Top Richest Lawyers In The World

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

Bill Neukom: $850 million

Currently serving as the founder and CEO of the World Justice Project, which is devoted to promoting the rule of law all around the planet, Bill Neukom is a corporate attorney who's famous because of 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 had been in its beginning phases. Finally , he became Microsoft's legal counsel, a position he held for 25 decades. Previously, he was an investor at the San Francisco Giants.

Roy Black: $100 million

Yet another civil and criminal defense lawyer, Roy Black, a graduate from the University of Miami, is the senior partner at Black, Srebnick, Kornspan, & Stumpf. For over 40 years, he has represented high profile clients, such as William Kennedy Smith (acquitted on rape charges), Albertson's, Inc., and Helio Castroneves. Known by most in the industry for having "the very best national standing in Florida," he acts as a legal advisor on "The Today Show" and "Good Morning America" and teaches advanced criminal evidence in the University of Miami.

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 serving on O.J. Simpson's legal group (and representing other celebrities), he chose to move into civil lawsuit. Besides his law career, he's written a children's book and is a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.

Mark Geragos: $25 million

A 1992 graduate of Loyola Law School, Mark Geragos is a criminal defense lawyer who has also been engaged in several of landmark civil lawsuit class action cases. He's represented everyone from Chris Brown, Michael Jackson, and Winona Ryder to Scott Peterson and Susan McDougal. Named "One of the 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California," he holds a listing for a few of the top 10 verdicts in California history for a 2008 case where he obtained a jury verdict awarding over $38 from a pharmaceutical firm. He currently serves as a managing partner at Geragos and Geragos.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr.: $12 million

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

John Branca: $50 million

A graduate of the UCLA School of Law, John Branca has had a lengthy career as an amusement and corporate lawyer with a focus on representing roll and rock acts and independent investors. He's represented more than 30 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is on pretty much every list of premier entertainment attorneys on earth. On a side note, he functions as the co-executor of Michael Jackson's estate.