O.J. Simpson, born July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, was a celebrated NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner, and actor. Known for his record-breaking football career, he gained fame as "The Juice." Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, though he was found liable in a civil trial. In 2008, he was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping, serving nearly nine years before being released in 2017. Simpson passed away on April 10, 2024, at age 76 after battling cancer, leaving behind significant debt.
On June 13, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were found brutally murdered outside her Los Angeles condominium. Authorities soon suspected O.J. Simpson, her ex-husband, after evidence pointed to him. Following a nationwide search, Simpson failed to surrender by the 11 a.m. deadline on June 17. Later that day, he was tracked to the Santa Ana Freeway, leading to a slow-speed police chase, broadcast live. Simpson was found in a white Ford Bronco, driven by his friend Al “A.C.” Cowlings. He surrendered later that evening at his Brentwood home, claiming he “wasn’t running.” Simpson pleaded not guilty to the charges in July 1994.
The former American football star and Hollywood actor stood trial for double murder in October 1995, following the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman.
O.J. Simpson’s criminal trial for the murders of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, known as the “Trial of the Century,” began on January 24, 1995. The jury, sequestered for a record nine months, witnessed Simpson’s high-profile defence team, which reportedly cost $50,000 a day. The team, led by Johnnie Cochran, included Robert Kardashian, Robert Shapiro, and others. Despite strong evidence, including a matching glove and DNA, Simpson’s lawyers cast doubt on its handling. Cochran famously stated, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” On October 3, 1995, the jury acquitted Simpson, with 150 million viewers watching the historic verdict.
This is the booking mug for O.J. Simpson, taken Friday, June 17, 1994, after he surrendered to authorities at his Brentwood estate in Los Angeles. Simpson was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the June 12, 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole, and acquaintance Ronald Goldman. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department)
Despite his acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, O.J. Simpson faced a civil trial in 1997, where he was found liable for their wrongful deaths and ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages. In 1999, Simpson moved to Florida to protect his assets, selling memorabilia in an attempt to raise funds. He later made headlines again in 2000 for a road rage incident, for which he was acquitted. In 2007, Simpson was involved in a Las Vegas robbery, leading to his conviction in 2008 for armed robbery and kidnapping. He was sentenced to up to 33 years, with parole possible after nine years.
O.J. Simpson spent nearly nine years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping before seeking a new trial in May 2013, claiming poor advice from his attorney, Yale Galanter, during his 2008 trial. "It was my stuff. I followed what I thought was the law," Simpson testified. On July 31, 2013, he was granted parole for five of his twelve convictions due to his clean criminal record. However, a new trial was denied in October 2014. In 2017, Simpson appeared for a parole hearing, claiming he'd "spent a conflict-free life" and was "not a guy who lived a criminal life." He was granted parole and released on October 1, 2017.
After his release from prison in October 2017, O.J. Simpson settled in Las Vegas, where he was constantly approached by businesses eager to capitalise on his celebrity. Despite lucrative offers, Simpson, according to his lawyer Malcolm LaVergne, chose to ignore them, saying, “He’s a senior citizen, he is enjoying his life, and he’s just breathing, learning to exhale after being in jail for a decade.”
However, his time post-release wasn’t without controversy. In November 2017, Simpson was reportedly kicked out of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas for drunken behaviour, including breaking glasses at the bar. He later filed a lawsuit against the hotel, claiming defamation after reports circulated that he had been banned. The dispute was settled in April 2021.
In December 2021, Simpson was granted early release from parole, making him “a completely free man,” according to his attorney.
Simpson’s health became a topic of discussion in 2023 when he revealed on social media that he was battling cancer. In February 2024, it was reported that he was receiving treatment for prostate cancer. Despite rumours of being in hospice care, Simpson denied this, stating his health was “good” and he was “just about over it.”
On April 10, 2024, Simpson passed away from cancer at 76, surrounded by family. His death left behind significant debt, including damages owed to the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, estimated to be between $114 million and $200 million with interest.
Simpson’s life and legal history also inspired numerous books and TV projects. Notably, If I Did It, his ghostwritten book, was published in 2007 after being retitled by the Goldman family, and O.J.: Made in America, a 2016 documentary, won an Academy Award.
At the time of his death, Simpson's net worth was estimated at $3 million, largely from his NFL pension.
