Judge Judy (Judith Sheindlin) is a household name in the United States, known for her direct approach to handling legal cases on her long-running TV show Judge Judy.
Her net worth is an impressive $440 million, and she consistently ranks among the highest-paid entertainers worldwide.
At the peak of Judge Judy’s syndication, she earned $47 million annually, with her salary peaking in 2010 after she renegotiated her contract. She worked approximately 52 days a year, earning $900,000 per workday.
In addition to her salary from the show, Judge Judy made significant earnings from the sale of her episode archives. In 2017, CBS bought back her old episodes for a whopping $100 million, adding another substantial sum to her income.
Early Life and Career
Born Judith Susan Blum on October 21, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, Judy began her educational journey at James Madison High School and later attended American University in Washington, D.C.
She earned her law degree from New York Law School and became one of the only female students in her class of 126.
After passing the bar exam in 1965, she worked as a corporate lawyer before switching to family law. Judy worked as a prosecutor in the family court system for 17 years and eventually became a judge in New York’s criminal court. She became well-known for her no-nonsense style of ruling, especially in cases involving domestic violence and child abuse.
Judge Judy Show and Legacy
After her appearance in a 60 Minutes feature, Judy was offered her own show, Judge Judy, which debuted in 1996. The show became a ratings giant, attracting up to 10 million viewers per day at its peak.
By 2009, Judge Judy outpaced even The Oprah Winfrey Show in daily viewership, which solidified Judy’s position as the most-watched judge on television.
Her influence was so strong that, in 2015, Judge Judy set a Guinness World Record for being the longest-serving judge in a courtroom-themed television program.
In 2021, the show concluded after 25 seasons, but Judy’s career continued with the debut of her new show Judy Justice, which streams on Amazon’s Freevee.
Real Estate Holdings
Judge Judy’s wealth is not just tied to her TV career; she has also made wise investments in real estate.
Her property portfolio is estimated to be worth over $100 million. She owns several multi-million dollar homes in exclusive locations such as Naples, Florida, Beverly Hills, Manhattan, and Newport, Rhode Island.
