A Bible once gifted to O.J. Simpson by his former defense attorney, the late Robert Kardashian, has been sold at auction for a significant sum. The executor of Simpson’s estate, Malcolm LaVergne, placed the Bible up for auction earlier this month, and although Kim Kardashian, Robert’s daughter, bid $15,000 for it, her offer was declined. The item had been under contract with the court to be sold at auction.
The Bible, which features Robert Kardashian’s full name on the front, ultimately sold for $65,800 after a total of 49 bids, with 14 bids coming in on the final day of the auction. The winning bid was placed at 10:42 p.m. on the last night of the sale. However, LaVergne told TMZ that the identity of the new owner remains unknown.
Robert Kardashian gave Simpson the Bible in 1994, shortly after Simpson was arrested and charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson was acquitted of the charges in 1995 after one of the most high-profile trials in U.S. criminal history. Inside the Bible, Robert wrote a heartfelt message to Simpson, saying:
“OJ, This book will help. God loves and he will speak to you with his words. Read this book every day. God has a definite plan for your life. You are his child and he will use you again. I love you and God loves you.”
LaVergne explained to People why Kardashian’s $15,000 offer was turned down. He stated that it would not have been financially wise to accept such a low bid. “The amount is why I had no choice, because why would I spend $15,000 of estate money—why would I spend $15,000 in attorney’s fees—to sell it to Kim for $15,000?” LaVergne said. “That’s a zero-sum game. That’s a bad business model. If Kim had offered $150,000 for it, we would’ve been in court getting this approved outside of the auction.”
Robert Kardashian, who was a member of Simpson’s defense team, met Simpson while they were both attending the University of Southern California. The two became close friends and business partners, co-investing in companies such as Juice Inc and Concert Cinema. Simpson’s trial garnered global media attention, and Robert’s involvement in his defense was a controversial decision, especially among his own family.
Following the criminal trial, the Goldman and Brown families pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Simpson. In 1997, a civil court jury found Simpson liable for the deaths of Nicole and Ron, awarding the families $33.5 million in damages.
Robert Kardashian, who married Kris Jenner in 1978, had four children with her: Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Robert Jr. Despite the family’s connection to Simpson, Robert’s decision to defend him caused a rift within the Kardashian-Jenner family. Kim Kardashian has openly discussed the impact Simpson’s trial had on her family, especially the tension it caused with her mother, Kris Jenner.
While Kris Jenner distanced herself from Simpson, Kim remained supportive of her father. In a 2023 interview with GQ, Kim explained her stance, recalling how she and Kourtney were pulled out of school to attend the trial with Robert. “Kourtney and I were drawn to our dad. We felt like Mom was happily remarried, so we would live with Dad. We didn’t want him to be by himself,” Kim said. She also recalled the awkwardness of sitting in the courtroom while her mother was on the opposite side.
The sale of the Bible marks a new chapter in the long-running saga surrounding O.J. Simpson and the Kardashian family, highlighting the intersection of personal history, public drama, and financial transactions.
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