How Judge Judy Became One Of The Highest-Paid People On Television (2024)

From her long, successful career in court to an equally impressive daytime television resume, Judge Judy star Judy Sheindlin has been entertaining viewers and calling the shots for decades. There seems to be no argument she can't handle, with her no-nonsense attitude and quick wit.

It's no surprise that starring in a successful TV show comes with a hefty paycheck at the end of every season. But Judy's other roles as a producer and showrunner have helped her build a net worth that's truly staggering.

At 79, Judy is only just getting started—even after her reign over daytime television officially ended back in May. Here's everything to know about her net worth and how she pays the bills:

Judy built a reputation as a successful judge before she was ever on TV.

Judy was the only woman in her 1965 graduating class at New York Law School, according to Britannica. After passing the bar, she started her law career in private practice but left soon after to be a stay-at-home mom. In 1972, after divorcing her first husband and marrying her current husband, Gerald, Judy became a prosecuting attorney in New York City's family court.

Ten years later, Mayor Ed Koch appointed her a judge, and she rose to the position of supervising judge in 1986. She was known for being blunt and efficient, and her reputation grew as she tackled her gigantic caseload with ease. In 1993, Judy was featured in a 60 Minutes segment, beginning her rise to television fame.

While it's unknown how much Judy earned as a judge, current New York City family court judges make a sizable salary of $208,000 every year, according to the New York City Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary.

Then, Judge Judy became her main source of income.

The first episode of Judge Judy premiered on Sept. 16, 1996, per People. Judy wasn't even in it for the long haul: "I was hoping we would have a three- or four-year run and that my husband and I would be able to afford a two-bedroom apartment one block off the beach in Florida as a retirement place," she said.

"We were civil servants. We had five kids that were all educated, most went to graduate school. We tried to see to it they weren't burdened with a lot of debt," she continued.

As the show grew more popular, Judy began negotiating for higher paychecks with network producers. Ten years in, she wasn't taking "no" for an answer anymore. "We should be partners," she told CBS executives, per People. "I can do this program without you. Good luck, you can't do it without me."

At dinners with the president of CBS Television Distribution, Judy would write down the salary she wanted, stick it in an envelope, and leave it on the table at the end of the meal. One time, when the president countered with his own envelope, Judy responded with "this isn't a negotiation," according to New York Times Magazine.

Eventually, Judy was making $47 million each year from hosting the show, making her one of the highest-paid people on television, People reported.

"You have to make yourself indispensable—and that is irrespective of what you do," she explained. "Once you've done that and have leverage, make a reasonable demand and know what the commodity is worth."

She's also made some pretty impressive deals with CBS.

As Judy went on to become a television producer, her production company was owned by CBS. In 2015, she requested ownership of all Judge Judy episodes in exchange for more seasons, and CBS agreed.

Then, two years later, Judy sold all 5,200 episodes back to CBS for $100 million, per Forbes. The deal also allowed the network to play unlimited Judge Judy reruns on all platforms—and helped Judy's net worth skyrocket.

Now, Judy is a producer, and she has a new show in the works.

Judy also produced the successful daytime court series Hot Bench, which premiered in 2014. It's unknown how much she earns for her role in creating and developing the show, but it's safe to assume the sum is pretty large.

And now, Judy is embarking on a brand new television adventure. Judge Judy ended its 25th and final season in 2020 (and it wasn't pretty). Judy told the Wall Street Journal that she ended her relationship with CBS on not-so-great terms: "You disrespected my creation," she said about the network. "And you were wrong. Not only in disrespecting my creation, but your gamble in what you put in its place."

Still, the future looks bright. Judy is now partnering with Amazon to launch Judy Justice on IMDb TV, per People. The first few episodes have already dropped, and Judy is optimistic about what her future in the entertainment industry holds. And, she's not going anywhere anytime soon.

"I'm not tired. I don't play golf or tennis. I have no desire to learn how to play mahjong, chess, or checkers. I know what I like to do," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "Why, at my stage in life, would I try to find something else when I already know what I like?"

Judy also owns many properties.

Judy has invested in plenty of properties—they currently own six huge homes all around the United States, according to E! News. The pair own an $11 million penthouse and a $8.6 million mansion in Naples, Florida, a $13.2 million estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, a $10.7 million condo in Beverly Hills, California, and an $8.5 million duplex in New York City. She also recently purchased a $9 million, 9.719-square-foot home in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2018.

Plus, Judy is an accomplished author.

Judy is also a New York Times bestselling author who has penned seven books. She mostly offers readers advice on relationships and reflects on her career in court. With all seven titles available to purchase, Judy is still making a pretty penny from books she published going all the way back to 1996.

So, how much is Judy really worth?

Currently, Judy's net worth cashes in at around $460 million, according to Forbes.

That makes her fortune larger than Paris Hilton's and Reese Witherspoon's—but she still hasn't hit Kim Kardashian's or Rihanna's billionaire status yet. Who knows? Judy Justice could be the series that changes everything!