Thomas Girardi once portrayed a picture of power, wealth and fame.

The former attorney, who ran the Los Angeles law firm Girardi Keese for 55 years, was known for taking on “David v. Goliath” cases, suing large corporations — including Pacific Gas and Electric, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, among others — and extracting huge settlements for his clients.

Girardi was also married to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Girardi , and the two showcased their opulent lifestyle on the reality TV show. The pair often took private jets, showed off their multimillion-dollar mansion in Pasadena, Calif., and touted expensive jewelry and a $40,000 monthly glam budget . According to Erika, their riches were the result of decades of hard work.

“Tom did not grow up with a silver spoo

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