Why Did the Menendez Brothers Murder Their Parents? A Shocking Tale of Money and Abuse.

On this episode of “Dirty Money,” we dive into the gruesome tale of an infamous double murder that shocked the nation.

By Dan Bova Dec 07, 2023
Ted Soqui | Getty Images

On August 20, 1989, Jose Menendez, 45, and his wife Kitty, 47, were brutally murdered in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their sons Erik and Lyle were accused of the murder in what seemed like an open-and-shut case — they wanted to collect their parents’ insurance. But a sensational trial revealed that there was something even more nefarious going on at their mansion on Elm Avenue. Nearly 25 years after the murders that shook the world, we revisit this notorious case. Was this a case of greed gone horribly wrong or a sad story of abuse and self-defense?

Related: How Identical Twin Brothers Brought Down Drug Lord El Chapo’s $2 Billion Empire

Subscribe to Dirty Money on Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play

About Dirty Money

Dirty Money is a new podcast series from Entrepreneur Media telling the tales of legendary scammers, con artists, and barely-legal lowlifes who stop at nothing to bilk their marks of millions. Hosted by Entrepreneur editors Dan Bova and Jon Small, the podcast takes a deep dive into the deviants behind the deeds.

On August 20, 1989, Jose Menendez, 45, and his wife Kitty, 47, were brutally murdered in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their sons Erik and Lyle were accused of the murder in what seemed like an open-and-shut case — they wanted to collect their parents’ insurance. But a sensational trial revealed that there was something even more nefarious going on at their mansion on Elm Avenue. Nearly 25 years after the murders that shook the world, we revisit this notorious case. Was this a case of greed gone horribly wrong or a sad story of abuse and self-defense?

Related: How Identical Twin Brothers Brought Down Drug Lord El Chapo’s $2 Billion Empire

Subscribe to Dirty Money on Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play

About Dirty Money

Dirty Money is a new podcast series from Entrepreneur Media telling the tales of legendary scammers, con artists, and barely-legal lowlifes who stop at nothing to bilk their marks of millions. Hosted by Entrepreneur editors Dan Bova and Jon Small, the podcast takes a deep dive into the deviants behind the deeds.

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Dan Bova

VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com
Entrepreneur Staff
Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com and host of the How Success Happens podcast. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia Zone, Road & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little...

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