The Chilling Saga Of 'If I Did It': 5 Shocking Facts About O. J. Simpson's 'Confession' Book And Its Controversial Legacy

The book 'If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer' remains one of the most controversial and morbidly fascinating publications in American history. Released in a heavily altered and re-titled edition, it offers a chilling, "hypothetical" account of the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, penned by the man acquitted of the crimes in the criminal trial, O. J. Simpson. As of , the book's legacy is more relevant than ever, especially following Simpson's death in April 2024, which triggered a massive surge in sales that directly benefits the victims' family.

Originally conceived as a shocking tell-all, the book quickly became a legal battlefield, transforming from a publisher's scandalous gamble into a unique instrument of financial justice for the Goldman family. This deep dive explores the five most shocking and little-known facts about the book's creation, cancellation, and ultimate re-release, detailing how a Florida bankruptcy court turned a "hypothetical confession" into a permanent financial penalty for the former football star.

The True Story Behind the 'Hypothetical' Confession

The genesis of If I Did It lies in O. J. Simpson's desperate need for cash and his audacious willingness to exploit the very tragedy he was accused of causing. Simpson was found not guilty in the 1995 criminal trial, dubbed "The Trial of the Century," but was later found liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman and battery against Nicole Brown Simpson in a 1997 civil lawsuit. This civil judgment amounted to a staggering $33.5 million, a debt Simpson spent the rest of his life largely avoiding.

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Simpson collaborated with ghostwriter Pablo Fenjves, who helped craft the manuscript. The book's core conceit was a detailed, first-person narrative where Simpson described how he would have committed the double murders, framing the entire account as a hypothetical scenario. This literary device was a transparent attempt to profit from the killings while simultaneously sidestepping a direct, legally actionable confession. However, Fenjves and others involved later stated they believed the "hypothetical" nature was merely a thin veil for the truth.

1. The Book Was Originally Titled and Canceled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

• Original Title: The book was initially titled If I Did It: Here's How It Would Have Happened.
• Original Publisher: It was set to be released in 2006 by ReganBooks, an imprint of HarperCollins, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
• The Controversy: The announcement of the book and a corresponding television interview caused a massive public outcry and a storm of controversy. Critics, including the families of the victims, argued that the publication was a disgusting attempt to profit from murder and that it mocked the justice system.
• The Cancellation: In a highly unusual move, Rupert Murdoch personally ordered the cancellation of the book's publication and the associated Fox television special, citing "a poor judgment" in pursuing the project. The initial printing of 400,000 copies was ordered to be destroyed.

2. The Goldman Family Won the Rights in a Florida Bankruptcy Court

The civil judgment against O. J. Simpson was largely unpaid. The Goldman family, led by Ronald Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, spent years pursuing Simpson's assets to satisfy the debt. This quest for financial justice led them to the rights of the cancelled book.

• Legal Victory: In 2007, a Florida bankruptcy court judge, A. Jay Cristol, awarded the rights to the book manuscript, including the copyright, to the Goldman family.
• The Goal: The ruling allowed the family to publish the book themselves, with all proceeds going toward the outstanding $33.5 million wrongful death judgment.
• The Re-release: The family partnered with a publisher and re-released the book with a dramatically altered title and cover design.

3. The Re-Titled Edition Intentionally Implies a Confession

When the Goldman family re-released the book, they made several significant changes to the title and design to reflect their belief in Simpson's guilt and to maximize the book's commercial—and, therefore, punitive—value.

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• New Title: The new title became If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.
• Cover Design: The word 'If' on the cover was significantly reduced in size and placed in a small box, making the main title appear to read "I Did It: Confessions of the Killer." This powerful visual change turned the book into a quasi-confession in the public eye.
• Added Commentary: The new edition included a foreword by Fred Goldman, a chapter by ghostwriter Pablo Fenjves, and new commentary from the Brown and Goldman families, ensuring the victims' voices were prominently featured alongside Simpson's narrative.

The Lasting Financial Impact and Sales Spike After Simpson's Death

Despite the initial $33.5 million judgment, the Goldman and Brown families have struggled for decades to recover the full amount, with most of Simpson's NFL pension and other assets being legally protected. The book, however, became one of the few reliable streams of income directed toward the debt.

4. All Royalties Go Directly to the Victims' Families

The legal ruling that awarded the rights to the Goldman family means that every copy sold contributes to satisfying the civil judgment. This mechanism ensures that O. J. Simpson's attempt to profit from the murders was completely subverted, with his own words becoming a tool for the victims' families to achieve a measure of financial justice.

While the exact amount recovered from the book's sales is not regularly disclosed, the royalties represent one of the most significant, non-protected assets the families have managed to seize. The book's controversial nature, coupled with its unique backstory, ensures it remains a perennial seller, continuously chipping away at the massive debt.

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5. O. J. Simpson's Death Caused a Massive, Record-Breaking Sales Spike

The most recent and compelling development in the book's history occurred in April 2024. Following O. J. Simpson's death from cancer, public interest in the case and his final words skyrocketed.

• Bestseller Status: Within days of his passing, If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer shot to the top of bestseller charts.
• Ranking: The book hit the No. 1 spot on Amazon's 'Rich & Famous Biographies' list and saw its audiobook version also top charts.
• The Irony: This massive, unprecedented spike in sales, driven by the death of the author, resulted in a significant and immediate influx of royalty payments directly to the Goldman family—the very people Simpson owed the massive civil judgment to. This final, ironic twist ensured that Simpson's death benefited the family he was found liable for harming.

The saga of If I Did It is a complex tale of greed, legal maneuvering, and a family's relentless pursuit of justice. The book stands not just as a piece of true crime literature, but as a permanent, physical reminder of the $33.5 million civil judgment and the long shadow cast by the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The recent surge in sales underscores the enduring, if morbid, public fascination with the case and ensures that Simpson's controversial words will continue to serve as a financial penalty for the rest of the book's copyright life.