Kim Kardashian posted bail for her husband after he spent 30 years in prison

After nearly three decades in prison and years on death row in the U.S., Richard Glossip has been released, with Kim Kardashian helping to post his bail. This is a high-profile case that has sparked controversy for years and drawn attention to flaws in the justice system, according to The Independent.

A $500,000 bail was set by an Oklahoma state court following the decision to release the man pending a new trial. Glossip himself spent nearly 30 years behind bars and was repeatedly just a step away from execution.

The 63-year-old man was convicted back in 1997 in the case of the murder of motel owner Barry Van Tries in Oklahoma City. The prosecution insisted at the time that it was a contract killing, but Glossip himself consistently denied guilt and claimed he had been wrongfully convicted.

Over the years of his incarceration, he has been just hours away from execution several times, received the so-called “last supper” three times, and in 2015 was even transferred to a cell adjacent to the execution chamber; however, the execution was halted at that time due to issues with the drugs.

In February 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the death sentence, finding a violation of his right to a fair trial. The justices determined that during the trial, a key witness had given false testimony that influenced the jury’s decision.

Following this, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office stated that the case would be reviewed but that they would no longer seek the death penalty. Subsequently, the court granted bail, setting the amount at $500,000, of which 10%, or $50,000, had to be posted to secure release.

Film producer Scott Badnick, who had supported Glossip for many years, reported that Kim Kardashian had helped post the bail. According to him, the funds were deposited almost immediately after the court’s decision.

After his release, the man left the detention center in Oklahoma, holding hands with his wife, and, according to journalists, was deeply emotionally drained but happy. “I’m just grateful to my wife and my lawyers. Just grateful. I’m overwhelmed with emotion, but at the same time, it’s incredible,” Glossip said after his release.

His case became one of the most famous in the U.S. and garnered international attention for years. He received support from public figures, including actress Susan Sarandon, as well as Kim Kardashian herself, who has been actively involved in criminal justice reform in recent years. The man’s story was also featured in the documentary Killing Richard Glossip.