Brad Karp stepped down as chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison on February 4, 2026. His departure came as renewed attention surrounded the firm over the Epstein controversy.
Karp had held the top role since 2008, overseeing years of expansion that turned Paul, Weiss into a financial heavyweight in Big Law.
Now, with his exit confirmed, questions have surfaced about his net worth, how much Karp earned during his tenure, and the private life the prominent lawyer leads with his wife, a social impact advisor, and their two children.
Who Is Brad Karp’s Wife?
Karp has been married to Roberta S. Karp for several years, and the couple has largely stayed out of the public spotlight. They keep their personal life private, rarely appearing on social media or in celebrity-style coverage.
That said, the two were spotted together during a rare public outing in May 2023, when they attended Lincoln Center’s Spring Gala in New York City, an event honoring Sheryl J. Kaye at Lincoln Center.
Professionally, Roberta, often known as Robbie Karp, is a social impact advisor and co-founder of Karp Randel, a consultancy focused on aligning business goals with philanthropy and social responsibility.
She spent more than 20 years at Liz Claiborne Inc. as General Counsel, overseeing corporate affairs and social responsibility initiatives, and also served for two decades on the Liz Claiborne Foundation board. Earlier, Robbie practiced law at Kramer Levin and later chaired the Educational Alliance.
Robbie also co-chaired President Clinton’s Apparel Industry Partnership, helped establish standards enforced by the Fair Labor Association, and serves on the advisory board of the Chazen Fund to Address Domestic Violence. She has been recognized by Crain’s New York Business’s “40 Under 40” and is a David Rockefeller Fellow.
Academically, Robbie holds degrees from SUNY Binghamton and Hofstra University Law School.
Today, Brad and his spouse, Roberta, live in Manhattan with their two children.
The Karp Couple Has Two Children
Brad and his wife, Roberta, are parents to two children—a son, David Karp, and a daughter, Meredith Dawn Karp.
Meredith has followed a legal path of her own. She earned her law degree from Harvard Law School and later worked as a law clerk in the litigation department at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. She is married to Peter James Franz.
David, meanwhile, has taken a creative route. An aspiring filmmaker, the star kid co-founded the music and film production company Thrice Cooked Media in 2018 and serves as its creative director, focusing on storytelling across film and music projects.
The family came under public attention in January 2026, when newly unsealed Epstein files revealed that Karp had exchanged emails with Jeffrey Epstein on personal matters. One email showed Karp inquiring, on behalf of his filmmaker son, about a possible opportunity to work with Woody Allen.
In response, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison stated that Karp did not have a professional relationship with Epstein and that neither Karp nor the firm ever represented him as a client.
How Much Is Brad Karp’s Net Worth and Salary?
Karp accumulated most of his wealth during his long tenure as chairman of Paul, Weiss. While his exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed, his earnings place him among the highest-paid lawyers in the industry.
In 2024, Paul, Weiss reported $2.6 billion in revenue, with profits per equity partner averaging about $7.5 million. Industry estimates from late 2024 suggested Karp’s annual compensation may have exceeded $40 million.
