O.J. Simpson’s death sparked a flurry of headlines, and now new details about his final days and unresolved financial issues are coming to light. Here’s the latest:
Family by his Side (with a Price)
TMZ reports that O.J. wasn’t alone in his final days. Up to 50 visitors kept him company, but there’s a catch: everyone had to sign an NDA to keep his health struggles private.
Among the visitors were his children from both marriages:
- Arnelle and Jason (with first wife Marguerite Whitley)
- Sydney and Justin (with Nicole Brown Simpson)
A Battle with Cancer
According to CBS Sports, O.J. was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February and was undergoing treatment. While details are slim, it seems his health took a sharp decline shortly before his passing.
A Legacy of Football, Films, and… Murder
O.J. Simpson’s life was a complex one. He transitioned from a celebrated NFL star to a Hollywood actor, but his legacy was forever tarnished by the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.
Acquitted but not Forgiven
Acquitted in the criminal trial, O.J. was later found liable in a civil case, ordered to pay the Brown and Goldman families a staggering $33.5 million.
A Debt Unpaid
Here’s where it gets messy. Lawyer David Cook, representing Ron Goldman’s father Fred, claims O.J. never paid a dime towards the judgement. With accrued interest, the debt has ballooned to a whopping $114 million.
Cook states O.J. “died without penance” and never offered “a nickel” to the Goldman family.
Attempts to collect from O.J.’s NFL pension and trust have been unsuccessful so far.
A Modest Payment and a Controversial Book
Records show O.J. only paid a measly $133,000 to the families since the 1997 trial. The Goldmans also received some money from the sale of O.J.’s highly controversial hypothetical book “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.” A judge ruled the proceeds should go to the victims’ families.
Legal Troubles Beyond the Murders
In 2007, O.J. faced another criminal trial, this time for armed robbery and assault. He was sentenced to 33 years but paroled in 2018 after serving nine years.
O.J. Simpson’s story is a cautionary tale of fallen heroes, unresolved grief, and hefty financial obligations. Whether the Goldmans will ever see the justice they seek remains to be seen.
