'American Idol': How much do contestants really make? Past alums of hit reality series reveal real answers
'American Idol' Season 24 has whittled down the competition to the Top 9 during this week's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night, which aired on Monday on ABC. The finalists are Chris Tungseth, Braden Rumfelt, Hannah Harper, Daniel Stallworth, Keyla Richardson, Lucas Leon, Jordan McCollough, Kyndal Inskeep, and Brooks. Fans can't wait to see them battle it out in the coming weeks for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be crowned as the winner of 'American Idol.' The singing reality series kicked off its Idol University- themed season on January 26, with Ryan Seacrest as host and Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan as judges. While watching all the backstage preparations, the pre-performance jitters, and the phenomenal onstage performances, we can't help but wonder if the contestants get paid to appear on the show. If they do, how much do they make each week?
Margie Mays, a contestant from Seasons 17 and 18 of 'American Idol,' gave the clearest answer on this subject in a TikTok from November 2020. She said, "You don’t get paid until you make it to the live rounds. I also did a couple of commercials for [American Idol], and that stuff is paid. When they take you to places like Hawaii, obviously, they pay for that, and there are things like a per diem (sort of allowance) for eating while you're in Hawaii. But they're not paying you to be a contestant." In another TikTok, she explained how the show covers the contestants' personal expenses throughout their stint on the reality series. "Yes, they will fly you to Hollywood Week if you have to take a flight. They pay for that; they book for that. Awesome. They'll get you from the airport to the hotel. Hotel is paid for. Meals are provided ... They're not paying you money, but they are paying for your expenses."
In 2013, the show's former costume designer, Soyon An, told The Hollywood Reporter that contestants receive a wardrobe allowance each week for their costumes: $400 for the performance show and $400 for the results episode, for a total of $800 per week for two costumes. She also shared that some contestants prefer to pay out of their own pockets if the budget goes over the allotted amount, just to create their image. The good news is that the singers get to keep the entire outfit, along with their own accessories.
But what about contestants taking part in the 'American Idol' live shows? TV Insider reported in March 2025 that competitors must first pay $3,000 to become members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Once they are accepted into the union, the contestants can earn $1,571 for a two-hour show, $1,303 for a one-hour episode, and $910 for a half-hour episode. It must be noted that these numbers are from 2016, so they may have changed since then.
Winners of earlier seasons of 'American Idol' like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Phillip Phillips received a cash prize of $1 million, but the winning sum has dropped significantly over the last few years. Maddie Poppe revealed how much she took home from her $250,000 cash prize after winning Season 16 in 2018. In a conversation with Business Insider in 2022, she said, "You do get $250,000, but not really because of taxes. You get half of it before you complete your record, and then the second half after you complete the record. So, it's just like an advance from the record deal, but I'm pretty sure I have to recoup it." Watch the remaining episode of 'American Idol' Season 24 on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC or stream on Disney+.
