The highest-paid TV hosts of 2018

REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

The verdict is in for the highest-paid TV hosts of the year…

For the first year ever, Judy Sheindlin – more commonly known as Judge Judy – reigns supreme not only in her own courtroom, but also across all of television. Pocketing US$147 million pretax last year, Sheindlin is the highest-paid television host, outearning all others, according to Forbes.

According to the publication, Sheindlin sold the rights to Judge Judy‘s 5,200-episode library and future show episodes to CBS for an approximate US$100 million. She also reportedly raked in about US$47 million for hosting Judge Judy and for producing the Hot Bench.

So, who got second place? This prize went to Ellen DeGeneres, who reportedly earned US$87.5 million pretax last year. 

In addition to an eight-figure paycheck for her namesake show, DeGeneres earned US$20 million for an upcoming Netflix stand-up special, becoming the first female comic to receive a payday that large from the streaming service.

Here’s a look at the annual pay of this year’s top TV hosts, with earnings estimated from June 1, 2017, through June 1, 2018:

1. Judy Sheindlin – US$147 million 

2. Ellen DeGeneres – US$87.5 million

3. Dr. Phil McGraw – US$77.5 million

4. Ryan Seacrest – US$74 million

5. Steve Harvey – US$44 million

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