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\t\t<\/p>\n American Idol<\/strong><\/a><\/em> contestants are competing to win a recording contract, but they\u2019re also giving up their time and work opportunities to be on the show\u2026 so do they get paid for appearing as contestants?<\/p>\n While winners in the early days of American Idol<\/em> received a $1 million recording contract, that amount is much less right now.<\/p>\n Keep reading to find out more\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Maddie Poppe<\/strong><\/a>, who won the first American Idol<\/em> season to air on ABC, says she received a $250,000 prize for winning, but she didn\u2019t exactly get that much money.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do get $250,000, but not really because of taxes,\u201d she told Business Insider<\/a>. \u201cAnd you get half of it before you complete your record, and then the second half you get after you complete the record. So it\u2019s just like an advance from the record deal, but I\u2019m pretty sure I have to recoup it.\u201d<\/p>\n Some reports have stated that the current prize is at $125,000 for the winners, though that is not verified.<\/p>\n So, are contestants paid while appearing weekly on the show?<\/p>\n Former contestant Margie Mays <\/strong>revealed that Idol contestants only get paid if they make it to the live shows.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t get paid until you make it to the live rounds, and then you can be paid,\u201d she said in a TikTok video.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they take you to places like Hawaii, obviously, they pay for that and then there\u2019s things like a per diem for, like, eating while you\u2019re in Hawaii,\u201d she added. \u201cBut they\u2019re not paying you to be a contestant. That\u2019s the sacrifice you make to try to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Margie <\/strong>says she also got paid for appearing on the finale of her season.<\/p>\n Meet the Top 24 contestants<\/a> for the 2025 season. <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n