Top Richest Lawyers In The World

So, who are they? Here's a quick look in the richest lawyers in the world, ranked from the lowest net value to the highest. Please be aware that the people on this list are practicing lawyers or judges. There are plenty of additional "attorneys " using a considerably higher net value, but they just have a law degree and no more use it.

Judy Sheindlin: between $150 million and $250 million

Best known for being a no-nonsense TV judge, Judge Judy earns $47 million a year. A 1965 graduate of New York Law School, Judge Sheindlin was initially a corporate attorney, though she quickly grew tired of it and choose to be a household court prosecutor. Back in 1982, she was appointed as a criminal court judge, where she gained a reputation as a "demanding " judge and presided over more than 20,000 cases. This, together with several books she wrote, caught the eye of TV executives and eventually resulted in her TV show. Additionally, she is the author of seven novels and has served as legal analyst on various TV shows.

Bill Neukom: $850 million

Currently serving as the founder and CEO of the World Justice Project, which is dedicated to encouraging the rule of law all around the world, Bill Neukom is a corporate lawyer who is well-known for his philanthropy. After graduating from Stanford Law School in 1967, he worked in a small business until he was asked to perform work for Microsoft, which was in its beginning phases. Finally , he became Microsoft's legal counsel, a position he held for 25 years. Previously, he had been an investor at the San Francisco Giants.

Robert Shapiro: $50 million

Presently a senior partner at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen, and Shapiro, LLP, Robert Shapiro graduated from Loyola Law School in 1968 and started a career as a criminal attorney. After working on O.J. Simpson's legal group (and representing several other celebrities), he chose to move into civil litigation. In addition to his law career, he's written a children's publication and can be a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.

Harish Salve: $6 million

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

Vernon E. Jordan Jr.: $12 million

Born in 1935, Jordan has enjoyed a long law career that began after his graduation from Howard University. (Additionally, he holds more than 70 honorary degrees from several universities and colleges.) He's now the senior council, focusing on general council, organization, and international law, at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, and Feld LLP. His early career focused mostly on civil rights, while he later served as an advisor to President Clinton. Most of his fortune had been earned by representing substantial corporations, such as Xerox and American Express, in addition to spending some time as Wall Street banker.

Alan Dershowitz: $25 million

After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1962, Alan Dershowitz went to work. By 1964he was a part of the Harvard Law School faculty and in 1967, he was made a complete professor. (He murdered in 2013.) While teaching classes, he was also making a name for himself in the criminal law field. As a result of his standing as the "top lawyer of last resort," he has a bevy of high-profile customers, including Mike Tyson, Jim Baker, Leona Helmsley, O.J. Simpson, and Jeffrey Epstein. In addition, he has composed over a dozen novels. Everything collectively helped him collect his fortune