O.J. Simpson Relied Heavily on NFL Pension as Main Income in Later Life

Disgraced professional football player and actor O.J. Simpson primarily depended on his NFL pension to support him in his later years.

Allison DeGrushe - Author
By

Apr. 11 2024, Published 2:36 p.m. ET

O.J. Simpson is inducted into the Wall of Fame in Rich Stadium on Sept. 14, 1980. He is accompanied by his parents, his son, Jason, and Ralph Wilson, owner of the Buffalo Bills.
Source: Getty Images

On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, O.J. Simpson, a former NFL player widely known for his high-profile murder trial in the '90s, passed away. His family announced his death in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating, "On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer."

He was 76 years old.

Article continues below advertisement

With the news of his death sparking widespread interest, many are curious to know about his financial affairs. Among the questions raised is the inquiry into O.J. Simpson's NFL pension — how much is it worth? Read on to find out.

Plus, stick around for insights into the Pro Football Hall of Famer's net worth and whether Ron Goldman's family will receive money from O.J.'s estate.

O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills watches the finish of a play at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York.
Source: Getty Images
Article continues below advertisement

How much was O.J. Simpson's NFL pension?

O.J. Simpson remained tight-lipped about his income, but The Independent reported he was pocketing $42,000 per year in social security alongside a pension from the Screen Actors Guild. Regarding his NFL pension, O.J. was pulling in anywhere from $125,000 to $300,000 annually. Other outlets suggested it could be valued as high as $5 million.

Regardless, Simpson received a sizable payment from his NFL pension, which just so happened to be protected from garnishment by California law to pay off the large sums he owed to Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown's families. These obligations emerged when a jury found him responsible for the deaths of their loved ones in a civil lawsuit.

Article continues below advertisement

What was O.J. Simpson's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Simpson died with a net worth of roughly $3 million.

In his 1992 divorce proceedings from the late Nicole Brown, Simpson cited his net worth as $10.8 million ($25 million in 2024). According to the divorce settlement, his monthly earnings in 1992 were $55,000, primarily sourced from his endorsement deal with Hertz.

O.J. Simpson attends his parole hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada.
Source: Getty Images
Article continues below advertisement

However, the majority of Simpson's fortune was depleted during his infamous criminal trial. Nearly half of his 1992 net worth stemmed from his Brentwood residence, which he lost in 1997 due to mortgage default. Simpson then bought a property in Florida before ultimately filing for bankruptcy.

In the years following his acquittal, Simpson relied mainly on his NFL pension for income.

So, will Ron Goldman's family receive money from O.J. Simpson's estate?

Regarding the 1997 civil trial, Simpson was found liable for the deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown. As a result, he was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages — but he relocated to Florida to avoid paying the civil judgment.

Article continues below advertisement

In February 2021, Ron's father, Fred Goldman, publicly revealed that Simpson had only paid approximately $133,000 of the settlement. By 2022, the total amount had surged to over $96 million (with the likelihood of it being even higher in 2024 due to accruing interest on the court judgment), according to court documents obtained by Distractify.

Fred Goldman (C), father of Ron Goldman, his daughter Kim (L) and wife Patty (R) listen to testimony during a preliminary hearing following the murders of Ron and O.J. Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, July 7, 1994 in Los Angeles
Source: Getty Images
Article continues below advertisement

With Simpson's passing, the unresolved debt to the Goldman family remains. Fred Goldman's attorney, David Cook, didn't hold back about the deceased, boldly telling TMZ on Thursday, April 11, "O.J. died without penance." David also emphasized that Simpson's estate remains liable for the civil case judgment.

The Goldmans are committed to pursuing Simpson's remaining assets to fulfill the owed amount. It's expected to be a strenuous legal battle, but the Goldman family has persisted in their pursuit for decades.

Advertisement
More from Distractify

Latest NFL News and Updates

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 Distractify. Distractify is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.