Profitable American Idol has been a dream come true for a lot of singers, however the prizes have modified quite a bit through the years.
Kelly Clarkson was topped the singing competitors’s inaugural winner in 2002. She reportedly walked away with a $1 million prize and a report cope with RCA Data, per Parade. Along with the money prize and contract, Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini each bought a free trip to Turks and Caicos following the season 1 finale.
Clarkson wasn’t the one one to take house $1 million because it was the usual prize for winners as much as season 9. The report deal portion of the prize, in the meantime, is value as much as six studio albums. The winners additionally acquired a administration contract with American Idol-affiliated 19 Administration.
When Carrie Underwood gained American Idol in 2005, she took house a model new automotive alongside the money prize and report deal. In 2023, Underwood shared that she nonetheless has the Ford Mustang convertible.
“I do nonetheless have the automotive that I gained after I gained American Idol,” the nation singer stated in a March 2023 interview with Immediately’s Nation Radio With Kelleigh Bannen. “So I’ve my blue Mustang.”
Underwood added that she is going to nonetheless drive the sentimental car round occasionally.
“It at all times makes me need to drive it extra, as a result of it was such a pivotal level in my life,” she recalled. “That was the automotive that I used to be driving round after I first moved to Tennessee, and I’m very, very glad I nonetheless have that automotive.”
Whereas it isn’t identified how a lot season 10 and 11 winners Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery made, season 12 winner Phillip Phillips took house $1 million, per Today.
When American Idol ended at Fox and moved to ABC in 2018, the money prize modified drastically. Winners now obtain $250,000, per Variety. Season 16 winner Maddie Poppe revealed in a 2022 interview with Business Insider that profitable the present doesn’t get a contestant “set for all times.”
“You do get $250,000, however not likely due to taxes,” Poppe instructed the outlet. “And also you get half of it earlier than you full your report, after which the second half you get after you full the report. So it’s similar to an advance from the report deal, however I’m fairly certain I’ve to recoup it.”
American Idol paved the best way for actuality competitors exhibits to assist on a regular basis individuals obtain their goals of music stardom. The sequence premiered in 2002 on Fox with a star-studded judging panel consisting of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. American Idol‘s freshman season launched Kelly Clarkson, who would turn out to be the present’s first breakout star. […]
Season 23 topped Jamal Roberts as its winner in Could 2025. Along with profitable the $250,000, Roberts and runner-up John Foster each gained a Disney cruise. The pair every acquired a visit for 4 on the Disney Want cruise line. The journey consists of world-class eating, Disney leisure, and character experiences, plus a keep at Disney’s non-public island, Castaway Key.
Whereas not each contestant can win the grand prize, those that make it to the dwell rounds do get compensated.
“You don’t receives a commission till you make it to the dwell rounds, and then you definately might be paid,” seasons 17 and 18 contestant Margie Mays stated in a 2020 TikTok video.