In October 2013, it was reported that Judy Sheindlin is the highest-paid star on television. Her salary of $47,000,000 per year translates into just over $900,000 per workday, as she only works a total of 52 days per year.
In 2012 alone, the series brought in $230,000,000 in advertising for the network.
As stated in the opening, the cases are real. In order to appear on the show both parties must agree to dismiss their cases in the relevant court and accept the Judge's ruling as a form of binding arbitration without right to appeal.
The $5,000 limit on the verdicts is actually the appearance fee given to the plaintiff and defendant from the show. The verdict is paid out of the fee and the remainder is split equally between both parties.
In March 2011, Judge Judy was admitted to hospital after fainting during a case on the show.