Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix dramatizes the notorious murder case, once again raising questions about whether the Menendez brothers were longtime victims of abuse or driven by greed to inherit their father José Menendez’s fortune.
Following the first chapter of Ryan Murphy’s true-life anthology series about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, Season 2 of Monster follows the case of the real-life brothers who killed their parents José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in 1989.
Even today, opinions differ as to why Lyle and Erik committed such a heinous act. The Menendez brothers are now serving life sentences, but they continue to fight for their cause as new evidence of alleged abuse emerges.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story takes viewers back in time to show the case as it unfolded and how, even before the brothers were arrested, there was speculation that their parents were killed because of José’s considerable wealth. Warning: Some may find this content distressing.
Jose Menendez’s Net Worth at the Time of His Death
Jose’s net worth was estimated to be between $14 million and $15 million. before being killed by his sons Lyle and Erik in 1989.
A&EJose made much of his fortune working in the entertainment industry.
The Menendez family estate was largely built on Jose’s career in the entertainment industry. His story is often cited as the American Dream, as his parents sent him to the United States after the Cuban Revolution.
As a teenager, he learned English and worked hard in school, eventually earning a degree in accounting from Queens College.
Impressing his employers in the years that followed, he was eventually named executive vice president of the Hertz car rental company, a subsidiary of the RCA Corporation.
He then joined the company’s record division, rising through the ranks to become a senior executive in the 1980s and signing bands such as Duran Duran, The Eurythmics and Menudo.
José built much of his fortune from this role, and continued to work in the entertainment industry, during which time he purchased the $4 million Beverly Hills mansion where he and Kitty were murdered.
After their deaths, much of the Menendez estate’s assets consisted of the mansion, a Calabasas property the couple was renovating, Jose’s stock in LIVE Entertainment (now Artisan Entertainment), of which he had been president, and other personal property and vehicles.
What happened to the Menendez estate?
The Menendez fortune was not what it seemed. After deducting loans, attorneys’ fees and taxes, little remained of that $14 million estimate..
A&EThe value of the Menendez mansion fell after taxes and loans
In fact, according to the LA Times, after the first two trials, which ended in a hung jury, even if Erik and Lyle were acquitted of the murders, they would inherit “nothing.”
The point of sale continued to describe how it was “a remarkable turnaround in a case in which prosecutors have long argued the brothers killed out of hatred and greed.”
Even real estate, which represents a significant portion of net worth, has been misrepresented. said that after deducting loans on the couple’s properties in Calabasas and Beverly Hills, their value fell to $5.7 million.
While the brothers shared a $600,000 personal life insurance policy, LIVE Entertainment’s $5 million insurance policy was invalid due to a technicality.
Why Lyle and Erik Menendez Didn’t Inherit Anything
As for the Menendez brothers, it’s not surprising their net worth is estimated at close to zerobecause they were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A&Erik and Lyle advocate from prison
But, as contemporary reports reported, even though they were not convicted, the family’s wealth had been misrepresented.
After loans and taxes, journalist Rachel Pergament suggested that the $14 million estate would leave Erik and Lyle with about $2 million each. Add in the legal fees and spending sprees that followed their parents’ deaths, and there’s not much left.
The brothers, however, have always maintained that money was never the motivation. Their legal team is currently fighting to have their convictions overturned in exchange for a manslaughter charge.
Erik and Lyle continue to claim that they suffered a lifetime of sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their controlling parents.
New evidence to support their allegations has emerged in recent months, including a sworn statement from Roy Rossello, a former member of the aforementioned boy band Menudo, who claims José raped him in the 1980s.
It remains to be seen whether this will move the appeal forward, but what we do know is that cases like this are never easy.
As Kalim Khan, senior partner at Affinitylawyers.ca Jugo Mobile, put it, this will be an “uphill battle” that will require “damning new evidence that was not available at the time of the original trial.”
For more on the case, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is currently streaming on Netflix. If you’re familiar with the case or don’t mind spoilers, you can read our breakdown of the ending and why one graphic scene caused a stir.
