197: O.J. Simpson's $58 Million Problem: What His Probate Teaches Us

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe returns with the latest development in the ongoing O.J. Simpson probate saga. Over 18 months after his April 2024 death, headlines announced that the executor of O.J.'s estate had "agreed to pay" the Goldman family close to $58 million—but what does that actually mean? Kirsten breaks down the reality behind the sensational headlines, explaining what happens when an executor accepts a creditor's claim versus actually paying it. With O.J.'s estate valued at just $1-2 million against a $58 million accepted claim, she reveals who really gets paid first in probate and why the Goldmans may see almost nothing despite "winning." Tune in for a real-world lesson on why probate takes so long and how creditor claims actually work. Time-stamped Show Notes: 0:00 Introduction 0:45 Key lesson #1: O.J. died in April 2024, and over 18 months later, his probate is still ongoing—proof that probate takes a long time 1:30 The headline that grabbed attention: "Executor agrees to pay $58 million to the Goldman family" 2:00 Listen in as Kirsten provides some background on the Goldman family's 1997 civil judgment of $33 million against O.J. for the deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson 2:45 Next, let's discuss how the judgment grew to $117 million with nearly 30 years of accumulated interest, and the creditor's claim was filed in July 2024 3:30 What really happened: The executor accepted the claim at $58 million (disputing the interest calculation), but this doesn't mean writing a check 4:15 The reality check: O.J.'s estate is worth only $1-2 million—nowhere near the $58 million claim 4:45 Key lesson #2: Who gets paid first in probate—executors, attorneys, court fees, and expenses come before any creditor claims 5:30 Why the headline was misleading and what this case teaches us about probate and creditor claims Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll: Learn about your unique situation and goals Answer questions about our services Determine if we're the right fit to work together Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today. Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.