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She buried a child. She rebuilt her life twice. She sat next to a new husband in front of Barbara Walters in 1995 and said what she needed to say. Then she went home, and she has not spoken publicly since. In May 2026, Marguerite Whitley is 77 years old, living quietly in Fresno, California, and most people searching her name know almost nothing real about her. This article gives you the complete story of Marguerite Whitley, from her childhood in San Francisco to her 12-year marriage, the tragedy that changed everything, and how she built a life entirely on her own terms.
Marguerite Whitley is the first wife of O.J. Simpson, the Hall of Fame NFL running back and actor whose name became synonymous with the 1995 murder trial that divided the United States. But her story goes far deeper than that single association. She was Simpson’s high school sweetheart long before the fame, the mother of his three children, the woman who absorbed the full weight of sudden celebrity and chose to walk away from all of it quietly and permanently.
Who Is Marguerite Whitley, and Why Do People Keep Searching for Her?
Marguerite Whitley was born on August 27, 1948, in San Francisco, California. She grew up in a working-class household and attended Galileo High School in San Francisco, the same school where she would meet a young, ambitious athlete named Orenthal James Simpson.
She is not a celebrity. She has no social media presence, no book deal, no podcast. She has given exactly one confirmed public interview in the last 30-plus years. People search for her because she is the part of the O.J. Simpson story that almost nobody tells, and that silence, chosen and maintained over decades, makes her one of the most quietly compelling figures in the entire American cultural saga surrounding Simpson’s life.
Marguerite Whitley Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Marguerite L. Whitley |
| Born | August 27, 1948, San Francisco, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Galileo High School, San Francisco; University of Southern California |
| First Marriage | O.J. Simpson (June 24, 1967 to 1979) |
| Second Marriage | Rudolph Lewis (July 9, 1986 to April 3, 1991) |
| Third Marriage | Anthony Thomas (April 3, 1992, ongoing) |
| Children | Arnelle Simpson (b. 1968), Jason Simpson (b. 1970), Aaren Simpson (1977 to 1979) |
| Career | Interior designer, retail manager |
| Estimated Net Worth | $250,000 to $500,000 |
| Current Residence | Fresno, California |
| Last Public Appearance | 1995, ABC’s 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters |
Early Life and the Galileo High School Connection
Marguerite Whitley grew up in San Francisco during the 1950s and 1960s, a period of big social change in America. Her upbringing was ordinary in the best sense. A close-knit family, a neighborhood, a school, and a life that had nothing to do with fame or professional sport.
She attended Galileo High School, and there she encountered two young men who would shape the rest of her life in very different ways. Simpson met his future wife at San Francisco’s Galileo High School when she was dating his best friend, Al “AC” Cowlings. Cowlings would later become known as the driver in the infamous Bronco chase in the days following the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
The fact that Marguerite first dated AC Cowlings before Simpson pursued her is one of those small details most articles overlook entirely. It places her at the center of a circle of young men whose lives would all become permanently entangled with one of the most covered stories in American history.
As Vogue noted in 2016, the two began dating in high school and married when they were 19 years old, one year before O.J. won the coveted Heisman Trophy in 1968.
Marriage to OJ Simpson: What the Early Years Actually Looked Like
The 1967 Wedding and the Beginning of Fame
High school sweethearts O.J. Simpson and Marguerite Whitley were married on June 24, 1967, in their hometown of San Francisco. On December 4, 1968, the Simpsons experienced two milestones simultaneously: the birth of their first child, a daughter named Arnelle, and O.J. was voted the most outstanding player in college football in the United States and awarded the Heisman Trophy.
Think about the pressure contained in that single sentence. The night your husband wins the most celebrated individual award in American college football is also the night your first child arrives. That is the beginning of what it means to be Marguerite Whitley.
As a senior in 1968, Simpson rushed for 1,709 yards and 22 touchdowns in the regular season, earning the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award. He held the record for the Heisman’s largest margin of victory for 51 years, defeating runner-up Leroy Keyes by 1,750 points.
From that moment, the privacy that Marguerite valued was no longer available to her.
Life in Amherst and the Pressures of NFL Fame
The couple spent the majority of their marriage in Amherst, New York, while O.J. played for the Buffalo Bills for eight seasons. While her husband was a boisterous football star, Marguerite was shy and private.
The five-bedroom mansion, purchased by her ex-husband for $650,000, boasted amenities such as a guesthouse, a pool, and courts for tennis and paddle tennis. In this setting, Whitley took care of their three children: Arnelle, Jason, and Aaren Simpson.
The Strain on Their Marriage
Harry F. Fain, a divorce lawyer for Whitley, told The New York Times that Simpson’s fame put a strain on the marriage. “She lent an element of stability to him, mother, homemaker, things like that,” he said.
In 1974, Whitley voiced her concerns, lamenting the loss of their private life: “I have been shoved out of the way, pushed, and stepped on by more than one beautiful woman. I admit I’m jealous.”
She was speaking plainly about infidelity. O.J. began dating Nicole Brown in 1977, while he was still married to Marguerite. That overlap would ultimately end the marriage, though OJ’s public explanation focused on the price of fame rather than his own behavior.
Simpson told People magazine in 1979: “The price of fame was our biggest problem. My wife is a private person, yet we can’t walk down the street without causing a commotion.”
Who Is Marguerite Whitley?
Marguerite Whitley is an American businesswoman born on August 27, 1948, in San Francisco, California. She is best known as the first wife of NFL Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson. They married on June 24, 1967, and divorced in 1979 after 12 years together. They had three children: Arnelle, Jason, and Aaren. She later married twice more and now lives privately in Fresno, California.
The Tragedy of Aaren Simpson
This is the chapter most articles about Marguerite Whitley either rush past or handle carelessly. It deserves more care.
They had three children together, Arnelle born in 1968; Jason, born in 1970; and Aaren in 1979. Aaren tragically died in the family swimming pool just weeks shy of her second birthday.
In 1979, Aaren, who was 23 months old at the time, drowned in a family swimming pool, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Their divorce was finalized that same year. In the span of a few months, Marguerite lost her marriage and her youngest daughter. She was 30 years old. She did not write about it. She did not give interviews about it. She absorbed the grief privately, focused on Arnelle and Jason, and kept moving forward.
O.J. rarely discussed the incident publicly, only saying to Katie Couric in 2004: “I mean, I never have. You know, I don’t want to discuss it. Sadly, it happened. It was a tremendous loss. We dealt with it. We moved on.”
The contrast between his brief public comment and her complete silence says everything about who each of them was.
Read more: Who is Roly Allen? The Real Story of Cherry Healey’s Ex-Husband
What Marguerite Whitley Did After the Divorce
She Sued OJ Simpson and Won
Most articles about Marguerite Whitley focus on her silence. But one action she took after the divorce demonstrates exactly the opposite of passivity.
After the divorce was finalized, she sued O.J. Simpson for defaulting on the divorce settlement. In 1986, they settled out of court. This legal action showed that Marguerite was not a passive figure. She stood up for herself and secured her financial future.
She was also reportedly receiving $1,500 per month in child support. She earned it, and she made sure she received it.
Her Career After the Divorce
Marguerite Whitley built a working life of her own after the marriage ended. She worked in interior design, a skill she developed independently. She also held a retail management position for a number of years. She eventually became an interior designer. She met her third husband, Anthony Thomas, as she worked in the interior design space.
She was not a woman waiting for a rescue or a check. She worked. She raised two children. She built her own professional identity, separate from the famous last name she no longer used.
The Three Marriages of Marguerite Whitley
Rudolph Lewis: 1986 to 1991
Marguerite remarried Rudolph Lewis in 1986, though the marriage ended in 1991. A year later, she married Anthony Thomas, continuing to cultivate a private life outside the spotlight.
After the divorce from OJ, she moved from her Brentwood home with her kids. She settled in a new home in San Francisco, where she met and fell in love with Rudolph Lewis, her second spouse. Rudolph was a transit supervisor. She exchanged vows with him on July 9, 1986. The marriage lasted five years.
Anthony Thomas: 1992 to Present
Almost exactly one year after her divorce from Lewis, on April 3, 1992, she married again. Her third husband is Anthony Thomas, a furniture salesman. He accompanied her to the Barbara Walters interview in 1995, sitting by her side as she faced questions about one of the most publicized criminal trials in American history. As of the most recent available reporting, this marriage has lasted over 30 years, making it the most enduring relationship of her life.
Thirty-plus years is the answer to the question of whether Marguerite Whitley found peace after O.J. Simpson. She did.
The Only Interview She Ever Gave: Barbara Walters, 1995
In January 1995, in the middle of the most-watched criminal trial in American history, Marguerite Whitley sat down with Barbara Walters on ABC’s 20/20. She brought Anthony Thomas with her.
She stated clearly that she believed her ex-husband was innocent of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. She addressed the abuse question directly. She talked about their young marriage, their immaturity, and the way money and fame had come faster than wisdom. Then she went home. That was 1995. It remains her last confirmed public appearance.
She was 46 years old when she gave that interview. She has not spoken publicly for more than 30 years.
Despite the end of their years-long marriage, Marguerite Whitley was an adamant supporter of her ex-husband throughout his 1995 murder trial, going as far as to state that she would be willing to testify on behalf of the defense, though she was never ultimately asked to do so.
The Part of the Story Nobody Tells About Marguerite Whitley
What She Was Actually Doing While OJ Made History
Here is what virtually no article about Marguerite Whitley addresses properly.
For the entire period when O.J. Simpson was becoming one of the most recognizable athletes in America, rushing for 2,003 yards in the 1973 season and becoming the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards, Marguerite Whitley was at home in Amherst, New York, raising two children and managing a household in a city where she knew almost nobody.
She did not grow up dreaming of being an NFL wife. She grew up in San Francisco with a shy personality and a preference for ordinary life. She married a young man she loved before he became famous, and then watched the world close in around her while he embraced everything she found overwhelming.
O.J. Simpson rushed for 11,236 yards and scored 456 points on 76 touchdowns across his career. O.J. may be best remembered for his sensational 1973 season when he became the first back in history to rush for over 2,000 yards.
Every one of those yards was run while Marguerite Whitley was managing the real life behind the public one. That is rarely acknowledged. It should be.
What Happened to Marguerite Whitley?
After her 1979 divorce from O.J. Simpson, Marguerite Whitley worked as an interior designer and retail manager. She married Rudolph Lewis in 1986, divorced in 1991, and then married Anthony Thomas in 1992. She gave one public interview in 1995 on ABC’s 20/20 with Barbara Walters. Since then, she has lived entirely out of public view in Fresno, California, where she remains as of May 2026.
Where Is Marguerite Whitley Now, in 2026?
Now residing in Fresno, California, she keeps out of the public eye. She remains deeply private, avoiding interviews and media appearances.
By 2026, Marguerite Whitley is believed to be 77 years old and living a quiet, private life in the United States, most likely in California. She has no social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, X, or any other platform. She has given no public interviews since the 1995 Barbara Walters appearance. She has been married to Anthony Thomas for more than 30 years. She spends her time with her children and grandchildren.
O.J. Simpson died on April 10, 2024, at age 76, after a battle with prostate cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Marguerite Whitley did not make any public statement following his death, which was entirely consistent with how she had lived for the past three decades.
Marguerite Whitley’s Children: Arnelle, Jason, and Aaren
Arnelle Simpson
Arnelle is the eldest child of Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson, born on December 4, 1968, the same night O.J. won the Heisman Trophy. She has made limited public appearances over the years, most notably to support her father during his various legal proceedings.
Jason Simpson
Jason is the only son, born in 1970. He has maintained an even lower profile than his sister, consistent with the privacy ethic both children appear to have inherited from their mother.
Aaren Simpson
In 1979, Aaren, who was 23 months old at the time, drowned in a family swimming pool. She would have been 47 years old in May 2026. Her loss is the quiet grief at the center of Marguerite Whitley’s story that never gets enough acknowledgment.
What Is Marguerite Whitley’s Net Worth?
Marguerite Whitley’s net worth has never been officially confirmed. Based on her divorce settlement from O.J. Simpson, her subsequent legal action to recover unpaid amounts, her career as an interior designer and retail manager, and her three-plus decades of private life, credible estimates place her net worth between $250,000 and $500,000.
She never monetized her association with O.J. Simpson. She wrote no book. She accepted no paid interview. She turned down the obvious and easy path of public sympathy and chose instead to build a modest, independent life on her own work and her own terms.
That is a financial choice as much as a personal one.
Marguerite Whitley’s Accomplishments vs. Her Media Image
| What the Media Says | What Is Actually True |
| “Forgotten first wife” | She chose to be forgotten |
| “Stayed in OJ’s shadow.” | She sued him and won her settlement |
| “Private figure” | Actively protected her children from the media |
| “No career of her own” | Interior designer and retail manager |
| “Disappeared after divorce.” | Rebuilt life, married twice more, stable for 30+ years |
| “Defined by OJ Simpson” | Her longest marriage has nothing to do with him |
Frequently Asked Questions About Marguerite Whitley
Who is Marguerite Whitley?
Marguerite Whitley is an American businesswoman and the first wife of former NFL star O.J. Simpson. Born in San Francisco in 1948, she married Simpson in 1967, had three children with him, and divorced in 1979. She later married twice more and has lived privately in Fresno, California for decades.
How old is Marguerite Whitley in 2026?
Marguerite Whitley is 77 years old in May 2026. She was born on August 27, 1948.
How long were OJ Simpson and Marguerite Whitley married?
They were married for 12 years, from June 24, 1967, until their divorce was finalized in 1979.
Did Marguerite Whitley remarry after OJ Simpson?
Yes. She married Rudolph Lewis, a transit supervisor, on July 9, 1986. That marriage ended on April 3, 1991. She then married Anthony Thomas, a furniture salesman, on April 3, 1992. That marriage has lasted more than 30 years.
How many children did Marguerite Whitley have with OJ Simpson?
Three. Arnelle Simpson, born December 4, 1968. Jason Simpson, born in 1970. And Aaren Simpson, born September 24, 1977, who drowned in the family swimming pool in August 1979 at 23 months old.
What happened to Aaren Simpson?
Aaren Simpson was the youngest child of Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson. She drowned in the family swimming pool in August 1979, just weeks before her second birthday. The tragedy happened the same year Marguerite and O.J. divorced.
Did Marguerite Whitley believe OJ Simpson was innocent?
In her January 1995 interview with Barbara Walters on ABC’s 20/20, she stated publicly that she believed O.J. was innocent of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. She also said he had never been physically abusive toward her during their marriage.
Is Marguerite Whitley still alive in 2026?
Yes. As of May 2026, Marguerite Whitley is believed to be alive and living privately in Fresno, California. She is 77 years old and maintains no public presence.
What did Marguerite Whitley do for a living?
She worked as an interior designer and held retail management positions after her divorce from O.J. Simpson. She built her own career independently and did not rely on her association with her former husband for income.
What is Marguerite Whitley’s net worth?
Her net worth has never been officially disclosed. Estimates based on her divorce settlement, subsequent legal action against O.J. Simpson to recover unpaid amounts, and her independent career suggest a figure between $250,000 and $500,000.
Conclusion
Marguerite Whitley chose the harder path every time it was available to her. She could have written a book about the marriage. She could have sold her story during the 1995 trial when the entire world was watching. She could have built a media career on the back of one of the most famous names in American sports and crime. She did none of it.
Instead, she sued her ex-husband for the money he owed her, worked as an interior designer, raised her surviving children, and married a furniture salesman with whom she has now shared more than 30 years of private, stable life.
In May 2026, that is a more impressive record than most people connected to the O.J. Simpson story can claim.
She was there at the beginning, before the Heisman and the Buffalo Bills and the trial and the Bronco chase. She knew who he was before America did. And when the story became too much, she simply walked away from it and built something real.
For broader context on the cultural events surrounding her life, read the overview of O.J. Simpson on Wikipedia.