Right, so just how rich was Lyle and Erik’s father José Menendez?

In the Netflix show the two brothers are shown as having a very wealthy life

2 months ago

During Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix the life and fortune of their father José is brought up a few times. In the Netflix series, it shows how the brothers killed their parents in their luxury Beverly Hills home, and then splashed the family inheritance before being caught.

In court, the boys said they had been abused at the hands of their father for years, but prosecution lawyers argued they just wanted to get the family money, earned by father José Menendez. So, here’s a rundown of who José was, how he made his money, and his net worth when he died.

Who was José Menendez?

José Menendez, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

via Netflix

In the Netflix series, Lyle Menendez said his dad was a music label exec and a lot is said about the huge potential inheritance the brothers may get in their father’s will. In real life, José Menendez had a hugely successful career in the music industry. He is largely cited as being a blueprint for the American Dream, having being sent to the US by his parents following the Cuban Revolution.

During his career, José worked as executive vice president of the car rental company Hertz, a subsidiary of corporation RCA. From there, José moved to work for RCA Records, and became a top exec in the 1980s. He is known for signing bands such as Duran Duran, The Eurythmics, and Menudo.