Have you ever thought about who the richest lawyers in the United States are? These legal giants aren’t just skilled in the courtroom – they’ve also made enormous fortunes that rival those of famous businesspeople and celebrities. From top-notch litigators to savvy dealmakers, these wealthy lawyers have not only shaped the legal world but have also become some of the wealthiest individuals in the country. Let’s take a look at the 10 richest lawyers in the USA and learn how they’ve used their legal smarts and strategic thinking to achieve extraordinary wealth.
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Top 10 Richest Lawyers in USA
In the United States, where legal expertise often translates into financial success, several lawyers have collected significant wealth. The top 10 richest lawyers in the US have not only earned their wealth through legal practice but have also made a mark in various high-profile cases and legal endeavors. These legal titans have navigated complex legal landscapes, representing influential clients and shaping landmark decisions. From corporate law to high-stakes litigation, their expertise extends across diverse fields. With a combination of exceptional skills, strategic thinking, and a keen understanding of the law, these attorneys have built successful careers and substantial fortunes. In this list, you’ll find individuals whose legal acumen has not only defined their success but has also left an indelible impact on the American legal landscape.
George Conway
George Conway, who has a $39 million net worth, got his law degree from Yale Law School in 1987. He has done a lot in law, like working closely with Judge Ralph K. Winter Jr. and being one of the founders of a big law firm called Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz. Conway has been part of some important cases, like representing Paula Jones when she sued President Bill Clinton in 1994. Lately, he was offered jobs in the government by President Donald Trump, but he didn’t take them because he didn’t agree with Trump’s ideas.
Landmark Cases:
- Conway volunteered his legal services without compensation to be part of the legal team representing Paula Jones in her lawsuit against President Bill Clinton. Working alongside Ann Coulter and Matt Drudge, Conway played a significant role in the case.
- Furthermore, on March 29, 2010, Conway presented the securities case Morrison v. National Australia Bank before the U.S. Supreme Court. This case was a landmark decision that dealt with the extraterritorial application of U.S. securities laws. Conway’s arguments prevailed, leading to a favorable outcome with an 8–0 vote in the Supreme Court. Justice Antonin Scalia authored the majority opinion, affirming Conway’s legal prowess and expertise in securities law.
William Barr
William Barr was once a CIA agent, but later he became a lawyer. He got his law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1977. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush chose him to be the 77th United States Attorney General. He did a good job in this position, so President Trump asked him to do it again in 2019. So, he became the 85th Attorney General. His net worth is $50 Million.
Landmark Cases:
- Phone surveillance program: In 1992, Attorney General Barr initiated a surveillance program aimed at collecting records of international phone calls made by innocent American citizens. The program, overseen by the DEA, focused on gathering bulk logs of outgoing international calls to countries associated with narcotics trafficking. Administrative subpoenas were issued to phone companies to obtain the necessary data.
- Iran-Contra: The Iran-Contra affair resurfaced in late 1992 when Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh discovered incriminating documents in the possession of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. These documents indicated a concerted effort among top Reagan administration officials to deceive Congress and the public.
Roy Black
Known as “The Professor,” Roy Black did exceptionally well on the Florida Bar Exam in 1970. This showed how smart he was right from the start of his career. As a lawyer who defends people, Black has helped many famous clients, including Jeffery Epstein and Justin Bieber. He’s not just successful in court; he’s also shared his legal knowledge on NBC News and even appeared on a reality TV show called “The Law Firm” in 2005. Now, he works as a partner at Black Srebnick, a respected trial firm in Miami. There, he continues to show how good he is at law. His net worth is $65 Million.
Landmark Cases:
- In 1992, Black notably represented police officer William Lozano, who had been involved in the fatal shooting of Clement Lloyd, an incident that ignited the 1989 Miami riots. Although initially convicted, Black successfully appealed the decision, leading to a retrial in 1993 where Lozano was acquitted.
- In a significant legal victory in 2022, Black secured an acquittal for a client accused of bribery related to an admissions scandal at Georgetown University, halting the U.S. Government’s uninterrupted series of convictions in the “Varsity Blues” prosecutions.
- Beyond his legal practice, Black is recognized as a legal commentator for various NBC news programs. He also appeared as the “managing partner” in The Law Firm, a reality-based TV show where lawyers competed in legal challenges akin to The Apprentice.
- Notably, Roy Black was consistently recognized as a top lawyer by Super Lawyers from 2006 to 2023.
John Branca
John Branca, a prominent entertainment attorney, has built his reputation by representing some of the biggest names in the industry, including Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith. Specializing in rock-and-roll and various music labels, Branca has earned accolades such as “Lawyer of the Year” by Billboard in 2016 and “World’s #1 Music Attorney” by Marquis Who’s Who in 2019. Currently, he serves as the chairman of The Michael Jackson Company, headquartered in New York. His net worth is $100 Million.
Landmark Cases:
- Rock’s First Mega Deal: In 1991, Branca orchestrated a groundbreaking four-album agreement between Aerosmith and Sony, marking a significant milestone in rock music. The deal, estimated at $50 million, set a new standard for the industry.
- Innovative 360 Deal with Korn: In 2005, Branca negotiated an innovative 360 deal between Korn and EMI, which transformed the traditional role of record companies. EMI became a partner in all aspects of Korn’s operations, including touring and merchandise, instead of solely handling the band’s CDs. This pioneering deal paved the way for a new era in music industry partnerships.
- Expansion of the Circle with Live Nation: Shortly after the Korn deal, Branca, along with his partner David Lande, expanded the concept further by including concert promoter Live Nation. This move led to the creation of Live Nation 360 deals for artists like Shakira and Nickelback, further revolutionizing the music business landscape.
- Famous Music Publishing Deal for Michael Jackson: In 1985, Branca facilitated the iconic purchase of ATV Music Publishing for Michael Jackson, a deal that remains one of the most famous in music publishing history.
- Strategic Advice in Response to Tax Law Changes: In 2008, changes in tax laws prompted Branca to advise his clients to sell their music publishing catalogs, taking advantage of favorable capital gains tax rates. This strategic move led to groundbreaking sales, including the copyrights of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Steven Tyler’s Aerosmith publishing catalog, and Julian Lennon’s share of The Beatles’ royalties.
Robert Shapiro
Robert Shapiro gained widespread recognition when he joined the renowned legal team known as the Dream Team in 1994-1995. This team famously defended O.J. Simpson during his highly publicized murder trial. Following this notable case, Shapiro diversified his endeavors by co-founding several successful ventures, including ShoeDazzle, LegalZoom, and RightCouncil.com, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit. However, tragedy struck in 2005 when Shapiro’s son passed away due to a drug overdose. This heartbreaking event motivated Shapiro to write the children’s book “Somo Says No,” which carries a powerful anti-drug message. Additionally, he and his wife established the Brent Shapiro Foundation to combat drug abuse among young people, demonstrating their commitment to this cause. His net worth is $120 Million.
Landmark Cases:
- Shapiro, admitted to the State Bar of California in 1969, has a notable history representing high-profile individuals, including athletes like O.J. Simpson, Darryl Strawberry, José Canseco, and Vince Coleman.
- In 1998, he took legal action against Strawberry for unpaid fees, eventually settling outside of court.
- Among his clientele are celebrities such as Johnny Carson, Christian Brando, Linda Lovelace, F. Lee Bailey, and the Kardashian family.
- Shapiro’s involvement in the Menéndez brothers’ case, where they were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, included arranging the surrender of Erik in 1990 and initially representing him during their first arraignment before Leslie Abramson took over.
Willie E. Gary
In 1974, Willie E. Gary graduated from North Carolina Central University School of Law with a law degree. He’s often called “The Giant Slayer” because he’s very successful in winning legal battles against big companies, like Disney. He’s won more than 150 of these cases. One time, he got a settlement of $500 million. Gary also has a private jet named the “Wings of Justice.” This shows how much he believes in using the law to seek fairness and justice for people. His net worth is $125 Million.
Landmark Cases:
- In 1995, Gary initiated legal action on behalf of Jeremiah Joseph O’Keefe, a funeral home operator in Mississippi, against Raymond Loewen, a Canadian businessman. Loewen had breached a contractual agreement with O’Keefe. Gary secured a victory in court, with a jury awarding O’Keefe $500 million in punitive damages. Although the case was later settled for $175 million, Gary’s success ultimately led to Loewen’s resignation from his firm, which later underwent bankruptcy and was acquired by a competitor, Service Corporation International.
- In 2000, Gary achieved a significant legal victory against Disney, obtaining a $240 million verdict for the alleged theft of the concept behind the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
- In 2019, a substantial $23 billion verdict that Gary had won against R.J. Reynolds was overturned on appeal. The case originated from the death of Michael Johnson in 1996, who succumbed to lung cancer. Johnson was a resident of Escambia County, Florida.
Judith Sheindlin
Judge Judy, a much-loved TV personality, started her journey in 1964 after finishing law school in New York. In her class she was the only woman. Many years later, in 1996, her famous show “Judge Judy” began airing on TV. It became very popular and made her very rich. The show ran for 25 years, until 2021, making her the judge who has been on TV the longest ever, according to Guinness World Records in 2015. Apart from her TV show, Judge Judy has also written many books, including the famous one called “Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining.” Judge Judy has achieved a lot, and we think that’s pretty amazing. Her net worth is $440 Million.
Landmark Cases:
- 1965: Passed the New York State Bar examination and began working as a corporate lawyer for a cosmetics firm.
- Within two years: Became dissatisfied with her corporate job and decided to leave to focus on raising her children, Jamie and Adam.
- 1972: Transitioned into a career as a prosecutor in the New York family court system after learning about the opportunity from a friend.
- Prosecuted cases involving child abuse, domestic violence, and juvenile offenders, demonstrating a commitment to justice and protecting vulnerable individuals.
Bill Neukom
After earning his law degree from Stanford Law School in 1967, Bill Neukom was brought on board by Bill Gates Sr. to oversee his son’s fledgling venture, Microsoft. At that time, Microsoft was a small company with just 12 employees, and Neukom remained with the company for 25 years. Following his tenure at Microsoft, Neukom served as the President of the American Bar Association from 2007 to 2008. He then transitioned to the role of CEO for the San Francisco Giants from 2008 to 2011, during which he led the team to its first World Series victory since 1958. Presently, Neukom serves as a senior advisor at the Fenwick and West LLP law firm. His net worth is $850 Million.
Landmark Cases:
- Neukom commenced his legal career by serving as a clerk for Judge Theodore S. Turner of the King County Superior Court in Seattle from 1967 to 1968.
- In 1977, Neukom became part of the Seattle law firm Shidler, McBroom, Gates & Lucas, later known as Preston Gates & Ellis. His connection with Microsoft began in 1978 when Bill Gates Sr., the managing partner, sought his legal advice for his son’s burgeoning software business.
- Neukom’s association with Microsoft started with legal work when the company had only 12 employees. Over the next 25 years, he served as Microsoft’s lead legal counsel and played a pivotal role in the growth of its legal department, expanding it from an initial staff of five to over 600 attorneys and support personnel.
Jerry Reinsdorf
Jerry Reinsdorf, known for owning the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls, actually started his career as a tax attorney. One of his first cases was about tax problems for Bill Veeck, who owned the White Sox at the time. After 20 years, Reinsdorf had made enough money to buy the White Sox for $19 million. Later, he bought the Chicago Bulls for $16 million. When he owned the Bulls, they won six NBA Championships between 1991 and 1998 with Michael Jordan. The White Sox also won the 2005 World Series while under his ownership. It’s interesting to note that Reinsdorf is certified as an accountant and specializes in real estate investment. His net worth is $1.8 Billion.
Landmark Cases:
- Reinsdorf’s career journey began shortly after he graduated from Northwestern University in 1960.
- His initial job involved handling a tax delinquency case for Bill Veeck, who was the owner of the Chicago White Sox baseball team at the time.
- Following this experience, Reinsdorf ventured into private practice in 1964, where he specialized in dealing with real estate partnership tax shelters.
- Recognizing the potential in real estate investment, he sold his interests in real estate partnerships in 1973 to establish Balcor.
Peter Angelos
Peter Angelos was a top student at the University of Baltimore School of Law and started his career as a lawyer in 1961. He represented many clients in cases about things like dangerous products, personal injuries, and mistakes made by professionals. He became very successful in 1982 when he won a big case about asbestos, which got him more than $100 million. In 1993, Angelos led a group of investors, including famous people like writer Tom Clancy and filmmaker Barry Levinson, to buy the Baltimore Orioles for $173 million. This was the biggest sports team purchase in the U.S. at that time. His achievements were so impressive that he was named Sportsman of the Year by the New York Daily News in 1995. His net worth is $2 Billion.
Landmark Cases:
- Angelos as a lawyer, began his career in 1961 after passing the bar exam. He established a firm specializing in product-liability cases for employees, often working on a contingency basis, meaning he only received payment if the case was successful.
- One notable case involved representing approximately 8,700 steelworkers, shipyard workers, and manufacturers’ employees in a lawsuit concerning asbestos poisoning. This lawsuit, partially settled in 1992, reportedly earned Angelos around $330 million.
- Apart from his legal career, Angelos briefly served on the Baltimore City Council and ran for mayor in 1967 on an interracial ticket, though he was unsuccessful.
- In March 1996, Angelos was hired by Maryland to represent the state in a lawsuit against tobacco companies. Initially, the trial court’s ruling limited the state’s recovery to subrogation of losses through programs like Medicaid, which would have hindered the case’s progress. However, Angelos successfully lobbied the state legislature to amend the law, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.
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