Winners of Fox’s American Idol have never failed to earn less than $1 million in the year after their seasons end. According to the New York Times, the show promises substantial financial rewards to winners regardless of how many records they sell. Last year’s winner, Kris Allen, has earned $650,000, an amount which reflects the minimum a winner would earn including performance fees and merchandising royalties, “as well as other opportunities.” Top 5 finalists are likely to earn $100,000 from the show, and Top 12 contestants are guaranteed several thousand dollars. The details emerged from copies of season 8 contracts filed under laws requiring court approval of entertainment-industry deals with minors Allison Iraheta and Jasmine Murray. Executives at 19 Entertainment declined to comment on the contracts.
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I’m shocked Kris Allen made that much to be truthful, I wonder how much Adam Lambert made.
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According to the NYT, Adam’s contract was half the amount about $300,000. But he makes “event” appearances and things like that, so he gets a fee for those appearances. He hasn’t done commercials….I’m surprised that Kris is getting so much endorsement activity.
Well Kris is the Idol winner so that is why he is doing so much Ford commericals. But I think you might see Adam soon doing some as well. The people at Ford are really impress with Adam.
I’m sure that most of his events are gay.
We’re sure most of yours are as well, barry.
why would you be surprised Kris is getting so much endorsement opportunities? He’s the AI winner, he’s extremely talented ,likeable and downright cute. He’s a marketing dream come true.
They all make too much since they have no talent.
so do the contestants who don’t make the top 12 earn nothing?
Not necessarily, but do we really remember all the top 24.
I think they are paid a weekly stipend probably in line with a week’s pay for a low-level actor who is a SAG member…. likely a little over a thousand a week, to compensate for the fact that they have left their jobs to be on the show.
Once you’re in the top 12 I’d expect the money to at least double plus there is the tour for the top ten and any other recognition you can try to capitalize on after the show is over and you’ve fulfilled your contractural obligations
I am sure Kris will earn more this year – his CD will probably continue to sell as he releases new singles and I am guessing he will tour. Adam is touring now – he sold out a concert this Saturday in Palm Springs/Indio – in fact, I will be there – YAY!!!
Can I officially hate you now?
Both Kris and Dam had big jumps on I-Tunes today. Kris is up to 28 overall and 7 on Pop. Happy for you getting to see Adam! We are going to see Kris in Atlantis.
Oops! Should read “ADAM”
Hah, thanks for clarifying. I was trying to remember who Dam was.
Can I hate you too? I didn’t even know about that concert and I thought I knew everything! lol Not really but still……..congrats on being able to go.
Yes, ’cause they’re American “I-Dulls”…
Wow… aren’t you a clever guy. Taking the word “Idol” and turning it into something negative. You rule. Wow what a clever clever guy you are!
LOL@Dan. That was the best comment! More clever than the idiot Bob, for sure!
Good for them.
If you read the article, you’ll see the few thousand dollars isn’t a reward for making it to the top, it’s a per-episode fee paid for each live performance
Glad to hear they are paid for their performance time. Seems fair since they cannot do any other performing while working on the show.
Not enough money for the tension, frustration and depression they get during the competitions.
Not bad considering most of the alums dont have longevity much less an actual music carrer-aside from kelly-fantasia-jennifer and carrie …more money than i will ever make in my lifetime
Good point. Most of them fade away after about 5 years…does anybody remember Bo Bice? Had a record contract and was supposed to be the next best thing, and flopped….and don’t get me started with Mario Vasquez and soooo many others.
However, once they get their names out there, they can still make a living with special appearances, Broadway, bit parts, etc.
George Huff said he’s never made less than 6 figures since leaving AI.
If I remember correctly, Bo Bice had a serious illness right after American Idol and lost his momentum that he had built from the show. I still think he is the most talented rocker dude to come out of this show. I miss him.
You are right, he took seriously ill after the competition and it has taken him months and months to recover.
Shouldn’t the top ten earn more than “a few thousand dollars” since they do the concert tour?
The article stated that the money from the tour was not included in their figures. It also stated that the contestant earn additional money for the group performances ($1,011), as those performances are not part of the competition.
Hehe, I missed your post. It’s good to know that the Top 12 actually DOES mean something.
I didn’t think the Top 11 & 12 made very much. Only the Top 10 go on tour, and they get decent money for that.
Kris Allen cannot sing better than my grandmother with a poutine in her mouth. Vive la Quebec!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woo-hoo! Go Jean’s grandmother. Must be a helluva chick.
LOL!
SAD.
KRISS is boring week nasal voice
Adam is nasty just waiting the right moment to unlish another xxx performance that is what he sells alone with controversy and tons of make up
can any one tell american idol judges to isolate microphons on thy’re table every time the hand of any of them hits the table it souds BOOM!!! so anoing
“Winners of Fox’s American Idol have never failed to earn less than $1 million in the year after their seasons end.” – Annie Barrett
What this sentence literally means, is that all the winners have accomplished earning LESS than a million dollars; what I believe she meant to say is: “Winners of Fox’s American Idol have never failed to earn AT LEAST $1 million dollars a year after winning.”
Please EW, GET MORE COMPETENT WRITERS, OR EDITORS; ONE OR THE OTHER, THANKS.
No Annie’s got it right. Never guess that Annie is less than correct but perhaps you could not care less…
No, Ronnie’s right. I kept looking over that sentence and trying to figure out what wasn’t quite right with it. It should indeed read “have never failed to earn at least $1 million,” unless the intended meaning was that they DO NOT earn $1 million within a year of finishing Idol.
Yup, Ronnie is correct the sentence is wrong in the article if the meaning was they earned more than a million dollars.