Roy Black Net Worth

What was Roy Black's Net Worth?

Roy Black was an American civil and criminal defense attorney who had a net worth of $85 million at the time of his death. Roy Black was one of the most celebrated criminal defense attorneys in American legal history, renowned for his courtroom brilliance, tireless preparation, and record of high-profile acquittals. Over a five-decade career, Black defended celebrities, politicians, business moguls, and police officers in some of the most scrutinized and controversial cases in the country. He rose to national prominence in 1991 after securing an acquittal for William Kennedy Smith on rape charges in a Palm Beach trial that was broadcast live on television—a media watershed moment that solidified his reputation as a masterful cross-examiner and courtroom strategist.

Born in Queens, New York, Black attended the University of Miami on a swimming scholarship and earned his law degree there in 1970. He began his legal career as a public defender, representing Vietnam War protesters and civil rights activists, before launching his own practice. Over the years, he built a powerful defense firm in Miami and became a frequent legal commentator on national television.

Black's clients ranged from Justin Bieber, Rush Limbaugh, and Kelsey Grammer to infamous figures like drug traffickers Willie Falcon and Sal Magluta, and financier Jeffrey Epstein. He also defended Miami police officer William Lozano, whose acquittal following the fatal shooting of a Black motorcyclist sparked citywide riots. In 2022, Black won the only full acquittal in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.

Admired by peers and feared by prosecutors, he was known as "The Professor" for his intellect and courtroom dominance. He also authored a book, "Black's Law," and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami. Black was married to philanthropist and reality TV personality Lea Black, whom he met during the Kennedy Smith trial. She was actually a juror on the trial, though they didn't start dating until about nine months after the acquittal. He continued practicing law until his death in 2025 at age 80, leaving behind a towering legacy in American criminal defense.

Early Life

Roy Black was born on February 17, 1945, in New York City. His parents divorced shortly after his birth, and in 1951, his mother remarried a Jaguar automobile executive. The family moved frequently—first to Connecticut, then to Jamaica, and later to the Bahamas—due to his stepfather's career. Living in Jamaica during his teenage years, Black attended an English-style prep school and developed a deep love of reading in the absence of television. He later credited this period with shaping his intellectual curiosity and discipline.

For college, Black declined an academic scholarship to Columbia University in favor of a swimming scholarship at the University of Miami. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1967 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1970. As a law student, he joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity (Zeta Epsilon chapter) and quickly distinguished himself. When he sat for the Florida Bar Exam, Black earned the highest possible score in the state. He began his legal career as a public defender in Dade County, where he spent five formative years defending indigent clients during a turbulent era marked by civil rights protests, antiwar demonstrations, and political unrest.

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Career

Roy Black built one of the most formidable reputations in American criminal defense, earning national renown for his meticulous preparation, commanding courtroom presence, and remarkable track record of acquittals. After his early years as a public defender, he co-founded a private practice that eventually became Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf—one of the most respected defense firms in the country. He handled hundreds of high-stakes cases over his five-decade career, many of which played out in front of television cameras and national audiences.

Black's defining moment came in 1991, when he successfully defended William Kennedy Smith on rape charges in a Palm Beach trial that became the first of its kind to be televised nationally. His cross-examination of the accuser is still studied in legal circles and helped cement his status as a master litigator. That trial introduced him to his future wife, Lea Black, who served as a juror.

From there, his client list grew to include high-profile figures such as Justin Bieber (DUI), Rush Limbaugh (prescription fraud), Kelsey Grammer (domestic dispute), "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis, and New York financier Jeffrey Epstein during his 2008 criminal case. He also defended notorious drug traffickers Willie Falcon and Sal Magluta—known as the "Cocaine Cowboys"—and secured an acquittal for Miami police officer William Lozano, whose shooting of a Black motorcyclist had sparked riots in 1989.

In 2022, Black achieved the only full acquittal in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, defending businessman Amin Khoury. His work was featured in Malcolm Gladwell's podcast, which described him as "an apex legal predator."

Nicknamed "The Professor" for his intellect and mentorship, Black was a longtime adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law. He also appeared frequently on national TV as NBC's legal analyst and authored the 1999 book "Black's Law," which chronicled four of his most challenging trial victories.

He received numerous honors throughout his career, including the Dade County Bar Association's Criminal Justice Award (1991), the University of Miami's William R. Butler Community Service Award (2005), Person of the Year by the Daily Business Review (2014), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the same publication in 2015. He was a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and several local and national bar associations.

Roy Black continued practicing law and mentoring young attorneys until his death in 2025 at the age of 80.

Personal Life & Philanthropy

Roy Black married Lea Black (née Lisa Lea Haller) on October 7, 1994. The two met in 1991 when Lea served as a juror in the William Kennedy Smith trial. They didn't begin dating until nearly a year later, after Roy had separated from his second wife, Naomi Morris Black, with whom he shares a daughter, Nora. Lea, initially in another relationship, agreed to meet Roy for dinner, thinking they would reminisce about the trial. Six months later, the two began dating and ultimately married.

Lea Black became well known in her own right as a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and cast member of "The Real Housewives of Miami." Together, the couple raised their son, RJ, and became fixtures in Miami's civic and social scene. They co-hosted annual fundraising galas benefiting at-risk youth and supported Democratic political causes, including events for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Real Estate

In 2004, Lea and Roy paid $1.76 million for a 3,536-square-foot Hollywood Hills home. They put this home on the market in 2016 for $2.895 million. They own a larger Hollywood Hills home as well. Lea and Roy own homes in Coral Gables and Key Largo, Florida.

In 2011, Roy and Lea paid $7.1 million for a 10,636 square foot mansion in Miami on the famous Star Island. They put the waterfront home (which they've never actually lived in) on the market for $34 million in June 2021. They did not accept any offers initially, and they re-listed the home in December 2023 for $37.5 million. Here is a video tour:

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