---
title: The Big Money Winners on "American Idol"
description: MONEY takes a look at some key numbers behind the epic singing empire.
authors:
  - name: Katie Meyer
    url: https://money.com/author/katie-meyer/
    at_money_since: 2016
    articles: 7
    covers:
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      - Career Advice
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      - Taxes
    former_staff: true
published: '2016-04-06T22:55:36.000Z'
modified: '2020-07-07T11:00:19.000Z'
section: Lifestyle
tags:
  - Adam Lambert
  - American Idol
  - carrie underwood
  - chris daughtry
  - Entertainment
  - Entertainment
  - Fox
  - Jennifer Hudson
  - katharine mcphee
  - Money
  - Ryan Seacrest
  - video
word_count: 120
canonical: https://money.com/big-money-winners-american-idol/
type: Article
source: structured-blocks
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![GettyImages-473214206.jpg.00_00_00_00.Still001](https://img.money.com/2016/04/gettyimages-473214206-00_00_00_00-still001.jpg)

For the last 15 years, *American Idol* has been bringing us different singers and musicians. To commemorate its final episodes, Money took a look at the numbers behind the singing competition. There have been 11 judges during *American Idol'*s run, but Ryan Seacrest has always been the host. In 2009, he signed a contract for $15 million.

Adam Lambert made a reported $10 million in 2015 thanks to his reunion tour with the rock band Queen. Country singer Carrie Underwood made $8 million and Chris Daughtry made $6 million.

But *Idol* hasn't turned out just singers. Katharine McPhee is the star of the CBS show *Scorpion,* and Jennifer Hudson went on to win an Oscar for her role in *Dreamgirls.*

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