Top Ten Richest Lawyers

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

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 decades, he's represented high profile customers, including William Kennedy Smith (acquitted on rape charges), Albertson's, Inc., and Helio Castroneves. Known by many in the industry for having "the very best national reputation in Florida," he also acts as a legal analyst on "The Now Show" and "Good Morning America" and teaches advanced criminal signs in the University of Miami.

Thomas Mesereau: $25 million

Also a criminal defense lawyer (Are you noticing a trend?) , Thomas Mesereau graduated from Harvard University and The University of California's Hastings College of Law and has been appointed "Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2015" by the National Trial Lawyers. (He's won plenty of other awards including "Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year. ") He is notorious for taking high stakes cases with hopeless odds and getting extraordinary results. He had been Michael Jackson's attorney when he was acquitted of 14 child molestation charges and has won an unprecedented three federal criminal jury trials in a row. While his hourly rate is so large it's not printed, he does pro bono work through the Mesereau Free Legal Clinic, go to https://canadianimmigrationexperts.ca/.

William Lerach: $900 million

Though he was disbarred in 2009 for his involvement in a kickback scheme, William Lerach had a rewarding career as a corporate lawyer with a specialty in private securities class actions lawsuits for more than 30 years, which is how he amassed his considerable fortune. Nicknamed the "King of Pain" and frequently referred to as the most feared lawyer in American during his heyday, Lerach, a University of Pittsburg School of Law graduate, holds the record for the largest sum ever recovered at a bunch of securities class actions lawsuits for its $7.12 billion decision he obtained against Enron.

Willie E. Gary: $100 million

Nicknamed "The Giant Killer," Willie Gary has taken on a number of the nation's biggest corporations, such as Anheuser-Busch and Disney. He's won a number of the biggest settlements and jury awards in the U.S., including many cases valued at over $30 billion. A graduate of Shaw University, he is now the managing partner at Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson, and Gary, P.L.L.C., works as a motivational speaker, and has emerged as a legal analyst on "The Early Show. "

Harish Salve: $6 million

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

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 rock and roll acts and independent investors. He has represented over 30 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is about pretty much every record of premier entertainment attorneys in the world. On one note, he serves as the co-executor of Michael Jackson's estate.