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American Idol has been a staple of American actuality TV because the early 2000s. Hopeful singers audition for the possibility to develop into the subsequent music sensation, and though the purpose is to obtain a file deal, the cherry on prime is the money prize the winners get. However what in regards to the contestants who make it to the ultimate rounds of the present?
It might make sense for some, if not all, of the contributors are compensated for his or her time on the truth TV sequence. In spite of everything, some aspiring music artists depart their jobs of their hometowns to chase their desires. So, how a lot cash do American Idol contestants get, and what do the winners obtain now?
Hollywood Life explains the payout from American Idol beneath compared to the present’s earlier seasons.
Do American Idol Contestants Get Paid for Being on the Present?
Contestants don’t routinely receives a commission to go to Hollywood, however they do get compensated in the event that they make it to the stay rounds of the present, former participant Margie Mays stated in a 2020 TikTok video.
“You don’t receives a commission till you make it to the stay rounds,” Margie defined. “I additionally did a few commercials for (American Idol), and that stuff is paid. Once they take you to locations like Hawaii, clearly, they pay for that, and there are issues like a per diem for consuming when you’re in Hawaii. However they’re not paying you to be a contestant.”
In a separate TikTok, Margie confirmed that the present covers resort, meal and journey bills throughout Hollywood Week.
“They’re not paying you cash, however they’re paying in your bills,” she identified.
Whoever makes it to the High 24, they’ll receives a commission a good quantity per episode, however they first have to pay thr $3,000 sign-up charge to hitch the American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists (AFTRA), per TV Insider and Style of Nation. As soon as a contestant is signed up, they’ll earn $1,571 for a two-hour present, $1,303 for each one-hour episode, and $910 for every half-hour episode, in response to knowledge from 2016.
How A lot Cash Do American Idol Winners Get?
These days, the winners of American Idol anticipate to obtain $250,000, however season 16 winner Maddie Poppe revealed how a lot cash she really bought out of that money prize.
“You do get $250,000, however not likely due to taxes,” Maddie advised Enterprise Insider in 2022. “You get half of it earlier than you full your file, after which the second half after you full the file. So, it’s identical to an advance from the file deal, however I’m fairly certain I’ve to recoup it.”
Within the early days of the present, Idol stated winners would obtain as much as $1 million, however Kelly Clarkson revealed the reality about that in a 2026 episode of her eponymous speak present.
“They had been like, ‘Oh you win one million {dollars} or no matter, da da da,’” the “Since U Been Gone” hitmaker started. “No, you didn’t. They lied. You didn’t, no. It was like one million {dollars}’ price of funding in you. … After which they stated you get a automotive. And I wanted it, ’trigger my automotive is bashed in and I couldn’t afford the deductible.”
What 12 months Did Kelly Clarkson Win American Idol?
Kelly is the season 1 winner of American Idolwhich aired in 2002.