What Is Dominic Barbara's Net Worth?
Dominic Barbara is an American attorney with a net worth of $50 thousand. Known for being the "biggest, brassiest lawyer on Long Island" (as per "New York Magazine"), Dominic represented high-profile clients like Joey Buttafuoco, Howard Stern, Jessica Hahn, and Michael Lohan.
In 2012, Dominic faced a severe downfall, including being arrested for allegedly stalking his ex-wife and attempting to extort her out of $200,000. He confessed to being homeless, deeply in debt, and battling alcoholism and painkiller addiction. Once a man known for his $1,000 suits and Bentley, he was reduced to sleeping on a friend's couch.
Barbara gained fame representing Joey Buttafuoco in the statutory rape case involving Amy Fisher. He was also involved in high-profile cases with Jessica Hahn, who exposed Jim Bakker, and Lindsay Lohan's father Michael Lohan. He was a frequent guest on the Howard Stern Show and appeared on TV series like Power of Attorney and Larry King Live. Dominic also represented the wife of radio personality Anthony Cumia from the "Opie and Anthony" show during their divorce.
Barbara was featured in the 2011 HBO documentary "There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane," about the 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash. He represented Daniel Schuler, husband of the woman responsible for the crash.
Financial and Legal Problems
In 2012, Dominic was arrested for allegedly stalking his ex-wife, Leslie, and attempting to extort her for $200,000. Charged with stalking, aggravated harassment, and attempted grand larceny, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice stated that Barbara threatened to file false police reports and a false order of protection against his ex-wife.
Dominic reportedly threatened to release compromising videos and photos of his ex-wife, contacted her friends, business partner, and clients to coerce her. He was earlier arrested for violating a protection order against him. Barbara struggled with debt, homelessness, alcoholism, and painkiller addiction. He started taking Vicodin after knee surgery, leading to a severe addiction. In a 2012 interview, he expressed remorse over his addiction and said he was working to become a minister, involved in weight loss vitamin production, and had intentions of filing charges against the maker of Vicodin.
In 2013, he faced charges for stealing a $1,400 Yves Saint Laurent bag and was also accused of choking his girlfriend.
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Artie Lange Outreach
Barbara became friends with actor/comedian Artie Lange during his appearances on "The Howard Stern Show." After Lange's 2017 arrest related to a drug case, Dominic sent an open letter to "Page Six," urging Artie to save himself. The letter read, "Dear Artie, I have been your friend for 20 years. After painkiller addiction, alcohol addiction and almost dying from a stroke, I am five years free of pills and almost six months free of alcohol. I am in a step program at Steve Kennedy's Incentives [Recovery House] in Boca Raton. He is 33 years sober from heroin and the best man I have ever met. If you want to come, I will come get you and pay all your costs. Please save your life. You have a lot of people who love you. Dominic."
Shelter Island Home
In 2018, the town of Shelter Island, New York, decided to board up Barbara's waterfront home, purchased in 1988. Described as an "abandoned, vermin-infested house," it was declared a health hazard. Legal filings indicated that Dominic transferred ownership to his two children in 2013. The home, previously in foreclosure, was sold by his children in January 2021 for $2.6 million.
