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Michael Skakel Net Worth
Michael Skakel was born in Greenwich, Connecticut on September 19, 1960. He is a Virgo, and is 62 years old. Michael was raised by his parents, Rushton and Anne Skakel, and has six siblings. His father was the heir to the Great Lakes Carbon Corporation fortune. However, when his mother passed away, Skakel became an alcoholic.
Michael Skakel’s father was heir to the Great Lakes Carbon Corp. fortune
Michael Skakel is the son of George and Anne Skakel. His father, George, founded the Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, a major supplier of chemical coke to blast furnaces. George and Ann Skakel had seven children. After their deaths, George and Ann Skakel set up trusts for each of their children. George Skakel’s estate was split among the children, and any leftover assets were distributed to each child’s descendants. However, Michael and his siblings were left to themselves, and they developed an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and drugs.
The Skakel family had a wealth of resources. In the 1990s, the Skakel family was the second-richest family in the United States. Its company purchased coal coke and reprocessed it into clean carbon. Their company was a huge hit in the industry, and they were once considered one of the richest families in the United States.
Michael Skakel’s involvement in the homicide
There were several questions about Michael Skakel’s involvement in the killings. The prosecution argued that Skakel was a spoiled and careless rich kid, but Skakel’s brothers backed him. In fact, Skakel’s brothers, including Tommy Skakel, who had lived in Massachusetts for decades, attended the trial. Nonetheless, Skakel’s lawyers appealed his conviction, claiming that his trial attorney Mickey Sherman was incompetent. The Skakel brothers’ defense team argued that the trial attorney had mishandled the case and failed to introduce any evidence to support Skakel’s alibi. In the end, Skakel’s appeal was denied, and he was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
Skakel’s lawyer Hubert Santos argued that Sherman had made the wrong decisions in the case, especially because the crime scene was so far from Skakel’s home. He also pointed out that there was no physical evidence linking Skakel to the murder. However, the state prosecutors argued that Sherman did a good job investigating the case and prosecuting Skakel.
Michael Skakel’s conviction
In 1978, Michael Skakel was arrested for driving drunk in New York. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and was released on $1.2 million bail. However, the legal battle that followed his conviction drained the Skakel family of any remaining fortune. As a result, Skakel’s net worth is likely to be less than $1 million.
Skakel’s conviction was vacated in 2013 after a judge ruled that his trial lawyer did not adequately represent him. After posting $1.2 million bail, he was released on probation and was able to pursue a career as a professional athlete. In fact, he even tried out for the 1992 Winter Olympics. However, he was later found guilty of murdering Martha Moxley.
Michael Skakel’s defense
Michael Skakel’s defense of net wealth is far from over. The case has been dragged out for nearly two years, and Skakel has already been through a series of legal setbacks. His former defense attorneys, Santos and Fitzpatrick, have since been replaced by a new team. This team includes Stephen E. Seeger, who was part of Skakel’s original defense team but was often on the periphery of the case.
The Skakels’ family members are not entirely beyond question. Michael Skakel’s father, Tommy Skakel, has been a suspect for years. His lawyer, Manny Margolis, has represented him for over twenty years. While Michael Skakel’s wife was not at the hearing, his brother-in-law, Rushton Skakel, was. He has declared his sons mentally unstable and has avoided testifying before the grand jury. Meanwhile, Michael Skakel describes his father as an alcoholic and reveals a deep hatred of his father.
Michael Skakel’s net worth
Michael Skakel’s family was wealthy and he inherited a substantial amount of their wealth. His grandfather, George, had built Great Lakes Carbon Corporation into a leading supplier of chemical coke for blast furnaces. George and Ann Skakel created trusts for each of their seven children. After their death, they directed that any remaining assets be divided equally amongst each child’s offspring. After George and Ann Skakel passed away, Michael was given the responsibility of managing Great Lakes and the estate. He now manages fourteen trusts, except for two for his own benefit.
Michael Skakel’s childhood was difficult. His father was an alcoholic and abusive, and his mother was a drug addict. At a young age, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was sent to a boarding school in Vermont and attended Elmira College. However, he dropped out twice and began an alcoholism treatment program. In the 1980s, he competed on the national speed skiing circuit. In the 1990s, he finished college at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts. He subsequently worked for the Kennedy family, becoming a driver on their campaigns.