The title may sound strange to you due to familiarity when talking about law and lawyers. No, not all lawyers are drowning in debt, moreover, some of them are even millionaires. Let's take a look at the top 10 African American legal eagles who make the most money. The list is selected from people who have a law degree and it doesn't mean they necessarily work as lawyers now, but lawyer jobs played an important role in their path to wealth.
Index
10. Kevin Ross
Kevin Andrew Ross was born in Los Angeles in 1963. He began his studies at Gardena High School. Ross was president of the District Association of Student Councils in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has a BA in Political Science from Morehouse College and received his J.D. from Southwestern Law School. His greatest achievement in terms of law was when he was a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Currently, he works as a TV presenter on the show.America Courcom JudgeRoss.In addition, he appears on other television channels such as FoxNews, CNN, BET, and MSNBC.
Net worth: $10 million
9.Michelle Obama
Yes, you read that right. Michelle Obama, born in 1964, was the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She attended Princeton University and later graduated from Harvard Law School. After graduation, while working for a Chicago law firm, she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She also played a significant role in Chicago politics, serving on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Michelle presents a role model to many due to her success in many domains. She is now known as a fashion icon, advocate of a healthy and active lifestyle, and fighter against poverty.
Net worth: $11.8 million
8.Vernon Jordan
Vernon Jordan Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1935. He studied political science. Later, in 1957, he enrolled at Howard University Law School. Vernon became director of the Voter Education Project, leading to a significantly better turnout in black voter turnout in the South. In 1980, he was shot and wounded by white supremacist John Paul Franklin. The following year, he joined a powerful Washington D.C. law firm. He soon became very close to then Arkansas Governor and later US President Bill Clinton. Jordan was an unofficial adviser to Clinton and was later accused of helping Bill cover up his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Net worth: $12 million
7. Lynn Toler
Lynn Candace Toler was born in 1959, she is a lawyer. She might know her from the Divorce Court show. She has a BA from Harvard University in English and American Literature and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She was the only judge for the city of Cleveland Heights for 8 years. In 2002, she received The Humanitarian of the Year award due to her success in writing and mentoring many programs and also her active participation in many boards. Toler is a well-known writer and has written two books:Mi Madre'sStandards: APractical Guideforbecoming one Emotional GeniusmiPutIt is em writing.(Co-authored with Debora Hutchinson).
Net worth: $15 million
6. Mablean Ephraim
Ephriam was born in 1949 in Hazlehurst but grew up in Los Angeles. In 1978, she received a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School. After her graduation, she opened her own law practice handling family law and personal injury cases. Between 1999 and 2006 she worked on a programDivorceTribunal. She is a human rights activist and is active in social welfare programs. Mablean enjoys traveling and music. Her daughter is Tajamika Paxton, the famous producer, writer and director.
Net worth: $15 million
5. Star Jones
Star Marie Jones was born in 1964 in Badin, North Carolina. She became famous for her work as a host on the ABC talk show.O To seeuntil 2006. Star earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center.
His legal work includes working as a prosecutor for five years and then as an assistant district attorney. In 1992, she began to pursue a career in television and has worked for Court TV, NBC, and of course, ABC. Jones is the author of three books. The first isYou TerforStayforSomething, oYouyouCairforAnything, the second isShine: APhysicist,Emotional,mi Sspiritual Working dayforfindingAmorand the third, released in 2011,Satan'ssisters.
Net worth: $18.5 million
4. Greg Mathis
Mathis was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1960. He was not a lover of the law as a child, considering that he was associated with gangs and was arrested several times. Mathis was unable to practice law due to his criminal past, but later, in 1987, he received his J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy. Greg was elected District Judge for Michigan's 36th District and served as a judge for five years. Mathis also has two books. The first is a novel calledOf theJudge, co-authored with Zane and the secondOf To beaJudgeforcriminals mi Of.
Net worth: $20 million
3.Joe Brown
Joseph Brown was born in Washington, DC in 1947, but was raised in California. He graduated from Dorsey High School and in 1969 earned a bachelor's degree in political science. In 1973, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from UCLA and was working as a substitute professor. Brown became the first African-American prosecutor in the city of Memphis. He later opened his own law firm and worked there before becoming a judge in the State Criminal Court for Shelby County, Tennessee. He is most famous for his role on a television show.Judge JoséBrownwhich ran for 15 seasons and aired in the United States, Canada, and Australia. His show was the second best in revenue and ratings, just after theJudge judy. In March 2014, he was arrested for verbal abuse and charged with five counts of contempt of court.
Net worth: $30 million
2. Ken Chenault
Chenault was born in 1951 in Mineola, New York. Chenault attended the Garden City Waldorf School, later receiving a B.A. in history from Bowdoin College in 1973 and J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1976. After Harvard, she worked at the Rogers & Wells law firm. He has been CEO and Chairman of American Express since 2001. He is the third black CEO of a Fortune 500 company. In 1995, Ebony named him to the list of 50 "living pioneers" of the African-American community.
Net worth: $90 million
1 Willie Gary
Willie Gary was born in Eastman, Georgia in 1957. He attended Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and later North Carolina Central University in Durham, where he earned a Juris Doctorate in 1974. Gary won trials against major corporations like Disneyland and Anheuser-Busch.
In 1999 he founded the Black Family Channel.
Net worth: $100 million
These 10 people represent an inspiration for the entire African-American society. Watching them on TV and reading about them is a great way to inspire African-American children to continue their education.