How much does Judge Judy's bailiff make a year?
Asked by: Nicole Tremblay | Last update: July 6, 2026Score: 5/5 (46 votes)
Petri Hawkins-Byrd, the long-serving bailiff on Judge Judy, was reported to earn over $1 million per year during his time on the show. He was known for his role alongside Judge Judith Sheindlin for 25 seasons before the show's conclusion.
What is Officer Byrd's net worth?
As of 2024–2026, "Bailiff Byrd" (Petri Hawkins-Byrd), famous for his role on the Judge Judy television show, has an estimated net worth of approximately $3.5 million to $5 million. He built this fortune through his long-term role on Judge Judy, where he reportedly earned around $1 million per year.
What does Officer Byrd do now?
As of 2026, Petri Hawkins-Byrd—famously known as Bailiff Byrd from Judge Judy—serves as a bailiff on the courtroom series Tribunal Justice, which is created by Judy Sheindlin for Amazon Freevee. He also hosts a Facebook/YouTube talk show called "Bonding with Byrd" with his wife, Makita Bond.
What happened between Byrd and Judge Judy?
Bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd, Judge Judy Sheindlin's long-term bailiff, was not asked to join her new show, Judy Justice, in 2021 after a 25-year run together. Byrd expressed hurt, citing a lack of communication from Sheindlin and feeling excluded, while Sheindlin stated he was "priced out" and the new show needed different energy.
How much did Petri Byrd get paid?
Petri Hawkins-Byrd, known as bailiff "Byrd" on Judge Judy, reportedly earned over $1 million annually during his time on the show, which ran from 1996 to 2021. His high salary was, in part, advocated for by Judge Judy Sheindlin.
How much does Judge Judy's bailiff make?
Why did Judge Judy not hire Byrd?
When Judy Justice was announced, however, Byrd's name was conspicuously missing. (Kevin Rasco replaces Byrd as the new bailiff.) Byrd said last fall that Sheindlin “informed me I was not being asked to come along on the project” because “my salary would have been too much.” But “she didn't ask me,” he notes.
Do you have to pay if you lose on Judge Judy?
No, the defendants do not pay the damages on Judge Judy. The show's producers pay all monetary judgements up to a cap of $5,000. In addition to covering the judgment, the production company pays for the flight, hotel, and an appearance fee (roughly $100–$500) for both parties.
Why did Judge Judy's husband leave her?
Judge Judy (Judy Sheindlin) divorced her husband, Jerry Sheindlin, in 1990 after 12 years of marriage primarily due to the emotional stress of her father's death and a lack of support from Jerry during that time. Sheindlin felt her husband was not adequately handling her grief and, after an ultimatum, they briefly separated before reconciling and remarrying in 1991.
Did Judge Judy have a stroke on her show?
Yes, in 2011, Judge Judy (Judy Sheindlin) suffered what she believed to be a transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke, while actively filming her TV show.
What is Judge Judy's former Bailiff doing now?
It was announced in April 2022 that Hawkins-Byrd would return to the court show genre, resuming his televised bailiff duties in the then upcoming panel-based spin-off courtroom series Tribunal Justice. The series is created by Judy Sheindlin and her personal production team and features a three-judge panel.
Are Judge Judy and Bird still friends?
It is complicated. While Judge Judy Sheindlin and Petri Hawkins-Byrd worked together for 25 years, their relationship became strained when he was not asked to join her new show, Judy Justice, in 2021. Byrd expressed feeling snubbed, revealing he was not consulted about the change, though he later acknowledged it was a professional, rather than personal, decision.
Is Judge Judy's show scripted?
Judge Judy is not scripted; it is an arbitration-based reality show featuring real small-claims disputes, genuine litigants, and authentic, legally binding verdicts.
How much does Byrd make?
Byrd's salary is about $1 Million per year. Byrd was the Judge's bailiff as an actual judge before she retired and decided to do the TV show. He contacted her and offered to come and be her bailiff on the show.
Who is Byrd's wife from Judge Judy?
Petri Hawkins-Byrd, known as the bailiff on Judge Judy (1996–2021), is married to Makita Bond. The couple married in 2019. Byrd is known for his long-running role alongside Judy Sheindlin and currently appears on Tribunal Justice.
What is Judge Judy's current net worth?
As of early 2026, Judy Sheindlin’s estimated net worth is approximately $440 million to over $500 million, consistently ranking her among the wealthiest self-made women in entertainment. She built her fortune largely through a $47 million annual salary during her 25-year run on Judge Judy, followed by a $100 million sale of her show's library to CBS.
What is Burt from Judge Judy doing now?
Petri Hawkins-Byrd, famously known as "Bailiff Byrd" from Judge Judy, now stars as a bailiff on the Amazon Freevee courtroom series Tribunal Justice, which premiered in 2023 and is created by Judy Sheindlin. He also hosts a YouTube/Facebook show called Bonding with Byrd with his wife, Makita Bond-Byrd.
How many marriages has Judge Judy had?
Judge Judy (Judith Sheindlin) has been married three times to two different men. She was married to Ronald Levy from 1964 to 1976, and then married Jerry Sheindlin in 1977, divorced him in 1990, and remarried him in 1991.
Why does Judge Judy wear a lace collar?
Judge Judy Sheindlin wears a lace collar—specifically a jabot—to soften the look of her plain black judicial robe, adding a feminine touch to a garment traditionally designed for men. She has explained that the collar is intended to be "disarming," making her appear approachable to litigants, which she calls a "bait and switch" tactic.
What did Judge Judy have done to her face?
Nothing specific or alarming has happened to Judge Judy’s face; the changes in her appearance are primarily the result of the natural aging process, routine cosmetic procedures over her decades in the public eye, and her strict skincare regimen.
How many homes does Judge Judy have?
Where does Judge Judy live? Judy and her husband Jerry Sheindlin's primary residence, for tax purposes is their US$8.6 million Florida mansion. However, the couple also has homes in Connecticut, California, and Rhode Island. The huge mansion in Connecticut is said to be a true home base for the TV star.
Why do people get upset when they lose on Judge Judy?
#5—On Judge Judy, the losing party doesn't pay.
In some cases the other party will pay right away in order to put the matter behind them.
What kind of car does Judge Judy drive?
Judge Judy (Judy Sheindlin) is known to drive luxury vehicles, specifically favoring Bentley models, often in shades of beige. Her reported fleet has included a 2016 Bentley Mulsanne, a 2006 Bentley Arnage R, and a 2007 Bentley Azure convertible, which has been cited as a daily driver.
What is Byrd's salary on Judge Judy?
Petri Hawkins-Byrd, Judge Judy Sheindlin's long-time bailiff, earned an estimated salary of $1 million per year during the later seasons of Judge Judy.
Is Judge Judy a lawyer in real life?
Judith Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy, is an American lawyer, judge, television personality and author. She passed the New York bar exam in 1965 and became a prosecutor in the family court system.
How much of an appearance fee do you get for being on Judge Judy?
Note: the show Judge Judy stopped taping new shows as of July 23, 2021. A claim can be made for up to $5,000, and the award for each judgment on Judge Judy is paid by the producers. On top of this, both the plaintiff and the defendant receive an appearance fee that has reportedly ranged between $100-$500.