How Much Do the American Idol Contestants Earn? More Than You Think

It's always been somewhat of a mystery how much the folks who appear, and win, American Idol end up earning.  Well, wonder no more, because the New York Times has gotten a hold of last year's Idol contract, which by law had to be filed in California state court because many of the contestants are minors.  Here are some of the figures:

--Since winning the Idol crown last year, KRIS ALLEN has earned at least 650 thousand dollars.  He received 100 grand from Disney just to say "I'm going to Disney World!" and then actually go there, after he won the competition.  He got another 100 grand to film segments for use in the Disney attraction The American Idol Experience and to tape a segment for the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade TV special.  He also got an advance of 350 thousand bucks for his first album, and a 100 thousand dollar advance on royalties from a three-year contract that lets 19 Entertainment, the company behind Idol, use his image to "promote goods and services."

--ADAM LAMBERT got a 300 thousand dollar advance for his album, a 75 thousand-dollar merchandising contract and 50 grand from Disney to participate in the American Idol Experience. The rest of the top five finalists also got 50 grand from Disney.

--Any contestant who signs a management contract with 19 Entertainment, as Idols like DAVID COOK and CARRIE UNDERWOOD have done, has to give the company 15% of their earnings for three years, though 19 continues to collect a slice of some of the contestant's earnings for 10 years.

--If 19 had chosen to exercise their options on other Top 12 finalists in addition to Adam, Kris and ALLISON IRAHETA, those lucky contestants would have received 200 thousand dollars each for a first album and 50 grand from merchandising.

--Once contestants reach the Top 12, they each get a one-time payment of a thousand bucks for participating in recording iTunes performances, plus a thousand-dollar advance on royalties for each recording.  Top 12 contestants usually make just over a thousand bucks for every one-hour episode on which they appear, and just over 1,500 bucks for a two-hour episode.  The top 10 go on to make even more for doing the summer tour.

After being informed of these figures, a longtime agent for recording artists told the New York Times, "I'm shocked that they give them that much money."