For 12 years, Marguerite Whitley was married to O.J. Simpson, a renowned NFL player, and they had three children together. Despite her husband’s widespread popularity, Marguerite was able to maintain a discreet presence, a strategy that has been successful for her.
Marguerite Whitley Bio Summary
Full name: Marguerite L. Whitley
Gender: Female
Age in 2024: 75 years old
Date of birth: 20th Mar 1949
Zodiac sign: Pisces
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: African-American
Sexuality: Straight
Marital status: Married
Husband: Anthony Thomas
Children: Arnelle, Jason, Aaren
Height: 5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Brown
School: Galileo High School
Profession: Businesswoman
Childhood & Education
Marguerite Whitley was born on March 20, 1949, and raised in Los Angeles, California. She belonged to an African-American family, but specific details about her relatives are not accessible on public platforms.
After graduating from Galileo High School, she went on to attend and obtain her diploma from the University of Southern California in 1967.
Relationship with OJ Simpson
In high school, Marguerite Whitley was in a romantic relationship with AI Cowlings, a close companion of Simpson. It was through Cowlings that Whitley and Simpson were introduced. As their affection for each other grew, Simpson and Whitley officially started dating in 1965.
Eventually, their love flourished and they tied the knot on June 24, 1967. At the time, both were 18 and 19 years old and as college students, they viewed marriage as an enjoyable adventure without the need to answer to their parents.
Following Simpson’s receipt of the Heisman Trophy for his exceptional performance in college football, he was selected by the NFL in 1969 for a lucrative deal worth $650,000. This allowed the newlywed pair to relocate to New York and establish themselves in the Amherst community.
As her husband climbed the ranks as an NFL player, Marguerite engaged in a variety of activities. The pair had three children and enjoyed an extravagant way of life. Nonetheless, they faced challenges, and, as Whitney disclosed in a 1995 conversation, they often drove each other to their breaking points.
In addition to O.J.’s fame and shared lack of maturity, another factor that contributed to the downfall of their marriage was Simpson’s cheating and excessive self-importance. These problems ultimately caused the marriage to deteriorate, resulting in several separations during the early 1970s.
Divorce
During the mid-1970s, Whitley initiated divorce proceedings but ultimately decided against it. However, by 1977, Simpson had begun a romantic relationship with Nicole Brown, a waitress.
The couple began living apart in 1978 and ultimately filed for divorce again, which was officially granted in 1979. As part of the divorce settlement, Whitley received alimony and Simpson was ordered to pay $1500 per month in child support.
Following a dispute over money, she took legal action against O.J. in 1981 to recover $26,000 in child support that had been neglected. The lawsuit continued until 1986 when a final decision was reached.
Marguerite Whitley’s Marriages
Following her divorce from OJ Simpson, Whitley relocated from her Brentwood residence with her children and established a new home in San Francisco. It was here that she encountered and developed feelings for Lewis Rudolph, a transit supervisor.
On July 9, 1986, she tied the knot with Lewis. However, after five years of marriage and unresolved issues, they decided to end their relationship and officially divorced on July 3, 1991. Whitley went on to establish herself as an interior designer and it was during this time that she crossed paths with her third husband, Thomas.
On April 3, 1992, Anthony Thomas, a furniture sales representative, tied the knot with Marguerite Whitley. Despite the passing of several years, they remain happily married. During Marguerite’s former husband Simpson’s murder trial, Anthony was a constant source of support by her side.
Where is OJ Simpson’s first wife now?
Despite being present during OJ Simpson‘s murder trial, Marguerite Whitley has kept a low profile and is alive. While she used to live in California, recent findings reveal that she now owns a home in Fresno.
She has not granted any interviews or made appearances in documentaries, but she insists that her children have a positive relationship with Simpson. Interestingly, the house in Fresno is registered under the name Marguerite Simpson, not Thomas.
Net Worth
Following her divorce, Marguerite Whitley received her family’s business and experienced a notable increase in her earnings. Additionally, she was awarded a divorce settlement of $26,000 and receives $1500 in child support from Simpson each month. Her fortune has continued to grow through her business ventures, and she currently possesses a net worth of $3 million.