Let’s be honest: if you’re googling “How old are the Menendez brothers now?” you’ve probably just finished a true-crime binge, or you’re trying to settle a bet with your mom. Either way, welcome to the club. Lyle and Erik Menendez—the brothers who shot their parents in 1989 and then went on a shopping spree that would make a lottery winner blush—are still very much alive, despite being in prison for over three decades.
Lyle and Erik: A Quick Age Check
As of today, Lyle Menendez is 56 years old, and his younger brother Erik is 53. Yes, the guy who once blamed his $700,000 tennis lessons on his parents is now old enough to qualify for senior discounts at Denny’s. They were just 21 and 18 when they committed the murders—basically barely legal to drink, let alone plan a double homicide.
Time flies when you’re serving life without parole. Lyle was born on January 10, 1968, and Erik on November 27, 1970, meaning they’ve spent more birthdays behind bars than most of us have had hot dinners. Which is ironic, because their defense famously cited “bad parenting” about dinner time.
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What Are They Doing Now? (Spoiler: Not Vacationing in Cabo)
Both brothers are housed in separate California prisons, and they’ve aged about as gracefully as you’d expect for guys who haven’t seen a surfboard in 33 years. Lyle has reportedly gone gray, put on some weight, and even got married twice while incarcerated. Erik—the emotional one who cried on the stand—has written letters from prison, published a memoir, and reportedly still has that same piercing stare.
In 2024, they both tried to get a new trial, citing new evidence about their father’s alleged abuse. The courts laughed that idea out of the room, but the internet sure had a field day with TikTok conspiracy theories. If only their life insurance policy had a clause for viral fame.
Menendez brothers listen to court hearing on phone as aunts testify on
The Shocking Part? They’re Still Famous
Here’s the wildest fact: Lyle and Erik are now older than their parents were when they died. José Menendez was 45 and Kitty was 47 at the time of the killings. So today, Lyle (56) and Erik (53) have outlived their own parents by nearly a decade. Imagine sitting in a cell realizing your dad was younger than you when you put a bullet in his chest.
Also, fun math: they’ve been incarcerated for about 60% of their entire lives. Erik went in at 18—he’s now 53. That’s 35 years. Meanwhile, the average American changes careers every 4 years. These guys haven’t changed their zip code since grunge music was cool.
The Peanut Bar, in Reading, PA was started during prohibition - ABC7
Will They Ever Get Out? (Don’t Hold Your Breath)
Unless a miracle from a fickle parole board or a Netflix documentary with a really good lobbyist happens, both Menendez brothers will die in prison. Lyle’s earliest parole hearing was in 2023—spoiler: denied. Erik’s next chance comes in 2024, but let’s be real: the state of California isn’t exactly in a forgiving mood for guys who claimed “my father made me do it” while buying Rolexes.
So, the next time you complain about your age, remember: Lyle and Erik Menendez are 56 and 53, and they spent their 50th birthdays eating prison meatloaf. Happy birthday, fellas—may your cake be slightly less dramatic than your opening statement.
