O.J. Simpson, a legendary figure in football and entertainment, has passed away at the age of 76 due to cancer, as announced by his family on social media.
He rose to prominence as a football star, earning the nickname, The Juice, and becoming a household name for his athletic prowess.
Simpson’s football career was marked by significant achievements, including being the first running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season and playing in five Pro Bowls.
After retiring from football, he transitioned into acting, appearing in films like The Towering Inferno and The Naked Gun series.
However, Simpson’s life was forever changed by the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, for which he was acquitted in a highly publicized trial.
Despite the acquittal, a civil trial in 1997 found him liable for their deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages.
Born | July 9, 1947 |
Died | April 10, 2024 |
Cause of death | Cancer |
Net worth | $3 million |
Nationality | American |
Background
Simpson was born on July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California, to Jim Brown, a bank custodian, and Eunice Simpson, a hospital administrator and later a school administrator.
He was a prominent American football player, broadcaster and actor.
Simpson’s early life was marked by his athletic prowess, which led him to become a star running back at the University of Southern California (USC) and later in the National Football League (NFL).
His parents instilled in him the importance of education, and he graduated from Galileo High School in San Francisco before attending USC.
Simpson’s football career was marked by numerous accolades, including the Heisman Trophy in 1968, which is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the United States.
He went on to play for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, where he set numerous records and became one of the league’s most popular players.
Net worth
Simpson’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated to be around $3 million.
Despite his earlier wealth and success as an NFL star and actor, his financial situation was complex due to legal battles, a significant debt from a civil lawsuit and limited income sources.
Simpson’s assets were tied up in a pension that was protected from legal judgments and he faced challenges in fulfilling the $33.5 million judgment from the civil lawsuit.
Endorsement deal
Simpson earned plenty of money as a player in the NFL, but he also worked as a broadcaster and actor after his retirement from the sport.
After his release from prison in October 2017, he was entitled to pensions worth $25,000 monthly from the NFL.
Simpson had endorsements with Chevrolet, ABC and Hertz car rental company.
He also appeared in advertisements with Honey Baked Ham, Calistoga Water Company’s line of Napa Naturals soft drinks, and Dingo cowboy boots.
These endorsements were significant sources of income for Simpson throughout his career.
Real estate
Simpson’s longtime Miami home, where he lived with his children after his acquittal in the death of his ex-wife and her friend, was quietly demolished in the summer of 2022.
The home, which stood on a gated 1.65-acre lot with a guest house, swimming pool and basketball court, was purchased by Simpson in 2000 for $575,000 but was later foreclosed on following his conviction in an armed robbery involving two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas.
The property was then bought by an investment company for $513,000 in 2014 and was listed for sale for $2.6 million after its demolition.
Simpson is currently residing in a golf course community of Canyon Gate Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In addition to his Miami home, Simpson’s former estate in Beverly Hills, California, which was featured in the television series, The People vs. O.J. Simpson, was put on the market for $39.99 million in 2016.
The 13,000-square-foot private Tudor mansion, which was owned by Simpson during the time of the murders, was used to depict the exterior of his residence in the series.
Nicole had purchased a condominium in Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood of Los Angeles, for $625,000 in January 1994, five months before her death.
The condominium, which was the site of her murder, was later the subject of a legal battle between her family and Simpson, who claimed ownership of the property.
Career earnings
Simpson was one of the highest-paid football players during his time in the NFL and made significant earnings from football.
When the Bills drafted him, he signed a 5-year, $650,000 contract (around $4.5 million today after adjusting for inflation).
Simpson also earned a significant amount of money from endorsements with companies such as Hertz, Chevrolet and Pioneer Chicken.
The Chevrolet deal was worth $250,000, and the Hertz slogan Go, O.J., Go! almost became his trade name.
In 1992, OJ’s monthly income was about $55,000 ($92,000/month today) or roughly $1.1 million per year today, which largely came from his Hertz endorsement contract.
Simpson also made money from investments and entrepreneurship.
He was the president and CEO of O. J. Simpson Enterprises, which owned hotels and restaurants.
Simpson also had investments in real estate, including rental properties and a golf course.
He had a net worth of $10.8 million in assets and more than $1 million in annual income in 1992.
College career
Simpson’s college career was primarily spent at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1967 to 1969134.Â
He was a standout athlete from a young age, excelling in both football and track during his high school years.
In 1967, Simpson enrolled at USC, where he played football as a running back for the USC Trojans.
During his time at USC, Simpson achieved remarkable success as a college football player.
He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football, after rushing for 1,880 yards and 23 touchdowns that season34.Â
His performances on the field earned him national recognition and solidified his status as one of the greatest college football players of his time.
Simpson’s college years at USC played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for his successful football career and subsequent notoriety.Â
His time at USC not only allowed him to showcase his exceptional athletic abilities but also set the stage for his subsequent professional football career.
NBA career
Simpson is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time, having played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills.
He was a two-time unanimous All-American from the University of Southern California and the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner.
Simpson was selected first overall by the Bills in the 1969 NFL/AFL common draft.
During his nine seasons with the Bills, he received five consecutive Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections from 1972 to 1976.
Simpson also led the league in rushing yards four times, in rushing touchdowns twice, and in points scored in 1975.
In 1973, he became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, earning him NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) and is the only NFL player to do so in a 14-game regular season.
Simpson holds the record for the single-season yards-per-game average at 143.1.
After retiring with the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, he pursued an acting and broadcasting career.
Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Acting career
Simpson had a notable acting career that spanned various roles in film and television.
He began acting while at USC, making his film debut in the 1974 crime thriller, The Klansman.
Simpson starred in movies like The Towering Inferno, The Cassandra Crossing and the Naked Gun film trilogy alongside Leslie Nielsen.
He often took on challenging roles to break away from his clean-cut athlete image, aiming to bring believability to his characters. Simpson also appeared in TV shows like Dragnet and Roots.
Additionally, he was a successful commercial spokesman for Hertz car rental, known for his iconic airport sprinting commercials.
Awards and recognitions
Throughout his career, Simpson received numerous awards and honors for his exceptional skills and contributions to the sport.
He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 and was named an All-American.
Simpson was also an All-Pro and set the record for most yards gained in a single season with 2,003 yards in 1973.
He was named the American Football Conference Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1972, 1973, and 1975 and the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1975.
Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
He was named the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame’s greatest player in Buffalo Bills history.
Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman murder
Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole and her friend, Ronald, were tragically murdered on June 12, 1994.
The bodies were found outside Nicole’s residence, leading to a high-profile criminal investigation and trial.
Physical evidence, including blood drops, shoe prints, and a left-hand leather glove matching one previously purchased by Nicole for Simpson, pointed towards Simpson as the perpetrator.
DNA evidence further linked Simpson to the crime scene, with blood from Simpson, Nicole, and Ronald found in Simpson’s Ford Bronco.
Simpson had fresh cuts and abrasions on his hands, and a pair of socks in his bedroom contained his and Nicole’s blood.
Despite Simpson’s denial and alibi of being at home during the murders, the overwhelming physical evidence contradicted his claims.
The prosecution argued that Simpson’s motive stemmed from a history of domestic violence and Nicole’s decision to end their relationship, leading to a violent confrontation on the night of the murders.
The case captivated the nation, culminating in Simpson’s arrest, trial and eventual acquittal.
O. J. Simpson murder trial
Simpson’s murder trial, also known as the Trial of the Century, was a highly publicized criminal trial held in Los Angeles County, California, in 1995.
The trial involved Simpson, who was accused of the murders of Nicole and Ronald.
The investigation into the murders began when detectives arrived at the crime scene and discovered the bodies of Nicole and Ronald.
They also found a trail of blood leading away from the scene, which suggested that the perpetrator had left in a hurry.
Detectives decided to contact Simpson to notify him of the murder and to arrange for him to collect his children, who were still at the house.
When they arrived at Simpson’s estate, they observed a white Ford Bronco with the back of the vehicle sticking out into the street.
Simpson was eventually arrested and charged with the murders.
The trial began on January 23, 1995, and lasted for nine months.
The prosecution, led by Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden, presented evidence that included DNA test results, witness testimony, and physical evidence found at the crime scene.
The defense, led by Robert Shapiro and Robert Kardashian, argued that the LAPD had mishandled the investigation and that the evidence presented by the prosecution was flawed.
The jury deliberated for less than five hours before returning a verdict of not guilty on October 3, 1995.
The acquittal sparked widespread controversy and debate, with many people believing that Simpson was guilty of the murders.
The trial was significant for many reasons, including the extensive media coverage, the use of DNA evidence, and the racial tensions that were exposed during the trial.
The trial also highlighted the challenges faced by prosecutors when trying high-profile cases, particularly when race and celebrity are involved.
In the years since the trial, there have been many books, documentaries, and TV shows that have explored the case in detail.
The trial remains a fascinating and controversial moment in American legal history.
Robbery and kidnapping conviction
In 2007, Simpson was involved in a robbery and kidnapping case that took place in a Las Vegas hotel-casino.
Simpson, along with four other men, entered a room where they found sports memorabilia items that they believed belonged to Simpson.
The group seized these items at gunpoint, with two of the men accompanying Simpson allegedly armed.
Simpson and his lawyers argued that the incident was not a robbery but an attempt to reclaim stolen memorabilia.
They claimed that Simpson did not ask anyone to bring a weapon and did not see any guns during the confrontation.
However, prosecutors maintained that Simpson’s ownership of the memorabilia was irrelevant, as it was still a crime to attempt to take property through force or violence.
The prosecution argued that Simpson’s actions constituted kidnapping, as the group detained the victims in the room and prevented them from leaving.
The case was controversial due to Simpson’s past, particularly his acquittal in the murder trial of his ex-wife and friend.
During jury selection, Simpson’s lawyers expressed concerns that potential jurors might see the case as an opportunity to right the wrongs of the previous trial.
An unusually large pool of 500 potential jurors was called, and they were given a 26-page questionnaire.
Half were eliminated after expressing strong feelings that Simpson should have been convicted of murder.
Simpson did not testify during the trial but was heard on a recording of the confrontation, demanding that the dealers return his property and warning them not to let anyone leave the room.
Four other men involved in the case struck plea bargains, saving them from potential prison sentences in exchange for their testimony.
The case was marred by Simpson’s past, with Las Vegas police officers heard in the recordings making derogatory comments about Simpson and expressing satisfaction at his arrest.
Despite these challenges, the jury found Simpson guilty on all charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping.
Simpson was sentenced to a minimum of nine years in prison and a maximum of 33 years.
Simpson’s co-defendant, Clarence Stewart, was also convicted and sentenced to a minimum of seven and a half years in prison.
However, his conviction was later overturned, and he accepted an Alford plea, pleading the equivalent of no contest to felony robbery and conspiracy.
He was released from prison, having served 27 months of a seven-and-a-half-to 27-year prison term.
Simpson’s appeal was rejected by the Nevada Supreme Court, and he is currently serving his sentence at Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada.