Best Lawyers Of All Time

So, who are they? Here is a fast look in the richest attorneys in the entire world, ranked from the lowest net worth to the greatest. Please note that the individuals on this list are all practicing lawyers or judges. There are plenty of other "attorneys " using a considerably higher net value, but they just have a law degree and no longer use it.

David Boies: $20 million

Currently serving as the chairman of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, David Boies previously served as Chief Counsel for the US Senate. He graduated from Yale University in 1966 and almost instantly made a name for himself. He amassed his fortune by representing several large corporations, such as IBM, Napster, George Steinbrenner (proprietor of the NY Yankees), CBS, and the NBA Players Association during the 2011 NBA lockout. According to Fortune magazine, he is "corporate America's number 1 hired gun. "

Harish Salve: $6 million

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

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Though he passed away at the age of 90 at December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this list because he was the wealthiest practicing attorney in the USA at the time of his passing. Frequently 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 of the University of Texas School of Law was a former marine who had a longstanding reputation in the courtroom to be abrasive, rude, and vulgar. But outside the courtroom, he was known for his generous philanthropy.

Mark Geragos: $25 million

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

Judy Sheindlin: between $150 million and $250 million

Best known for being a no-nonsense TV judge, Judge Judy earns $47 million annually. A 1965 graduate of New York Law School, Judge Sheindlin was originally a corporate attorney, though she immediately grew tired of it and decide to be a household court prosecutor. In 1982, she was appointed as a criminal court judge, where she gained a reputation as a "tough" judge and presided over more than 20,000 cases. This, along with various books she wrote, caught the attention of TV executives and eventually led to her TV show. In addition, she's the author of seven books and has served as legal counsel on various TV shows.

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 group (and representing several other actors ), he chose to move into civil lawsuit. In addition to his law career, he's written a children's publication and can be a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.