Jose and Kitty Menendez's combined net worth at the time of their 1989 deaths is commonly estimated at around $14 million, built primarily from Jose's career as an entertainment industry executive. The case became one of the most closely followed true-crime stories in American history after their sons, Erik and Lyle, were convicted of murdering them -- and it returned to the headlines in 2024 and 2025 after new evidence prompted a resentencing that made the brothers eligible for parole for the first time.
Quick Facts
| Jose Menendez | Born May 6, 1944, Havana, Cuba; died August 20, 1989, age 45 |
| Kitty Menendez | Born Mary Louise Andersen; died August 20, 1989, age 47 |
| Jose's Career | Executive at Hertz Corporation and RCA Records (signed Menudo and Eurythmics); CEO of LIVE Entertainment |
| Estimated Net Worth | Around $14 million combined |
| Sons | Joseph Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez, convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 |
| 2025 Development | Resentenced to 50 years to life in May 2025, making them parole-eligible; both denied parole in August 2025 |
Jose Menendez's Career
Jose Menendez was born in Havana, Cuba, and emigrated to the United States at 16. He met Mary Louise "Kitty" Andersen at Southern Illinois University, and the couple married in 1963. Jose built a successful career in the entertainment and consumer industries, holding executive roles at Hertz Corporation and later RCA Records, where he signed acts including Menudo and Eurythmics. By the late 1980s he was chief executive of LIVE Entertainment, a home video distribution company, a role that placed the family among Beverly Hills's wealthy households.
The 1989 Murders
On August 20, 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot to death in the family's Beverly Hills home by their sons, Lyle and Erik, then 21 and 18. Investigators initially treated the case as a possible organized-crime hit, and the brothers were not immediate suspects. Suspicion grew after they began spending heavily -- on cars, watches, and other purchases -- in the months following the killings. Erik eventually confessed details of the crime to his psychologist, information that ultimately reached police and led to both brothers' arrests in 1990.
The Trials
The brothers' first trial, in 1993-1994, ended in a mistrial after separate, gender-divided juries deadlocked. Their defense, led by attorney Leslie Abramson, argued the killings followed years of sexual and psychological abuse by their parents. A second trial in 1995-1996 resulted in convictions on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, and both brothers received sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The 2024-2025 Resentencing
The case drew renewed public attention following new evidence that surfaced starting in 2023, including an allegation from former Menudo member Roy Rosselló that Jose Menendez had sexually assaulted him as a teenager, along with a previously undisclosed letter reportedly written by Erik describing abuse. In October 2024, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recommended resentencing, citing the abuse allegations. In May 2025, a judge resentenced both brothers to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole for the first time in nearly three decades. Both appeared before parole boards in August 2025; both were denied, with panels citing disciplinary infractions during their incarceration. Their next parole hearings are not expected before 2028. As of 2026, both brothers remain incarcerated, and the case has not resulted in clemency from California's governor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jose and Kitty Menendez's net worth?
Estimated at around $14 million combined, built from Jose's executive career in entertainment and consumer businesses.
Are the Menendez brothers still in prison?
Yes, as of 2026. They were resentenced to a parole-eligible term in May 2025 but were both denied parole in August 2025, with their next eligible hearings not expected before 2028.
Why were the Menendez brothers resentenced?
New evidence surfacing in 2023-2024, including allegations of sexual abuse by their father, led Los Angeles prosecutors to recommend resentencing, which a judge granted in May 2025.
What was Jose Menendez's career?
He held executive roles at Hertz Corporation and RCA Records before becoming CEO of the home video company LIVE Entertainment.