How much do American Idol's Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan get paid?
The ABC singing competition pays each of its judges handsomely, let's say that
American Idol was a smash hit during its original run, but after fifteen seasons on FOX, the show bowed out in 2016.
However, following a two year hiatus, ABC revived the singing competition, giving it a new sheen and while original host Ryan Seacrest returned, the judging panel needed a revamp.
As a result, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie were signed on as the three head judges for the series, having continued their partnership since 2018.
With the show currently in its 21st season (sixth of the revival), it begs the question – how much are Katy, Lionel, and Luke paid for their time on the show? Well, let's just say it's a pretty sum.
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Lionel is the lowest paid of the three judges, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com, although the figure is absolutely nothing to sneeze at, given he pulls in $10 million per season.
Just above him is Luke, with the 46-year-old country sensation earning a hefty $12 million per season (almost $100 million so far, if you do the math).
However, Katy's paycheck comes out to a whopping $25 million per season, more than both Lionel and Luke's combined, a history-making deal at the time when she was brought on as the "anchor" judge in 2017.
While there is no exact reason for the difference, it could be attributed to the 38-year-old's massive popularity at the time, coming off her third straight number one album with , and an accompanying tour that grossed over $50 million in 2018 alone, according to Pollstar.
MORE: Ryan Seacrest makes first American Idol appearance since Live! departure
FremantleMedia Group CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz spoke to The Hollywood Reporterat the time, justifying the decision to lure Katy in with such an enticing figure.
"Katy is in a transition in terms of her own career," she explained. "It has been shown now what these platforms can do for artists.
"It has been beneficial to other people, whether it's on or . But I think she genuinely cares. She auditioned when she was a guest judge on in 2010 and then on the [U.K.] . She's brilliant."
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