Did you know that some of the richest professionals in the United States are lawyers? In this blog post, we will be taking a look at the top 10 richest lawyers in America. These attorneys have made a fortune by representing some of the biggest names and companies in the world. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
1. Wichai Thongtang
Net Worth: $1.8 billion
Wichai Thongtang is a self-made billionaire who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion as of 2017. He made his fortune as a corporate lawyer, representing high-profile clients such as former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2001, he successfully represented Thaksin in an asset concealment case, which catapulted him to celebrity status throughout Thailand and abroad.
Thongtang is the founder of the law firm Siam Legal International, which has offices in Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya. The firm has a reputation for being one of the most successful in Thailand, and Thongtang himself is considered to be one of the country’s most powerful attorneys.
In addition to his legal work, Thongtang is also involved in a number of business ventures. He is the co-founder of property developer PACE Development Corporation, and he also has interests in several other businesses including hotels, resorts, and agriculture.
2. Charlie Munger
Net Worth: $1.6 billion
Charlie Munger is Net Worth an estimated $1.6 billion according to Forbes. Most of his net worth is tied up in Berkshire Hathaway but he also has significant holdings in other public companies and private businesses.
Munger started his career as a lawyer but made the switch to investment management and contract work in the early 1960s. He partnered with Warren Buffett in 1965 and the two have worked together ever since.
Munger is a well-known investor and thinker in the financial community. He has written several books on investing and taught a course on financial theory at Harvard University for over 25 years.
Despite his wealth, Munger is still very down-to-earth and humble. He has said that “the first rule of making money is not to lose it” and that “life’s too short to do things you don’t like.” These are wise words from a man who has certainly achieved a great deal in his life.
3. Bill Neukom
Net Worth: $850 million
Bill Neukom is a highly successful business executive and lawyer. He has a Net worth of $850 million, which he has earned through his work at Microsoft and the San Francisco Giants.
Neukom has had a long and successful career in the business world. He served as the lead lawyer for Microsoft Corporation for almost 25 years, skillfully guiding the company through treacherous anti-trust and intellectual property litigation. His high-profile cases include the “trial of the century,” otherwise known as United States v. Microsoft.
At Microsoft, he was responsible for managing legal and governmental affairs as well as its active philanthropic activities, retiring as the Vice President of Law and Corporate Affairs. Neukom was eventually selected to serve as the president of the American Bar Association from 2007-2008.
Neukom went on to become the CEO of the San Francisco Giants between 2008 to 2011, guiding the team to its first World Series win since moving to California in 1958. He now works as a senior advisor for the law firm Fenwick & West LLP.
Throughout his career, Neukom has been highly successful in both business and law. He has a net worth of $850 million, making him one of the wealthiest lawyer in America.
4. Judge Judy
Net Worth: $440 million
Judge Judy has a penchant for real estate, tying up at least some of her fortune in several expensive homes around the country. She is also a best-selling author with a highly rated book Don’t Pee On My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining.
Much of Judge Judy’s net worth comes from her highly rated show, which airs on CBS. She also earns money from book deals and other endorsements. In addition to her lucrative television career, Judge Judy owns several expensive homes around the country.
She also decided to pass up commercial air travel after 9/11. Instead, she purchased her own plane, which she christened “The Judy.”
What is not clear is how much money Judge Judy actually has. The estimate by Forbes is that she holds $440 Million which makes her one of the richest self-made women in America and the world’s highest-paid TV host seems like a good place to start, but it is only an estimate. The fact that she has been able to amass this much wealth in just a few years speaks to her earning potential.
5. Robert Shapiro
Net Worth: $120 Million
Robert Shapiro is a well-known lawyer and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $120 million. He gained notoriety for being on the team responsible for exonerating O.J. Simpson from the murders of Simpson’s ex-wife and Ron Goldman. Shapiro has represented clients from Johnny Carson to Occidental Petroleum and Rockstar Energy Drinks.
Though he amassed most of his wealth from his legal career, Shapiro is also an effective entrepreneur. He is a founding member of LegalZoom, Shoedazzle.com, and Right Counsel. In addition, Shapiro has also starred as himself and as a lawyer on both television and the big screen. He earned the best film award from the Tenerife International Film Festival in 2015.
The 2005 death of his son due to a drug overdose inspired Shapiro to write the children’s book Somo Says No, which contains an anti-drug message. Along with his wife, Daphne, he founded The Brent Shapiro Foundation in order to help prevent drug abuse among adolescents.
6. Willie E. Gary
Net Worth: $100 million
Willie E. Gary is a highly successful trial lawyer and entrepreneur who has built an impressive net worth over the years. He is perhaps best known for his work in suing large corporations, including a $500 million-dollar settlement to an undisclosed client from Mississippi. This and other high-profile litigations have earned Gary significant wealth and prestige. He has been interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey Show and other talk shows.
Despite some recent legal troubles of his own, Gary is a renowned philanthropist. Along with his wife, Gloria, he funds college scholarships for at-risk students and provides support to numerous other causes. All together, Gary and his wife are thought to have donated more than $5 million to charity.
7. John Branca
Net Worth: $100 million
John Branca is one of the richest entertainment lawyers in the world. He has a net worth of $100 million, most of which comes from his work as a music agent and producer. He has represented some of the biggest names in rock and roll, including The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, and Michael Jackson.
Branca played a key role in the success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album and music video. He sought financing for the project and helped to produce it, which led to millions of album sales. He has also been involved in other successful music ventures, including the production of ZZ Top’s Eliminator album.
8. Roy Black
Net Worth: $65 million
Roy Black is a highly successful civil and criminal defense trial attorney based in Miami. He has represented high-profile clients like William Kennedy Smith, Rush Limbaugh, Kelsey Grammer, Jeffrey Epstein, and Justin Bieber.
Black has a brilliant legal mind and is known for his well-prepared and well-delivered arguments in court. He scored the highest possible score on the Florida Bar exam when he took it in 1970, and he frequently appears as a legal commentator on national news programs.
Black is also very successful financially. His net worth is estimated to be $65 million. This wealth comes from his many years of practicing law as well as his wife’s successful career as a reality TV star.
9. Mark Geragos
Net Worth: $25 million
Mark Geragos is a highly successful criminal defense and civil litigation lawyer based in Los Angeles. He has represented many high-profile clients, including Susan McDougal, Scott Peterson, Chris Brown, Kesha, Colin Kaepernick, and Jussie Smollett.
Geragos has been involved in some very high-profile cases, which have no doubt helped to increase his net worth. His work on the class-action suit against New York Life Insurance and AXA secured sizable settlements on behalf of Armenians for unpaid life insurance policies issued during the time of the Armenian genocide. He also successfully represented McDougal in her Whitewater case.
All of this work has resulted in a very impressive net worth for Geragos. He is estimated to have a net worth of $100 million. This wealth has allowed him to live a very comfortable lifestyle and enjoy all that Los Angeles has to offer.
10. Alan Dershowitz
Net Worth: $25 Million
Alan Dershowitz is a highly respected lawyer and Harvard Law School professor. He has a net worth of $25 million.
Dershowitz has had a long and successful career in law. He was the youngest full professor of law at Harvard by 28 years of age, and he served until his retirement in 2013. Since then, he has continued to work within his expertise of constitutional and criminal law as a frequent political commentator, legal analyst, and media contributor.
One of Dershowitz’s most high-profile cases was his defense of Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh against allegations of rape leveled by Julie Swetnick prior to Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Recently, Dershowitz cemented his legacy as a household name during Donald j. Trump’s recent impeachment trial. He initially joined Trump’s defense team, even offering to work for free in an effort to hold up the President. However, he later withdrew from the team after growing disagreements with other members over strategy.
The list of the richest lawyers in America is a testament to the power and earning potential of the legal profession. These ten attorneys have made fortunes through their work as litigators, dealmakers, and advisors. While some on this list may come as no surprise, there are a few names that may raise eyebrows. At the top of the list is Wichai Thongtang with an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion. With so much money at stake, it’s clear that being a successful lawyer can be very lucrative. What do you think? Are these salaries deserved or are they indicative of a broken system? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!