Alan Dershowitz is a lawyer and former professor who has a net worth of $20 million.
Dershowitz is a prominent American lawyer, jurist, and political commentator known for his high-profile legal cases and prolific career in academia.
However, net worth figures can fluctuate over time due to various factors such as investments, income sources, and expenditures.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s recommended to consult recent financial reports or reputable sources.
Alan Dershowitz, a lawyer and former professor, boasts a net worth of $20 million.
He specializes in American constitutional and criminal law.
Dershowitz is renowned for representing high-profile cases involving unpopular clients such as Julian Assange, Mike Tyson, Patty Hearst, and Harvey Weinstein.
Additionally, he served on the legal defense teams for O. J. Simpson, Donald Trump, and Jeffrey Epstein.
Notably, he faced accusations of rape from one of Epstein’s victims in 2014.
Alan Dershowitz was born on September 1, 1938, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City to Orthodox Jewish parents Claire and Harry.
At the age of 14, he landed his first job at a deli factory on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Dershowitz attended the boys’ preparatory school Yeshiva University High School, where he played basketball.
After graduation, he enrolled at Brooklyn College, obtaining his AB in political science in 1959.
Later, Dershowitz attended Yale Law School, where he served as the editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal.
In 1962, he graduated first in his class with a bachelor of laws degree.
Career Beginnings
After graduating from Yale, Dershowitz clerked for chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, David L. Bazelon.
He then clerked for Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg for a year.
In 1964, Dershowitz joined Harvard Law School as an assistant professor.
Just three years later, at the age of 28, he was appointed a full-time professor, becoming the youngest in the Law School’s history.
Dershowitz continued teaching at Harvard Law for four decades before retiring in 2013.
Major Legal Clients
While teaching at Harvard, Dershowitz maintained his legal practice in civil and criminal law.
One of his early major cases occurred in 1984 when he represented Claus von Bülow, a British socialite accused of attempting to murder his wife.
Dershowitz successfully overturned the conviction, and the case inspired his book “Reversal of Fortune,” which later became an Oscar-winning film.
In 1995, Dershowitz served as an appellate adviser to O. J. Simpson’s defense team during the football star’s murder trial.
Among his other controversial clients, Dershowitz represented Leona Helmsley, Jim Bakker, Mike Tyson, and Michael Milken.
In the 2000s, Dershowitz took on a number of unpopular clients.
In 2006, he joined the legal defense team for the first criminal case against sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, helping negotiate a non-prosecution agreement.
In 2011, Dershowitz served as a consultant on the legal team for Julian Assange, who faced potential charges from the US government for releasing classified documents via WikiLeaks.
Seven years later, he joined the legal team for film producer Harvey Weinstein, drawing significant attention and criticism.
Dershowitz’s involvement in defending Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020 sparked controversy, especially considering his past support for Hillary Clinton and previous criticisms of Trump.
His oral arguments during the trial contradicted his positions during Bill Clinton’s impeachment.
Following the trial, Dershowitz faced backlash for leveraging his connections with the Trump administration to advocate for clemency for some of his clients.
Political Views
Dershowitz is a member of the Democratic Party and supported Hillary Clinton in both the 2008 and 2016 presidential elections.
He endorsed Barack Obama when he won the nomination in 2008. In 2020, Dershowitz supported Joe Biden.
In other political matters, Dershowitz strongly supports Israel and defended the aggressive actions of the Israel Defense Forces during the 2006 conflict with Lebanon.
He also advocates for gun control, stating that the Second Amendment of the Constitution has “no place in modern society.”
However, Dershowitz has taken a more reactionary stance in other areas; for instance, after the 9/11 attacks, he advocated for torture methods under certain conditions.
Allegations of Sex Crimes
Starting in 2014, Dershowitz faced allegations related to sex trafficking crimes involving his client Jeffrey Epstein.
Accuser Virginia Giuffre claimed that Epstein trafficked her to Dershowitz, and that Dershowitz witnessed the sexual abuse of other minors.
In 2016, Dershowitz settled out of court with Giuffre’s lawyers.
However, three years later, Giuffre filed a defamation lawsuit against Dershowitz, alleging that he made malicious statements about her.
In the 2020 Netflix series “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich,” Giuffre repeated her allegations on screen.
Personal Life
In 1959, Dershowitz married Sue Barlach, whom he had met during high school at a Jewish summer camp in the Catskills.
They had two sons named Elon, who became a film producer, and Jamin, who became an attorney like his father.
Dershowitz and Barlach separated in 1973 before officially divorcing in 1976.
Following a legal battle, Dershowitz gained full custody of the children.
Later, in 1986, he married retired neuropsychologist Carolyn Cohen.
They have a daughter named Ella and split their time between residences in Manhattan, Martha’s Vineyard, and Miami Beach.
