Best Lawyers Of All Time

So, who are they? Here's a fast look in the richest attorneys in the entire world, ranked from the lowest net value to the greatest. Please note that the people on this list are practicing lawyers or judges. There are plenty of other "attorneys " using a considerably higher net worth, but they simply possess a law degree and no more use it, look here.

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 quickly grew tired of it and decide to be a household court prosecutor. In 1982, she was appointed as a criminal court judge, where she earned a reputation for a "tough" judge and presided over more than 20,000 cases. This, along with various novels she wrote, caught the attention of TV executives and eventually resulted in her TV series. In addition, she is the author of seven books and has served as legal analyst on various TV shows.

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 tax law. Salve, who comes from a long line of attorneys and formerly served as the Solicitor General of India, currently charges clients about $45,000 a day. In addition to representing many government entities, big company clients, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, he's represented Bollywood celebrities in criminal cases. In fact, he's frequently known as famed actor Salman Khan's "guardian angel" for keeping him out of prison on a hit and run charge. (Indian prisons are notorious for harsh conditions)

Judge Joe Brown: $30 million

Best known for his day court show that ran for 15 decades, Judge Joe Brown received his law degree from UCLA. After working as the initial African American prosecutor in Memphis, TN, he started his own practice prior to serving as a criminal court judge in Shelby County, TN. While presiding over James Earl Ray's appeal for its assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., he grabbed the attention of TV producers. The majority of his wealth was obtained through the show. In 2014, he ran for district attorney general in Shelby County, but lost to the incumbent.

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 over the planet, Bill Neukom is a corporate attorney who's well-known for his philanthropy. After graduating from Stanford Law School in 1967, he worked in a small business until he was asked to do work for Microsoft, which was in its beginning stages. Eventuallyhe became Microsoft's legal counsel, a position he held for 25 years. Previously, he was an investor at the San Francisco Giants.

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Although he passed away at the age of 90 in December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this list because he was the wealthiest practicing lawyer in the United States in the time of his death. Often known as the "King of Torts," he represented Pennzoil at 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. However, outside of the court, he was famous for his generous philanthropy.

Richard Scruggs: $1.7 billion

A 1976 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and a prominent trial lawyer, Richard Scruggs is famous for his love of asbestos and tobacco cases and the fact that he won more than $1 billion in judgements against various businesses. He was also highly involved in 2000's Ritalin class action lawsuits, in addition to the 2003 case against Lehman Brothers for which he won a $51 million verdict. However, in 2007, he was accused of judicial bribery. In 2008, he pled guilty and eventually served six years in prison. Now, in the age of 70, he's completed his sentence and has kept his large fortune.