Quick Facts About Judge Judy: Who Is Her Husband, Does She Have Kids, Net Worth, and More

Judge Judy Sheindlin stands as television's most formidable legal personality, earning an unprecedented $47 million (£37 million) per year as the highest-paid judge in broadcasting history.

The 81-year-old Brooklyn native has transformed courtroom television since launching 'Judge Judy' in 1996, building an empire that spans 25 years and continues with her current programme, 'Judy Justice.'

Her latest series, 'Justice on Trial', premiered on 21 July and involves her reviewing landmark cases.

Who Is Judy Sheindlin?

Judy Sheindlin, born Judith Susan Blum on 21 October 1942, in Brooklyn, US, is an American jurist and television personality. She became widely known for her role in the popular television show 'Judge Judy'.

Known for her no-nonsense attitude, she has achieved recognition as the highest-paid judge on television, a distinction earned through her work on 'Judge Judy', which ran from 1996 to 2021, and 'Judy Justice', which began in 2022 with a similar format.

She attended James Madison High School before continuing her education at American University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a degree in government. Following this, she began her law studies at Washington College of Law.

Notably, she was the sole female student in a class of 126. She ultimately completed her law degree at New York Law School.

Personal Life: Husband and Children

Judge Judy is known for her assertive pursuit of what she desires, a trait evident in both her professional and personal spheres.

According to a DuJour profile, Judy met Jerry Sheindlin merely three weeks after finalising her divorce from her first husband, Ronald Levy.

They met at a bar where Judy approached him directly, pointed her finger at his face, and asked, 'And who is this?' She later proposed to him, firmly telling him to 'pick a date.' Despite his initial reluctance, he eventually agreed, and they married in the late 1970s.

They briefly divorced in 1990 but have since remained married. She is a mother of five children—two biological and three stepchildren from Jerry—and a grandmother to over a dozen, according to Watch Mojo.

Judge Judy's Net Worth and Salary

Sheindlin's annual television earnings reportedly reached $47 million (£34.71 million) by 2018, a significant increase from the start of her career on screen. Currently, Forbes estimates her net worth to be $580 million (£428.37 million).

While her television career brought immense financial success, Sheindlin initially struggled to earn a living in the legal field. At that time, she was also raising five children with her husband, fellow judge Jerry Sheindlin.

When CBS initially approached Sheindlin for the show in 1996, her financial aspirations were considerably more modest.

In June 2023, she shared with PEOPLE that her initial hope was for the show to run for 'three or four years' and enable her and her husband to purchase 'a two-bedroom apartment one block off the beach in Florida as a retirement place.'

'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 added.

Financial Success and Influence

As Judge Judy consistently performed well and grew in popularity, Sheindlin began to demand a commensurate salary. She recalled telling CBS executives after a decade on air, 'We should be partners. I can do this program without you. Good luck, you can't do it without me.'

The Brooklyn-born judge hasn't just dominated ratings—she's redefined how millions understand the American legal system.

Her influence extends far beyond television screens, making complex legal matters accessible through straightforward talk and memorable one-liners that have become part of popular culture.