Judge Judy’s $47 million annual salary is not unreasonable, says LA judge

There is 'no evidence that the salary was negotiated in bad faith'

A judge has ruled that TV personality Judy Sheindlin’s salary of $47 million-per-year is not unreasonable.

Sheindlin – better known as Judge Judy – was taken to court by Richard Lawrence, who heads the talent agency Rebel Entertainment Partners.

Lawrence takes a commission from the profits of the reality TV show and claimed the network CBS, along with Big Ticket Television, were overpaying Sheindlin, therefore minimising the show’s profits.

However, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joanne O'Donnell dismissed Lawrence’s claims that Sheindlin was being paid excessive amounts to deny the talent agency money.

“That Judge Sheindlin is paid more than other television hosts does not establish her salary is unreasonable or that Defendants negotiated the salary in bad faith,” O’Donnell wrote according to Variety.

“Plaintiff has presented no evidence that the salary was negotiated in bad faith or is unreasonable in light of the undisputed ‘resounding success’ of Judge Judy and the fact that without its namesake star the show would not continue.”

Sheindlin gave evidence during the trial, explaining how they negotiate her salary every three years. She began by saying she takes a card into the negotiations with all her demands – to which they normally agree.

However, one time the President of CBS John Nogawski brought along an envelope of his own.

“And I said, 'I don't want to look at it,'” Sheindlin said according to The Hollywood Reporter. “He said, 'Why not? Maybe it's more than what's in your envelope.' And I said, 'Well, John, if I look at your envelope, it's a negotiation. This isn't a negotiation.' And he put his envelope away and they gave me what I wanted; not a whole thing, not 30 pages, three things, whatever it was, done.

“So to suggest that the largest profit participant, which is CBS, would pay me willingly more money is so ludicrous. Their back's to the wall.“