Top Ten Richest Lawyers In The World

So, who are they? Here's a fast look at the wealthiest attorneys in the entire world, ranked from the lowest net value to the greatest. Please note that the people on this list are all practicing lawyers or judges. There are loads of additional "lawyers" with a substantially higher net worth, but they just have a law degree and no longer use it.

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Though he passed away in the age of 90 at December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this record because he was the wealthiest practicing attorney in the United States at the time of his death. Often referred to as the "King of Torts," he represented Pennzoil in a 1985 lawsuit against rival Texaco. His contingency fee was $335 following the courts decided in Pennzoil's favor. The 1953 graduate from the University of Texas School of Law was a former marine who had a longstanding reputation in the courtroom for being abrasive, rude, and vulgar. However, outside of the court, he was famous for his generous philanthropy.

Robert Shapiro: $50 million

Currently a senior partner at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen, and Shapiro, LLP, Robert Shapiro graduated from Loyola Law School in 1968 and began a career as a criminal lawyer. After working on O.J. Simpson's legal team (and representing several other actors ), he opted to move into civil lawsuit. Besides his law career, he has written a children's publication and can be a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com, car accident lawyer ontario.

Harish Salve: $6 million

At 59 years old, Harish Salve has worked hard to develop a reputation among India's best (and most expensive) lawyers, specializing in commercial, constitutional, and tax law. Salve, who comes from a long line of attorneys and previously served as the Solicitor General of India, currently costs customers about $45,000 per day. Along with representing several government entities, large company clients, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, he has represented Bollywood celebrities in criminal cases. In fact, he's often known as famed actor Salman Khan's "guardian angel" for keeping him out of jail on a hit and run charge. (Indian prisons are notorious for harsh conditions)

Judge Joe Brown: $30 million

Famous for his day court series which ran for 15 years, Judge Joe Brown received his law degree from UCLA. After serving as the initial African-American prosecutor at Memphis, TN, he started his own clinic before serving as a criminal court judge in Shelby County, TN. While presiding over James Earl Ray's appeal for the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., he caught the eye of TV manufacturers. Most of his wealth was gained via the show. In 2014, he ran for district attorney general in Shelby County, but lost to the incumbent.