted in the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Goldman, a jury in a civil trial found him responsible for their deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million, which — with interest over the past 27 years — has ballooned to over $100 million.
Of that judgment, Simpson paid only $133,000, Goldman family attorney David Cook told People. “He died without penance,” Cook said of Simpson. “He did not want to give a dime, a nickel to Fred [Goldman, Ron’s father], never, anything, never.”
To avoid paying the Goldmans all these years, Simpson moved from California — where he lived at the time of the murders and where the civil trial took place — to states like Florida and Nevada, where perhaps his biggest income — his NFL pension, as well as his residences — were protected from seizure by state law.
“He [still] owes on the current status of the judgment,” Cook said, adding that the judgment with accrued interest is now upwards of $114 million.
Cook also said that a legal team would need to determine the value of Simpson’s estate and whether it’s worth posthumously pursuing his debt.
“We need to get a lawyer or a number of lawyers who deal with this, very smart people to determine who it is or who it would be, and [start] taking depositions from people and/or finding out who they are and what information we need,” Cook told People. “It’s a big deal.”
In the 27 years since the wrongful death lawsuit, the Goldman family did score one victory over Simpson when they acquired the rights (via court decision) of the controversial and canceled book If I Did It, which the Goldman family ultimately published under the title If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.
Following news of Simpson’s death following a cancer battle, Fred Goldman told Rolling Stone, “The only thing I have to say is that today is just a further reminder of how long we have missed my son, how long he’s been gone, and the only thing that is important today are the victims. That’s it. I have nothing else to say.”
FAQs
According to the Goldmans' lawyer, David J. Cook, due to the interest the civil judgment has accrued over the years, the O.J. Simpson estate now owes more than $100 million to the Goldmans.
Has the Goldman family received all the money that was owed to them? ›
It ordered him to pay $33.5 million, which has ballooned to $114 million due to unpaid interest charges, a Goldman family lawyer told People. But as of 2022, Simpson had only paid a tiny fraction of the sum, around $132,000 to the Goldman family, according to The New York Times.
Did O.J. Simpson have any money when he died? ›
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Simpson's net worth was approximately $3 million at the time of his death. That money will be distributed between his four surviving children, Sydney, Jason, Justin and Arnelle Simpson.
How much did the Goldmans recover? ›
In 1997, a jury in a civil trial awarded the families of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson $33 million.
Where are OJS children? ›
Since that time, Sydney Simpson has led a largely private life. She pursued a career in real estate and as of 2016 was living in St. Petersburg, Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. OJ Simpson mentioned Sydney Simpson and her brother, Justin Simpson, in a 2004 NBC interview with Couric.
How much is the Goldman Sachs family worth? ›
Jane and her siblings Allan Goldman, Diane Kemper and Amy Goldman Fowler each own 25% of Solil, which owns assets worth an estimated $12 billion.
Who bought OJ's house? ›
In 1998, the $3.95 million Rockingham estate was demolished after it was bought by investment banker Kenneth Abdalla, who wanted to build a new mansion on the site. The demolition of the home sparked attention from the media and the public at the time.
Where is Ron Goldman buried? ›
Goldman is buried at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California.
What was Nicole Simpson buried in? ›
On July 3, 2014, Brown's father, Louis Hezekiah "Lou" Brown Jr., died aged 90. He was interred next to Nicole in Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest, California. Nicole's headstone (which had space on the headstone for an additional inscription) was altered to include her father.
Will O.J. Simpson have a funeral? ›
Simpson reportedly cremated, will not receive public memorial service. O.J. Simpson was cremated Wednesday and will not receive a public memorial service, his estate lawyer told The Associated Press.
Simpson himself has denied the rumors, emphasizing their falsity on the Full Send podcast in December 2022. "The rumor ain't true.
What is O.J. Simpson doing now? ›
He served nine years in a Nevada prison and was paroled in 2017. In recent years, Simpson lived quietly in Las Vegas, where he played golf and sometimes posed for selfies with those still enamored with his celebrity. He died Wednesday from prostate cancer.
Which family owns Goldman Sachs? ›
The Goldman–Sachs family is a family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent known for the leading investment bank Goldman Sachs.
Is Fred Goldman still married? ›
Fred Goldman was born on 6 December 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a producer, known for O.J.: Made in America (2016), His Name Is Ron and OJ25 (2020). He has been married to Patti Glass since 21 February 1987. He was previously married to Joan Goldman and Sharon Rufo.
Why was the Goldman family awarded the rights to If I Did It? ›
In June 2007, the bankruptcy court gave the copyright to the Goldmans so Simpson couldn't profit. “Ron Goldman will own Simpson's name, likeness, signature and story and will hawk it to satisfy this terrible judgment,” David Cook, the family lawyer, said after the ruling.
What's the deal with OJ Simpson? ›
On Friday, OJ Simpson died of prostate cancer, with his death making news around the world. He was a famous footballer and actor, but is best known for being acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend in one of the most notorious trials in 20th century America.
