Top 10 Richest Lawyers In The World

So, who are they? Here's a quick look at 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 practicing lawyers or judges. There are plenty of other "lawyers" using a considerably higher net value, but they just possess a law degree and no more use it.

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Though he passed away at the age of 90 at December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this list because he had been 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 after the courts decided in Pennzoil's favor. The 1953 graduate from the University of Texas School of Law was a former marine who had a longstanding reputation in the court to be abrasive, rude, and vulgar. However, outside the courtroom, he was known for his generous philanthropy.

Judge Joe Brown: $30 million

Famous for his daytime court series that ran for 15 decades, Judge Joe Brown received his law degree from UCLA. After serving 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 caught the eye of TV manufacturers. The majority of his wealth was obtained via the show. In 2014, he ran for district attorney general in Shelby County, but lost to the incumbent.

Harish Salve: $6 million

At 59 years old, Harish Salve has worked tirelessly to create 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 previously served as the Solicitor General of India, currently costs clients about $45,000 a day. In addition to representing many government entities, large corporate customers, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, he has represented Bollywood stars in criminal cases. In fact, he's frequently referred to as famed actor Salman Khan's "guardian angel" for keeping him from jail on a hit and run charge. (Indian prisons are renowned for harsh conditions.)

Wichai Thongtang: $1.1 billion

Thought of by many in the sector to become "one of the best names in the profession from around the planet," Wichai Thongtang is a strong lawyer in Thailand. After graduating from Thammasat University in 1970, he went to corporate law, by which he represented a range of leading Thai executives and corporations and took the opportunity to learn about the stock market and investing. In addition to his law career, Thongtang is the Chairman of Cable Thai Holding PLC and owns 15 percent of Dusit Medical, a Bangkok healthcare firm.