How much Menendez brothers actually inherited from their parents after murders
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, True Crime, Menendez Brothers
Kya Buller
Featured Image Credit: Ronald L. Soble / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / FOX11
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, True Crime, Menendez Brothers
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
Following the release of hit Netflix true crime drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, many viewers have been trying to separate facts from fiction - including how much the brothers inherited before their arrest.
Ryan Murphy's nine-part series chronicled the crimes of the Menendez brothers, though Erik has slammed the 'inaccuracies' from his prison cell, casting some of the plot lines into serious doubt.
In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were handed life sentences without without the possibility of parole for murdering their parents, José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez.
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José and Kitty were shot dead at the Beverly Hills mansion they shared with their sons 16 times with a gauge shotgun in 1989.
Lyle, who was 21 at the time of the crime, and Erik, 18, managed to avoid suspicion for more than five years.
Ultimately, Erik's confession to his therapist landed the brothers behind bars.
The two alleged, and to this day maintain, that they were subjected to unthinkable sexual abuse at the hands of their father, while their mother knew and failed to protect them.
A deadlocked trial led to another trial, and the judge ruled that the abuse defence was inadmissible in court.
Prosecutors argued the killings of their wealthy parents was a cash-grab scheme, with the Netflix series depicting scenes of the brothers jumping for joy when learning they're in their father's will.
José Menendez had a multi-million dollar estate, and worked his way up to becoming the Chief Operating Officer of RCA records during the 1980s.
But how much did the Menendez brothers actually gain in inheritance?
Well, the inheritance stood to be $14 million (roughly £10.5m), as per Town & Country, but prior to their arrests, they managed to claim just $2 million (about £1.5m) each.
The Los Angeles Times reported that José and Kitty's $14m fortune, which Jose built as CEO of Live Entertainment, had 'almost entirely been run through' by April 1994.
To get down to the eye-watering legal fees, $10.8m (approximately £8m) had been spent, with around half going to the lawyers of the Menendez brothers, including Leslie Abramson.
Town & Country added: "In the six months following the murder, Lyle and Erik reportedly blew through $1 million on parties, travel, and shopping. Lyle spent more than $15,000 on three Rolex watches the day before his parents' funeral, and in addition to thousands of dollars in gambling losses, Erik had also hired a tennis coach for $60,000 a year in the hopes of going pro."
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.