Which Lawyers Are Rich?
In short, all partners in top 100 law firms are multi-millionaires. Probably, many partners in top 500 law firms in USA and in prosperous countries are also millionaires. Many senior lawyers working in house in top 500 fortune companies probably are also millionaires. Many lawyers with 20-30+ years of law practice probably are millionaires.
The individuals you listed are all prominent lawyers and legal experts, who have worked on high-profile cases, served in government positions, or are known for their legal scholarship and activism.
They come from a variety of legal backgrounds, including corporate law, criminal defense, constitutional law, and civil rights. Some have served as judges, lawyers for major corporations, or as advisors to government officials.
Usually it is very difficulty to exactly estimate net worth of such individuals. They may have also accumulated wealth through investments and other business ventures and that information is usually private. Most of the time their net worth is higher than reported.
Attorneys can earn substantial amounts of money, but the exact amount can vary greatly depending on their specialty, location, and level of experience. Some of the wealthiest attorneys have built their fortunes through successful business ventures or investments in addition to their legal practice.
However, here is a list of some famous and successful lawyers who have made significant wealth through their careers.
This list is not exhaustive and the net worth of these individuals may have changed over time. Here is some general information about how some of the most successful lawyers in history have made their wealth:
The List Of Rich Lawyers
- William Lerach – Lerach was known for his class-action lawsuits, often representing shareholders in securities fraud cases. He is estimated to have a net worth of over $200 million.
- David Boies – Boies is a high-profile litigator and has been involved in several high-profile cases, including the antitrust case against Microsoft and the challenge to California’s Prop 8. He is estimated to have a net worth of around $100 million.
- Joe Jamail – Jamail was known as the “King of Torts” for his success in personal injury and product liability cases. He is estimated to have a net worth of over $1 billion at the time of his death in 2015.
- Richard Scruggs – Scruggs was a plaintiffs’ lawyer who made a fortune from tobacco litigation and Hurricane Katrina insurance claims. He is estimated to have a net worth of over $1 billion.
- Thomas Girardi – Girardi is a well-known personal injury lawyer and the founder of the law firm Girardi & Keese. He has represented clients in several high-profile cases, including the Erin Brockovich case. His estimated net worth is not publicly known.
- John Edwards – Edwards is a former US Senator and Democratic presidential candidate. He made his fortune as a personal injury lawyer, specializing in medical malpractice cases. His estimated net worth is around $45 million.
- Vernon Jordan – Jordan is a lawyer, civil rights leader, and corporate director. He has served as an advisor to several US presidents and has been a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, one of the largest law firms in the country. His estimated net worth is not publicly known.
- Roy Black is a Miami civil and criminal defense attorney who has an estimated net worth of $85 million dollars.
- Hank Greenberg – Greenberg is a corporate defense lawyer and the former CEO of American International Group (AIG). He has been involved in several high-profile lawsuits related to the insurance industry. His estimated net worth is around $2 billion.
- Bert Fields – Fields is a litigation lawyer and a partner at the law firm Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger. He has represented several high-profile clients, including Tom Cruise and the estates of Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes. Tom Cruz considered him to be a friend. His estimated net worth was estimated at about $8 million at the time of his death at 93. I would think it is more than that.
- David Boies, Jr. – Boies is a high-profile litigator and the chairman of the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner. He has been involved in several high-profile cases, including the antitrust case against Microsoft and the challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. His estimated net worth is around $100 million.
- Robert Shapiro – Shapiro was a criminal defense lawyer and was a member of the legal team that represented O.J. Simpson during his murder trial. He was also the founder of the legal services company RightCounsel. His estimated net worth was around $50 million.
- Leslie Abramson – Abramson is a criminal defense lawyer and was the lead attorney in several high-profile cases, including the Menendez brothers murder trial. Her estimated net worth is about $5 million. Again, I think currently it is probably more than that.
- Robert S. Bennett – Bennett is a litigation lawyer and a partner at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. He has represented several high-profile clients, including Bill Clinton and Enron. He is on board of directors at some companies and invests. His estimated net worth is over $10 million at minimum.
- Robert Kardashian – Kardashian was a lawyer and a prominent member of the Kardashian family. He was the lead attorney in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. His estimated net worth at the time of his death in 2003 was around $30 million.
- Edward Bennett Williams – Williams was a criminal defense lawyer and the founder of the law firm Williams & Connolly. He represented several high-profile clients, including Jimmy Hoffa and John F. Kennedy. His estimated net worth at the time of his death in 1988 was around $100 million.
- Roy Black – Black is a criminal defense lawyer and the founder of the law firm Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf. He has represented several high-profile clients, including William Kennedy Smith and Rush Limbaugh. He is a Miami civil and criminal defense attorney who has an estimated net worth of $85 million dollars.
- David Boies III – Boies is a litigator and a partner at the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner. He has been involved in several high-profile cases, including the antitrust case against Microsoft and the challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. He is author and film producer who has an estimated net worth of $20 to $50 million.
- Thomas R. Kline is a prominent attorney who has represented clients in numerous high-profile cases. He is best known for his work in personal injury and medical malpractice cases, and for his dedication to protecting the rights of individuals who have been injured because of the negligence of others. Beyond his legal work, Kline is also known for his commitment to philanthropy and community service, and for his support of various charitable causes and organizations. His net worth is not known. But not so long ago he gave his alma mater Drexel University law school 50 million dollars. This may indicate that he is worth much more than that.
- Rudolph W. Giuliani is a former mayor of New York City and a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. He is a highly respected attorney, known for his work as a federal prosecutor and for his expertise in the areas of white-collar crime and national security. Giuliani gained national recognition in the 1980s for his successful efforts to combat organized crime and corruption in New York City, and he went on to become one of the most prominent prosecutors in the country. He is also a former partner at the law firm of Giuliani Partners, where he provided legal and security consulting services. In recent years, Giuliani has been in the news for his legal representation of former President Donald Trump. His estimated net worth is about $90 million.
- Bob Goodlatte is a former lawyer, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia, where he served from 1993 to 2019. He was also the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Some estimate his net worth to be $4 million, but it is likely higher than that.
- Greg Palm is estimated to be worth over $1 billion dollars. He was prominent legal chief at Goldman law firm and allegedly made at that firm alone more than $500 million for handling very high profile cases.
- Miguel Estrada is a prominent conservative lawyer who has been nominated by the President to several federal court positions, including the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His nominations have been the subject of much controversy due to his conservative views and opposition by Senate Democrats. He is estimated ot be worth at least $20 million.
- George Conway is a prominent attorney and conservative commentator. He is a founding partner of the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and is also known for his outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump. The highest estimated net worth figure for him is $39 million.
- Ken Feinberg is a nationally recognized expert in alternative dispute resolution, with extensive experience in mediating complex legal disputes, including those arising from the 9/11 attacks, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the Virginia Tech shooting. Estimated net worth $40 to $45 million.
- Michael Cohen is a former attorney for President Donald Trump. He has been in the news for his legal troubles and for his cooperation with federal investigators in the investigation into President Trump and his administration. Allegedly, his net worth is around $63 million.
- Neal Katyal is a prominent attorney and legal scholar who has served as Acting Solicitor General of the United States and has argued numerous high-profile cases before the Supreme Court. He is currently a partner at the law firm Hogan Lovells. I tried to find his net worth and estimations are $10 to $12 million at least.
- Judith Kaye was the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, from 1993 to 2008. She was the first woman to hold this position and is widely regarded as a trailblazer for women in the legal profession. She is that Judge Judy on television show. Her estimated net worth is $250 million.
- Seth Waxman is a prominent appellate attorney and former U.S. Solicitor General. He has argued numerous high-profile cases before the Supreme Court and has a reputation as one of the country’s leading appellate advocates. Estimated net worth is $7 million. I think he is more successful than that.
- Marty Lipton is a prominent corporate lawyer and founding partner of the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. He is best known for his work in advising and representing corporations in high-stakes merger and acquisition transactions and for his advocacy of shareholder rights. Since partners at Lipton make around $3 million a year, he is probably worth over $10-15 million at least.
- Alan Dershowitz is a highly respected criminal defense attorney and legal scholar and professor. He is best known for his representation of high-profile individuals in criminal cases, including former President Donald Trump, and for his expertise in constitutional law and civil liberties. Estimated net worth of $25 million.
- Ted Boutrous is a prominent First Amendment attorney and partner at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He has represented clients in numerous high-profile First Amendment cases, including those involving the media and freedom of speech and expression. An attorney of such caliber probably makes millions of dollars per year.
- Stephen Breyer is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and has served on the Court for over 25 years. Justice Breyer is known for his expertise in administrative law and for his efforts to find common ground and reach consensus among his fellow Justices. Info about his estimated net worth is conflicting, but the maximum number I saw was $30 million.
- Harold Koh is a prominent international human rights lawyer and former Legal Adviser to the U.S. Department of State. He is currently a professor of international law at Yale Law School and has been an advocate for human rights and the rule of law throughout his career. His estimated net worth is $5 million, but I suspect this figure is higher.
- Paul Clement is a prominent appellate attorney and former U.S. Solicitor General. He has argued numerous high-profile cases before the Supreme Court, including several challenges to the Affordable Care Act, and has a reputation as one of the country’s leading appellate advocates. His salary was about $1.5 million per year at one point, so it is safe to assume his net worth is over $10-$12 million.
- Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2010 and has served on the Court for over a decade. Justice Kagan is known for her expertise in administrative law and her efforts to foster collaboration and consensus among her fellow Justices. She declared her net worth around $1 million, some estimate $2 million, this is quite modest. I would think a lawyer of such caliber would have more than that. Frankly, $2 million is nothing these days.
- Neal Katyal is a prominent attorney and legal scholar who has served as Acting Solicitor General of the United States and has argued numerous high-profile cases before the Supreme Court. He is currently a partner at the law firm Hogan Lovells. His estimated worth is around $12 million.