Who is the most litigious man in the world?

Asked by: Ms. Freida Wilderman  |  Last update: March 11, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (56 votes)

The title of the world's most litigious man is widely attributed to Jonathan Lee Riches, a U.S. man known for filing thousands of bizarre, often frivolous lawsuits against celebrities (like George W. Bush, Martha Stewart) and institutions (including the Guinness Book of World Records itself, after they considered recognizing him), demonstrating an extreme and eccentric use of the court system for notoriety and personal grievances, though most suits were dismissed.

Who is the most litigious person 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. ⁠

Who is the most sued man in the world?

We are talking about Jonathan Lee riches. He is called the most litigant in the world, this young man had filed the first lawsuit against his mother. In that lawsuit, he told, 'his mother has not taken care of him well' he also won this case and he got compensation of 20 thousand dollars.

Who got sued for the most money?

The most expensive lawsuit settlements in history

  • 1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. ...
  • 2010 – Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill – $20 Billion. ...
  • 2012 – Smartphone Wars – $40 Billion. ...
  • 1999 – Rupert Murdoch vs Anna Torv – $1.7 Billion. ...
  • 2010 – Tiger Woods vs Elin Nordegren – $750 Million.

Who is the man with the most court cases?

This is the man tagged with the highest number of suits in court. His name is Mr Jonathan Lee. He had sued a total of 260 people to court and won the cases. Among those he sued were his mother who he accused of not taking good care of him and he won the case with the court offering $20,000 which his mother paid.

Jonathan Lee Riches | The World's Most Litigious Man | The Man Who Sued Everyone

23 related questions found

What happens to 90% of court cases?

According to the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, "The overwhelming majority (90 to 95 percent) of cases result in plea bargaining."

Who has the record of most lawsuits?

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 is the biggest sue in history?

In the 1990s, more than 40 states sued big tobacco companies for the health care costs linked to smoking. They claimed these companies lied about the dangers and marketed to kids. The result was a $206 billion deal over 25 years, the largest settlement in U.S. history.

Can I get 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 litigious company?

Without any delay, let's dive into our extensive compilation of the 12 most litigious companies in America:

  • Dominion Harbor. ...
  • The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) ...
  • Best Western International, Inc. ...
  • Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) ...
  • Boost Worldwide, Inc.
  • American Automobile Association, Inc. (

What is the craziest lawsuit ever?

Here are five of the strangest claims ever filed against big corporations:

  1. The McDonald's Hot Coffee Case. One of the most famous and unusual personal injury claims is the 1992 case of Stella Liebeck v. ...
  2. The Wendy's Finger Case. ...
  3. The Pepsi Harrier Jet Case. ...
  4. The BMW Paint Job Case. ...
  5. The Taco Bell Chihuahua Case.

Do you get paid for a Guinness world record?

No, Guinness World Records (GWR) does not pay individuals for breaking records; instead, they offer public recognition and a certificate, with any potential financial gain coming from later endorsements or sponsorships. GWR's official stance is that their role is to document achievements, not to provide monetary rewards or cover expenses for attempts, though they do charge fees for expedited review or new record titles.
 

How many lawsuits has Trump had?

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.

Which country is the most litigious?

The United States is often thought to be the most litigious country in the world. It does have the largest number of lawsuits. However, the dubious honor of lawsuits per capita belongs to Germany, with 123.2 lawsuits per 1,000 people.

Who sued their husband for wasting their time?

Mariah Carey was engaged to billionaire James Packer. He called it off… so she sued him for “wasting her time,” walked away with $10 million cash AND kept the $10 million ring.

What is the hardest lawsuit to win?

The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, complex evidence, or specific defenses like insanity, with sexual assault, crimes against children, and white-collar crimes frequently cited as challenging due to juror bias, weak physical evidence, or technical complexity. The insanity defense is notoriously difficult because it shifts the burden of proof and faces public skepticism. 

Can I sue for $1?

The one dollar amount is significant because that one dollar can trigger a statute which awards the prevailing party fees and costs in certain areas of the law, including areas of civil rights law. These awards of attorney's fees and costs can often be quite large.

What is the 777 rule for debt collectors?

The "777 rule" in debt collection refers to key call frequency limits in the CFPB's Regulation F, stating collectors can't call a consumer more than seven times within seven days, or call within seven days after a phone conversation about the debt, applying per debt to prevent harassment. These limits cover missed calls and voicemails but exclude calls with prior consent, requests for information, or payments, and are presumptions that can be challenged by unusual call patterns. 

What happens after 7 years of not paying debt?

After 7 years, negative credit report items like collections usually fall off, improving your score, but the debt itself doesn't vanish and can still be collected, though creditors can't sue you if the state's statute of limitations has passed; be careful, as making payments or acknowledging the debt can restart the clock, and collectors might still contact you. 

Who is the most sued person?

Jonathan Lee Riches has filed more than 4,000 lawsuits, earning the world record for the most legal actions brought by a single person. His list of targets includes his own mother, George W. Bush, Bill Gates, and even Pope Benedict XVI.

What is the longest lawsuit ever?

Lasting for more than fifty years, the Myra Clark Gaines litigation is known as the longest case in US history, beginning around 1834 and culminating in a ruling in her favor and against the City of New Orleans in 1889.

Who won the biggest lawsuit?

The result was the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, a monumental $206 billion settlement, marking it as the largest in U.S. history. The case aimed to cover the medical costs for affected smokers and sought to hold the tobacco giants accountable for their misleading advertising and unethical practices.

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.

What is the most ridiculous lawsuit?

The Year's Most Ridiculous Lawsuits

  • Woman Sues FedEx for “Negligently” Leaving a Package on Her Doorstep that She Tripped Over.
  • North Carolina Police Officer Sues Starbucks for Spilled Hot Coffee. ...
  • Woman Files Suit for Injuries Incurred from a Flying Dinner Roll.
  • Woman Fakes Coffee Burns in an Attempt to Sue McDonald's.