Long gone are the days when reality TV was for C-listers and wanna be’s. Ever wonder how much reality TV stars make? Reality TV competitions are attracting attracting some big time, established celebs to judge and host and they are paying WELL them well. Here are some of the highest paid reality TV stars:
#10 – Padma Lakshmi
Padma earns $50,000 per episode of Top Chef and all she really does is eat, announce who won, and tells the eliminated chef to pack their knives and go. She does a little more than that but I amĀ jealous that she gets paid to eat and kick people off the show – sounds like my dream job.
#9 – Nick Cannon
As the host of America’s Got Talent Nick Cannon earns $70,000 per episode. That’s a heck of a lot for the guy who got his start on Nickelodeon as a kid. The sad part is that we all know that his wife Mariah Carey spends that much in a day.
#8 – The rest of The Voice Judges
Adam Levine, Cee-lo Green, and Blake Shelton each reportedly earn around $75,000 per episode on The Voice. At approximately 23 episodes in a season that’s over $1.7 million. It pales in comparison to Christina’s $10 million or the $225,000 per episode that she used to make, but I’m sure they aren’t complaining.
#7 – Donald Trump
The Donald just signed up for two more seasons of Celebrity Apprentice because we all love to watch B-List celebrities and reality TV stars clash. He is reported to earn $100,000 per episode.
#6 – Christina Aguilera
Xtina recently signed a $10 million deal to judge season 3 of The Voice. Again this is easy money compared to recording, performing and touring. This is every mom’s dream to sit and judge people and get paid to do it. It’s all in a day’s work.
#5 – Howard Stern
As if the King of Raunchy doesn’t earn enough from his radio show, Howard Stern brings home $15 million a year as a judge on America’s Got Talent.
#4 – Jennifer Lopez
In 2011, pop star and actress J. Lo replaced Simon Cowell as head judge of American Idol and earned a whopping $12 million. No reports on what she made in season 2, but I’m sure she got a pay increase. In the least she had her wardrobe budget increased. This is J. Lo we’re talking about.
#3 – Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest has been with American Idol since the beginning and for that he is greatly rewarded. In 2009, he signed a 3 year $45 million contract. I’m sure Brian Dunkleman, Seacrest’s co-host from season 1, threw up when he found out. As astronomical as this figure is, Ryan still has his E! hosting job and he is the Executive Producer of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The Kardashian empire combined with American Idol makes Seacrest on of the highest paid people in television.
#2 – Britney Spears
The top selling pop star Britney revived her career last year and now she’s about to embark on a new career. X-Factor judge. Spears was reportedly offered $15 million to sign on with X-Factor . Reports say they close to closing. I’m sure that the judging schedule is grueling during production but this has got to be the easiest $15 million Spears has ever made.
#1 – Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell is the most lucrative reality TV star ever. I don’t think that anyone else will ever make the kind of money that he makes. Simon reportedly earns $75 million per season of X-Factor .
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wait padma “he is my baby daddy no he isn’t my baby daddy” gets how much? Im clearly in the wrong business.
I was so shocked by her salary. But then again she has been on Top Chef for like 10 seasons. How the hell does she stay so thin? If I eat one spoonful of rice i blow up. Look at how many plates she has to eat when its 12awful chefs cooking.
Maybe she “purges” between takes. That is crazy. I wonder how much Tom makes since he is an actual chef. The merchandising, books alone probably makes his salary sky rocket.
I’m shocked if Christina makes that much more than the rest of the judges.I would be mad as hell if I were Blake, Ceelo, And Adam. I wonder if Adam gets an increase for being the season 1Tami coqches winner?
Maybe she makes more because she was (in the scheme) of things she was more successful? Im not sure. But i do know that money dint going to a stylist or a trainer because…. All I know is Padma is super tiny and all she does is eat. Where Xtina sits all day and…. I felt myself going to hell on that one. never mind
and i still don’t think Jennifer Lopez should even be a judge on American Idol. But I could said that same about Paula so never mind
This is true Xtina is going to have to start seat dancing or something anyething to burn some calories. Either that or put the fork down.
yeah she is very healthy, put the fork and push back from the table. better yet skip some meals
Xtina clearly doesnt care she could have written that into her contract. She’s content. So we should be too. She would make a good. Spokesperson f or Nutrisystem because Janet isnt doing it for me.
Janet looks good. Maybe Janet can mentor Xtina because she needs help. Better yet replace J-Hud because I am need a little more action in those commercials and you know Xtina will come in and over sing. Ryan Seacrest makes bucks. With his radio show, producing all of the Kardashians shows and Shahs of Sunset he is a gazillionaire.
U know darned well Janet isnt eating Nutrisystem.
I didnt know Ryan was behind Shahs- probably should have though. Oops. Makes since Armenians, Persians, he’s probably working on something about Blasians as we speak. Diversity rocks!
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