Who is the most sued person in history?

Asked by: Angelita Daugherty  |  Last update: October 1, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (70 votes)

The title for the most sued person in history likely goes to Jonathan Lee Riches, a prolific filer of frivolous lawsuits, who filed thousands of cases and even sued Guinness World Records for naming him the most litigious man, though his claims were often dismissed as baseless. Other individuals with significant litigation include figures like Donald Trump (thousands of business/personal suits) and Bernie Madoff (defrauding thousands), but Riches' sheer volume of filings against abstract entities and famous figures earns him notoriety as the most litigious individual, if not always for valid reasons.

What is the most someone has ever been sued for?

1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was entered in November 1998 and is still the largest lawsuit settlement in history.

Who has filed the most lawsuits in history?

Jonathan Lee Riches is a former federal inmate from Pennsylvania who gained notoriety for filing over 4,000 lawsuits, earning him the title of the most litigious man in America. From his prison cell, he filed lawsuits against prominent figures such as Bill Gates, Pope Benedict XVI, Martha Stewart, and George W.

Who is the guy who sues everyone?

Jonathan Lee Riches is a convicted fraudster known for the many lawsuits he has filed in various United States district courts. Riches was incarcerated at Federal Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky, for wire fraud under the terms of a plea bargain.

Who has the biggest lawsuit in history?

Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Settlement – $206 Billion. The title of Largest Legal Settlement in U.S. History belongs to the 1998 Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Settlement.

no wonder he is the most sued actor in history

27 related questions found

What was the stupidest lawsuit ever?

We all know the most famous frivolous lawsuit story. Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's back in 1992 when she spilled hot coffee on herself. "But coffee is meant to be hot" we all cry. Dig a little deeper into the case however and it starts to look less frivolous.

How many lawsuits does Trump have against him in total?

From 1973 and until he was elected president in 2016, Donald Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in United States federal and state courts, including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal defamation lawsuits, and over 100 business tax disputes.

Who has been sued for the most money?

Top 10 Largest Civil Lawsuit Settlements in U.S. History

  • JPMorgan Chase – $13 Billion. ...
  • GlaxoSmithKline – $3 Billion (Fraud and Safety Violations) ...
  • Enron Shareholder Settlement – $7.2 Billion. ...
  • WorldCom – $6.1 Billion. ...
  • Fen-Phen Diet Drugs – $3.75 Billion. ...
  • Purdue Pharma (Ongoing) – Over $6 Billion.

Who sued the Eiffel Tower?

Jonathan Lee Riches, a convicted fraudster from Kentucky, gained notoriety for filing over 4,000 lawsuits against a wide array of targets, including Bill Gates, Pope Benedict XVI, and even inanimate objects like the Eiffel Tower.

Who sued himself?

In 1995, a Virginia prison inmate named Robert Lee Brock sued ... himself. "For violating my religious beliefs, I want to pay myself $5 million, but I ask the state to pay it since I can't work," Brock wrote in a handwritten seven-page lawsuit.

What is the longest lawsuit in history?

Introduction. Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."

Has anyone ever sued for 1 dollar?

Ultimately the jury ruled that Mueller had assaulted Swift at the 2013 meet-and-greet, awarding her $1, which was paid in the form of a Sacagawea dollar coin.

Can you be sued for 1000 dollars?

Debt collectors can and often do sue over relatively small amounts, especially if you've ignored repeated attempts to collect the money owed. While lawsuits over a few hundred dollars aren't common, balances in the $1,000 to $5,000 range are often fair game, depending on the creditor and your state's rules.

Who is the most sued person of all time?

Serial Suing Record... Despite being incarcerated at a federal prison in Kentucky, Jonathan Lee Riches has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. He was named as the person who has filed the most lawsuits ever.

Why is it illegal to photograph the Eiffel Tower at night?

The tower's copyright has expired, so daytime images can be used for any purpose. At night, it's a different story. The tower's light installation (1985) is still protected under copyright. So, if you take and share a nighttime picture of the Eiffel Tower, you could be subject to copyright violations.

Who sued Guinness on the world record?

Jonathan Lee Riches has sued over 4,000 people including Bill Gates and the Pope and when Guinness gave him a world record for it, he sued them too.

What was Hitler's order to destroy Paris?

Hitler had ordered Paris defended to the last man, and demanded that the city not fall into Allied hands except as “a field of ruins.” Choltitz dutifully began laying explosives under Paris' bridges and many of its landmarks, but disobeyed an order to commence the destruction.

What celebrity sued someone for a dollar?

Taylor Swift – The $1 Symbol of Strength Swift turned the tables when she sued a DJ for assault — asking for just one dollar in damages. The gesture wasn't about money; it was about reclaiming power and dignity. That symbolic verdict became one of the decade's most empowering legal victories.

What career gets sued the most?

Ultimately, as shown by the data, it's no surprise that surgeons are the most often sued professionals in the medical field with 90% of surgeon participants having been involved in a legal dispute regarding medical malpractice.

Can I get sued for $500?

Yes, a collector can legally sue you for a $500 debt, but they rarely do because the costs often outweigh the benefits. Legally, there's no minimum amount required to file a lawsuit, so $500 qualifies if it's past due and validated.

What are the lawsuits against Elon Musk?

In the same month, eight ex-employees, the same eight who were previously fired for penning an anti-Musk letter at SpaceX, filed a lawsuit against Musk alleging sexual harassment. Also in June 2024, a former Twitter executive sued Musk for "cheating" him and other ousted executives out of $200 million in severance pay.

Can a president's executive order be overturned?

Presidential executive orders, once issued, remain in force until they are canceled, revoked, adjudicated unlawful, or expire on their terms. At any time, the president may revoke, modify or make exceptions from any executive order, whether the order was made by the current president or a predecessor.

Which law firms are suing Trump?

Litigation:

  • Doe 1 v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  • Jenner & Block LLP v. Department of Justice.
  • Perkins Coie LLP v. Department of Justice.
  • Susman Godfrey LLP v. Executive Office of the President.
  • Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr v. Executive Office of President.
  • Zaid v. Executive Office of the President.