What Is David Boies' Net Worth?
David Boies, an esteemed American lawyer, author, and film producer, boasts a net worth of $50 million. Boies is the chairman of the prominent New York City-based law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Throughout his illustrious career, David has participated in numerous high-profile cases. He has defended IBM against the Justice Department, represented the Justice Department against Microsoft, and stood for George Steinbrenner against Major League Baseball. Additionally, he represented Al Gore against George W. Bush, defended Napster against the RIAA, and represented Andrew Fastow of Enron. In the 2011 NBA lockout, Boies represented the National Basketball Players Association.
He is also an author with works including "Courting Justice: From New York Yankees vs. Major League Baseball to Bush vs. Gore, 1997–2000" (2004) and "Redeeming the Dream: The Case for Marriage Equality" (2014). Boies extended his talents to film production with credits such as "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" (2018), "The Social Dilemma" (2020), and "The Starling" (2021). In 2000, Boies was titled "Lawyer of the Year" by "Time" magazine.
Criticism
David Boies has faced criticism for his associations with contentious figures like Harvey Weinstein and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Boies negotiated settlements for Weinstein while also attending celebrity events arranged by the disgraced producer. For Holmes, Boies and his firm were accused of intimidating journalists and employees, leading some to incur substantial legal fees. Despite a 23-page letter Boies sent to the Wall Street Journal, he later claimed no knowledge of Holmes' fraudulent activities.
Early Life
Born on March 11, 1941, in Sycamore, Illinois, David Boies is the son of two teachers. Growing up in a farming community, he had four siblings and started working at the age of 10 with a paper route. Moving to California in 1954, he attended Fullerton Union High School. Post-graduation, he studied at the University of Redlands and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1964. He graduated magna cum laude from Yale Law School in 1966 and earned a Master of Laws degree from New York University School of Law in 1967. In 2000, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Redlands.
Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP
Boies began his legal career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, becoming a partner in 1973. He left the firm in 1997 due to a conflict of interest and co-founded his own firm with Jonathan Schiller. Known today as Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, it was notably ranked #23 on Vault.com's "Vault Law 100" list in 2019. The firm has achieved significant financial success, with annual billings surpassing $100 million and average partner profits exceeding $3 million.
Notable Cases
In 2000, Boies represented Napster in a landmark music copyright case, although they lost, leading to Napster's bankruptcy. He also represented the Justice Department in "United States v. Microsoft Corp.", winning at trial and earning accolades from "Washington Monthly". Boies represented Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election dispute "Bush v. Gore", later portrayed by Ed Begley Jr in HBO's "Recount". He secured significant settlements for American Express in antitrust cases.
Boies has represented Michael Moore, the NFL, and tobacco companies in various significant cases. Partnering with Theodore Olson, he successfully fought to overturn California's Prop 8, making same-sex marriage legal in the state.
Theranos
In 2016, Boies joined Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos as an attorney and board member. His role earned him 400,000 company shares, valued at $7 million pre-tax during Theranos' peak valuation. The 2022 miniseries "The Dropout" features Kurtwood Smith portraying Boies.
Jeffrey Epstein
Boies has represented numerous victims of Jeffrey Epstein. He appeared in the 2022 documentary "Who Is Ghislaine Maxwell?". David also guest-starred on CBS's "The Good Wife" in 2016 and has produced over a dozen films, including "Jane Got a Gun" (2015) and "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" (2022).
Personal Life
David Boies has been married three times. He was married to Caryl Louise Elwell from 1959 to 1963 and Judith Lynn Daynard from 1966 to 1974. Since 1982, he has been married to fellow attorney Mary Ann McInnis, and they have six children. His daughter Mary Boies is married to actor Noah Emmerich.
Boies is dyslexic and learned to read in the third grade. He has a photographic memory, aiding his legal career. Boies owns Hawk and Horse Vineyards in Lower Lake, California, which is CCOF Organic certified and DEMETER BIODYNAMIC certified.
Philanthropy
David and Mary Boies are active philanthropists. They established the Mary and David Boies Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School to support students from various global regions. They are also involved with the Central European and Eurasian Law Institute and host an annual Teach for America picnic. They have donated significantly to educational institutions, including establishing chairs at Yale Law School, Tulane University Law School, and the University of Redlands. They also donated $5 million to Northern Westchester Hospital.
Awards and Honors
In 2014, Boies received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. Furthermore, in 2019, he won a Christopher Award for his role as an executive producer of the documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
Real Estate
In 2013, David and Mary purchased a 2,175-square-foot Malibu home from Mary's relatives. The home was renovated but never occupied by the couple. It went on the market in October 2020 for $4.75 million. They also listed their expansive Northern California ranch for $23 million, later reduced to $18 million, but have yet to find a buyer. The ranch, acquired in the 1990s, features six structures on its 1,100 acres.
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