Heads up, American Idol fans! The winner of season 23 has been officially revealed, and let's all congratulate Jamal Roberts!
It's been a few months since the ABC drama started airing its latest installment, and viewers tuned in every week to see who'd emerge victorious. As Jamal, Breanna Nix and John Foster all made the Top 3, folks needed to know who would win it all in the May 18 finale. Well, after a three-hour show involving more performances and appearances from past contenders, longtime fans learned Jamal was crowned the next American Idol.
Given how American Idol has been on the air for so long and Jamal follows almost two dozen past winners, we had to find out how much American Idol winners get paid. As it turns out, Jamal will get quite interesting perks that even the most dedicated viewer may not know about.
How much does American Idol season 23 winner Jamal Roberts get paid?
When season 16 champion Maddie Poppe spoke to Business Insider back in 2022, she revealed American Idol winners likely receive $250,000 in prize money and a recording contract. But as she explained to the outlet, it's not necessarily in the way viewers would expect.
"You do get $250,000 but not really because of taxes," Maddie confirmed at the time. "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."
Even though this seems like a bit of a surprise, this isn't the only time Jamal has received money for being on American Idol.
According to a report from TV Insider, Jamal first had to pay $3,000 and apply to the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) union. Once admitted, Jamal would have earned $1,571 for a two-hour show, $1,303 for a one-hour episode, and $910 for a half-hour episode, per numbers released in 2016. What's more, The Hollywood Reporter stated Jamal would've gotten a $400 weekly wardrobe allowance to use, and could keep the outfit selections after the show.
How much does American Idol season 23 runner-up John Foster get paid?
While People writes there is no exact confirmation on what John might have made for his time on American Idol, he may have already benefitted from having people watch him week after week.
In past seasons of American Idol, it's been noted that the runners-up also make names for themselves on the music scene. Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee went on to build a successful acting career away from the show, while season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina became a country music sensation with multiple hits under her belt. But the most notable person in this position was season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert, who went on to become the lead singer of Queen (originally held by the late Freddie Mercury).
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
