As of 2023, the legal profession has produced some of the wealthiest individuals in the world. These lawyers have gained fame and fortune by representing high-profile clients, winning major court cases, writing books, and even hosting their own TV shows. From celebrity attorneys to international law experts, here are the top twelve richest lawyers in the world.
12. Judge Joe Brown’s Net Worth – $30 million
While not technically a practicing lawyer, Judge Joe Brown is a well-known television personality who gained fame as a judge on the TV show, “Judge Joe Brown.” After obtaining his law degree from UCLA, he served as a prosecutor before entering private practice.
He was later appointed as a judge in Tennessee where he presided over thousands of cases before retiring to pursue his career in television. Despite leaving the bench, Judge Joe Brown continues to use his legal background in various media appearances.
11. Robert Shapiro’s Net Worth – $50 million
Considered one of the most influential lawyers in America, Robert Shapiro first gained national attention during the O.J. Simpson murder trial, when he served on Simpson’s defense team alongside Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey. Shapiro has continued to represent high-profile clients throughout his career, including representing Lindsey Lohan during her DUI case. He is also an advocate for social and legal causes, founding The Brent Shapiro Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Awareness after losing his son to an overdose.
10. John Branca’s Net Worth – $50 million
A graduate of UCLA School of Law, John Branca has built his fortune through representing some of music’s biggest names, including Michael Jackson (whom he represented during the “Thriller” era), Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and Fleetwood Mac. Branca is widely known for structuring some of the most lucrative and complex music deals in history. In addition to his law practice, he is also a business manager for many of his clients.
9. Jane Wanjiru Michuki’s Net Worth – $60 million
Jane Wanjiru Michuki is a Kenyan attorney who has focused her career on commercial law and litigation. She founded her own law firm, JM Advocates, which has grown to become one of Kenya’s leading law firms. In addition to her legal work, Michuki is also an advocate for women’s rights and empowerment, serving as the vice-chairperson of the Kenya Women Lawyers’ Association.
8. Roy Black’s Net Worth – $100 million
Roy Black is a criminal defense attorney who has represented a wide range of clients, from William Kennedy Smith (who was acquitted on rape charges) to Rush Limbaugh (whose drug charges were dismissed after a plea deal). Black’s celebrity clientele and reputation as an aggressive litigator have earned him numerous accolades throughout his career.
7. Willie E. Gary’s Net Worth – $100 million
Born into poverty in Georgia, Willie E. Gary overcame significant obstacles to become one of America’s most successful attorneys and businessmen. After graduating from North Carolina Central University School of Law, he pursued a career in civil rights before founding his own law firm.
Gary has made headlines for winning multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of his clients, including a $500 million verdict against Disney on behalf of comedian Joan Rivers.
6. Judy Sheindlin’s Net Worth – $200 Million
Better known as “Judge Judy,” Judith Sheindlin presides over her own court show where she dispenses tough love and justice to defendants appearing before her.
Although she retired from practicing law over 20 years ago, Sheindlin’s real-life experiences as a judge have informed her approach both in the courtroom and on television. Her show remains one of the highest-rated daytime programs on television.
5. Bill Neukom’s Net Worth – $850 million
Bill Neukom is a corporate attorney who has represented some of the biggest companies in America, including Microsoft and Boeing.
In addition to his legal work, Neukom is also a philanthropist and community leader. He was the founding chairman of the World Justice Project, which aims to promote the rule of law worldwide.
4. William Lerach’s Net Worth – $900 million
William Lerach is a former securities class-action lawyer who made a name for himself by suing Wall Street firms for fraud on behalf of shareholders. His aggressive tactics earned him both admirers and detractors throughout his career. It ultimately came crashing down when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in 2008 as part of an investigation into illegal kickbacks paid to plaintiffs in securities fraud cases.
3. Wichai Thongtang’s Net Worth – $1.1 billion
Wichai Thongtang may not be a household name, but his wealth puts him among some of the world’s richest lawyers. He made his fortune representing clients in Thailand’s booming real estate market. Thongtang has been successful both as an attorney and as a businessman, owning numerous hotels and shopping centers throughout Thailand.
2. Joe Jamail’s Net Worth – $1.7 Billion
Joe Jamail was an American trial lawyer known for his aggressive style and success in high-profile cases. Born in Houston, Texas in 1925, Jamail served in World War II before attending the University of Texas School of Law. After graduating, he started his own law firm and quickly gained a reputation for winning big cases, including a landmark case against Pennzoil that resulted in a $10.5 billion judgment, the largest in American legal history at the time. Over the course of his career, Jamail won numerous other high-profile cases and became one of the most successful trial lawyers in the United States. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy as a fierce advocate for his clients and a pioneer in the field of trial law.
1. Richard Scruggs’s Net Worth – $9 Million
Richard Scruggs is a former trial lawyer who gained notoriety for representing plaintiffs in high-profile lawsuits against tobacco companies, asbestos manufacturers, and insurance companies. Born in 1946 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Scruggs received his law degree from the University of Mississippi and later became a partner in a prominent law firm in Oxford, Mississippi. In the 1990s, Scruggs gained national attention for his work on the landmark tobacco litigation, which resulted in a multi-billion dollar settlement. He continued to pursue major lawsuits against corporate giants throughout his career until he was convicted on charges related to attempting to bribe a judge in a lawsuit in 2007, leading to his disbarment and a prison sentence.
Top 12 Richest Lawyers in the World With Lucrative Net Worths
Ranked at number twelve is Judge Joe Brown with a net worth of $30 million. He gained national attention when he presided over James Earl Ray’s appeal for Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination case. The judge would later go on to host his own courtroom television show for fifteen years and accumulate most of his wealth from it.
Robert Shapiro comes in eleventh with a net worth of $50 million. He began his career as a criminal attorney and moved into civil litigation after gaining fame while defending O.J Simpson. In addition to his law career, he co-founded LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.
John Branca also has a net worth of $50 million but earned it as an entertainment and corporate lawyer that represented members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame across decades. His reputation was further bolstered through his role as co-executor of Michael Jackson’s estate.
Jane Wanjiru Michuki is Kenya’s most successful lawyer with a net worth estimated at $60 million mostly generated from her position as managing partner at Kimani & Michuki Advocate. She represents Kenya’s largest corporations including Equity Group Holdings Limited and is also recognized as one of the largest female stockholders on Nairobi Stock Exchange.
Roy Black ranks at number eight with a net worth valued at $100 million which can be attributed to representing high profile clients such as William Kennedy Smith (acquitted on rape charges), Albertson’s Inc., Helio Castroneves, as well as acting as legal analyst on “The Today Show” and “Good Morning America.”
Willie E Gary is known as the “Giant Killer” with a net worth of $100 million. He has won several cases against the biggest corporations in America with settlements and jury awards that valued at more than $30 billion. Willie is the managing partner at Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson, and Gary, P.L.L.C. and also works as a motivational speaker.
Coming in at number six is Judge Judy who earns $47 million annually from her TV show. The former New York Family Court Prosecutor presided over more than 20,000 cases before catching TV executives’ eyes that led to her popular TV show. She adds to this income through writing books and appearances on TV shows.
Bill Neukom’s wealth stands at $850 million which he amassed through working as Microsoft’s legal counsel for 25 years after graduating from Stanford Law School.
William Lerach was dubbed ‘the King of Pain’’ during his heyday as a corporate lawyer with specialty expertise on private securities class action lawsuits. He has been disbarred since 2009 but still retains his wealth valued to be around $900 million.
Wichai Thongtang is one of the top names in the legal profession globally due to his reputation as a powerful attorney specializing in corporate law in Thailand. He owns 15% of Dusit Medical, a Bangkok healthcare firm and serves as Chairman of Cable Thai Holding PLC. His wealth stands at around $1.1 billion.
Joe Jamail died in December 2015 at age 90 but remains one of America’s wealthiest practicing lawyers when he was alive with a fortune valued at $1.7 billion before he passed up stemming from representing Pennzoil back in1985 against rival Texaco.
Richard Scruggs ranks first with an equivalent net worth value like Joe Jamail holding over $1.7 billion in his possession thanks to successful court cases against tobacco and asbestos casualties among others. His career, however, came to a halt after being accused of judicial bribery in 2007 and serving six years in prison.
The net worth of these lawyers showcases the lucrative opportunities present in the legal profession both nationally and worldwide. Through years of dedicated work, they have built up their fortunes to become some of the richest individuals on the planet.
