Since its sensational debut in 2002, ‘American Idol’ has enjoyed a very successful 22 season run and is still going strong. The beloved television franchise has also churned out an impressive number of highly successful recording artists and Broadway stars, including Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Adam Lambert. That said, participating in the show is a grueling endeavor and a significant commitment, which is why you might be wondering, “Do ‘American Idol’ contestants get paid for all this?” The short answer is, yes…but it’s not as much as you’d think unless you make it to the top. Read on for everything I learned about the cash flow for ‘American Idol’ contestants.
Do ‘American Idol’ Contestants Get Paid? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About This Long-Running Money Maker
It varies widely
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Published Jul 4, 2024
Eric McCandless/Contributor/Getty Images
Eric McCandless/Contributor/Getty Images
1. Do ‘American Idol’ Contestants Get Paid?
Yes, ‘American Idol’ hopefuls who make it past auditions and onto the show are compensated for the televised performances they give (more on that below). That said, the contestants take considerable risks—like quitting their day jobs, for example—and incur other expenses relating to travel to be on the show. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the show gives contestants a wardrobe allowance of $400 per episode (and, yes, they can keep the clothes), but this contribution is rarely adequate given the high cost of the designer threads, so contestants often have to dip into their own bank accounts for that, too.
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2. How Much Do ‘American Idol’ Contestants Get Paid?
According to an in-depth report from Fox Business News, ‘American Idol’ contestants do get paid: “The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or AFTRA, pays each top 24 contestant a performance fee: $1,571, plus meals for two-hour ‘Idol’ shows, $1,303 for one-hour shows and $910 for half-hour results shows.” However, it’s worth noting that you have to be a member of AFTRA to receive this income and it costs $1,600 to join.
There are other paydays for ‘American Idol’ contestants—particularly those who make it to the top 12 and participate in the summer tour. Per the report, this opportunity involves four to five months of touring and yields about $150,000 for each contestant on the tour.
As you can imagine, more money is to be had the farther you make it. The top four rake in considerable cash for the Disney World commercial they’re featured in and other money-making opportunities arise as their celebrity grows—a fact that has allowed contestants to enjoy lucrative careers even if they don’t win first place and earn the coveted ‘Idol’ title.
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3. How Much Do ‘American Idol’ Judges Get Paid?
Answer: A lot more than the contestants. According to Forbes, Luke Bryan earns 12 million per season as an ‘American Idol’ judge, while Katy Perry received $25 million per season. Surprisingly, Celebrity Net Worth reports that music industry veteran Lionel Richie was the lowest paid of the bunch, receiving just a cool 10 million per season as an ‘American Idol’ judge. (Still, nothing to shake a stick at, I’d say.)
