There is no denying that “Judge Judy” has been a staple television series for daytime programming for almost twenty years now, since the show aired in 1996.
The daytime series, and Judy Sheindlin will continue to be airing after CBS Television Distributor extended her contract up until 2020. The judge, who is 72, currently makes 47 million dollars a year, according to TV Guide, which makes her one of the highest paid television stars around.
Armando Nunez, President and CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group, expressed his gratitude that the Judge will continue to be with the broadcasting station by saying, “We could not be more excited to continue our longtime relationship with Judy. She is a true television icon, who entertains and inspires millions of fans each day.”
According to Sheindlin, she didn’t negotiating with executives at the station, but at dinner. She handed them an envelope with a new contract and salary expectations and told them not to open it until their dinner was over.
A year later, she said that the executive handed back an envelope full of his own terms and conditions, she then responded by saying, “If I open the envelope, it becomes a negotiation,” she told them, “and this isn’t a negotiation.”
Although there were negotiations and CBS responded to her wishes without an issue, Sheindlin went on to say, “I didn’t believe they would turn me down. I didn’t think they could afford to. But I was also prepared to walk away.”
The new contract also provides the CBS executives and production teams with a first hand look at several new projects that Sheindlin is working, which includes a series called “Hot Bench”
Photo By: Evan Agostini / Associated Press
