Judge Judy makes most money as TV host with US$147 million

Judy Sheindlin, star of reality court show Judge Judy, is the highest-earning TV host this year with US$147 million, according to Forbes. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/JUDITH SHEINDLIN

NEW YORK - The verdict is in.

According to Forbes, Judy Sheindlin, star of reality court show Judge Judy, is the highest-earning TV host this year with US$147 million (S$202 million).

The former family court judge won a unanimous decision from the magazine as top dog after she sold the rights to her show's 5,200-episode library, as well as future episodes, for about US$100 million last year.

Her bank balance was further inflated by the US$47 million she nets a year for hosting Judge Judy and producing Hot Bench, a TV show whose format lies in a three-judge panel taking on cases.

Ellen DeGeneres would have been No. 1 if not for Sheindlin's US$100 million windfall.

The host of the popular The Ellen DeGeneres Show pulled in US$87.5 million, boosted by a US$20 million deal with Netflix for an upcoming stand-up special.

At No. 3 is Dr Phil McGraw, host of the Dr Phil show, who took home a healthy US$77.5 million.

Ryan Seacrest, with stints on Live With Kelly And Ryan plus American Idol, is not too far back at No.4, with US$74 million.

Steve Harvey holds the No. 5 spot, pocketing US$44 million as the host of shows like Family Feud, Miss Universe and Little Big Shots.

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