Best Lawyers Of All Time

So, who are they? Here is a fast look in the wealthiest lawyers in the entire world, ranked from the lowest net value to the highest. Please be aware that the people on this list are all practicing attorneys or judges. There are loads of other "lawyers" with a considerably higher net value, but they simply possess a law degree and no longer use it.

Willie E. Gary: $100 million

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

Thomas Mesereau: $25 million

Additionally 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 has won lots of other awards including "Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year. ") He is known for taking high stakes instances with impossible odds and getting extraordinary results. He was 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 high it's not published, he does pro bono work through the Mesereau Free Legal Clinic.

John Branca: $50 million

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

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 team (and representing other actors ), he opted to move into civil lawsuit. Besides his law career, he's written a children's book and can be a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.