Paula Abdul Earns 2 Million on Idol Vs Simon Cowell’s 36 Million
No wonder Paula Abdul is threatening to quit American Idol.
According to the LA Times, she only earns about 2 million a year vs Simon Cowell’s reported 36 million dollar salary.
Paula is currently in the middle of contract negotiations with Fox for another season of Idol–her current contract is up at the end of this season.
I doubt Paula will quit, but I can understand her frustration. She’s not worth as much as Simon, but she’s certainly worth more than 6% of his salary.
I wonder how much Randy Jackson is making? I’ll assume that new judge, Kara DioGuardi is making considerably less than 2 million…
Paula taped a performance of her new single “I’m Here Just For the Music” that will air on tonight’s Idol results show.
In an interview with the Ladies Home Journal due out this month, she finally admits to having a prescription drug problem. That comes on the heels of denying drug use to Cynthia McFadden in a recent Nightline interview.
Paula tells the Journal that she checked herself into a “spa” last November for detox.
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19 Responses to “Paula Abdul Earns 2 Million on Idol Vs Simon Cowell’s 36 Million”
Well…seeing the actual numbers, that sort of sucks. Wow. I mean, after 8 seasons, you’d think she’d be making at least twice that.
Me? I’m glad she finally admitted something. Good grief. It was like a freakin’ witch hunt.
Really, 2 mill per season? Didn’t the cast of Friends earn something like a million per episode by the end of their run? I loved Friends, but there were 6 of them, and they didn’t get AI ratings. She shouldn’t earn as much as Simon, who’s co-creator, co-producer, a big draw, etc., but Simon makes 18X more?
But FRIENDS also involved a LOT more work for the actors than what these AI judges do.
But yeah, 2M is pretty small. I thought she made at least around 10M or something.
Last year I heard she made like 6 mil… Wow, I can’t believe she gets paid that low. She’s been there the whole time, it’s not like she’s new. I could understand if that’s what Kara got paid since it’s her first year.
I wonder what Randy and Kara make?
Sort of explains why Simon is being the producers’ puppet and Paula is giving the better critiques. I hate Simon for distracting Paula while Paula was giving Kris the best critique, the rightful critique.
No wonder Paula is upset. That is a riciculously low salary considering what AI brings in monetarily. I personally don’t think Simon is worth THAT much more than Paula. I hope they do the right thing and treat her fairly.
Paula can start protesting by making the shift to Kara’s chair. Kara will make perfect company for Simon
Paula is pretty much worthless. I’m not sure that a credible case can be made publicly that she is underpaid. Paula uses the name Idol has given her in her sideline businesses more effectively than the others.
After 8 seasons and enough money to run a small (or big country) made by the Idol franchise…she gets $2MIL per year? Ok, huh?
Simon is one of the people who created this show in the first place. He brought it over from Britain and took a huge financial risk to convince Fox to put this show on the air. As a result, he’s got a piece of everything Idol related so naturally his salary is higher.
Paula works 8 or 10 days for auditions, one week in Hollywood and then maybe 5 or 6 hours a week during the Idol season. Her only job is to offer intelligent and helpful critiques to the contestants – something she doesn’t do well at all.
Simon is involved in every aspect of the show. He spends months in the off-season meeting with everyone involved and works countless hours a day during the show season. And he’s the only judge, IMO, that offers anything even approaching intelligent commentary.
Frankly, I think it’s more than Paula deserves. And if it’s a negotiating ploy I say let her try to get that 2 million someplace else.
Paula gets to the set about 5 hours before the show and Simon arrives about 1 hour before.
Also he isn’t that involved in Idol. He is the EP of BGT & X-Factor not to mention all the stuff he does with his record/TV company. I don’t think he does that much for Idol that warrants 34 more million dollars than Paula.
Paula is horrid. She is lucky to be making minimum wage for that incoherent babble she dishes out.
As hardkandy said, Frieds required most work from the actors,and the productions of a commedy series is a lot less than the one that you will spect for the production of one of AI episodes….
Well, if Kara came in at $1M, or even slightly under that, I can see why Paula’s antsy.
I don’t think sitting in hair and makeup counts!
And just cuz Simon isn’t in the studio doesn’t mean he isn’t working. He’s on his phone and Blackberry constantly.
Mostly I think this is just a ploy from Paula to get more money. These figures probably aren’t even right.
Sorry, but this year Paula has been pretty right on with her critiques. Her stint in rehab seems to have worked. She’ll always be a little interesting in the metaphor department, but she has had some insightful comments. Now, this is not to say that she should earn The Great One’s salary, but a raise should be in order.
Paula deserves more. Not only does she do those 5 hours that someone mentioned she is an ambassador for the show. It’s not only the hours she logs on the show, and believe me there is more to the job than that. She does not deserve Simon dollars, but 2 million is an insult. Shit, I can’t believe I said that. Anyway, pay the lady!
Can I just say one grand WTF! Paula went to a spa to get clean from a drug addiction which she did cold turkey? Are we expected to believe this? And then, she was never high while doing Idol? So, there is yet another reason to explain why she was slurring her words and acting like a crazy loon. What might that be? Oh, and the real funny part, she’s an addict but apparently, a very self-controlled, professional, diligent, responsible addict because she stops using whenever the camera is on. LOL. Paula, time to prepare your press release about how Ladies Home Journel misquoted you.
With this resume, why is it Paula deserves more money? I think she should be grateful she’s not on the street outside the Idol studio with a can in her hand and a shopping cart full of her belongings.
First off – I think Paula deserves more than 2million (if that is even accurate) AND Simon should be paid LESS than 36mill – yeah, I said it!! He’s not worth that much. Paula actually cares for the well being of the contestants, Simon only cares about the bottom line, the $$$$$. I suspect most of you have read the ‘on the scene’ recaps of live performance shows (like EW, TV Guide, etc.)
Simon does not stay in that studio 1 second longer than he has to! Sublime1 …. are u Ryan Seacrest???? I highly doubt he does that much work. Sure he travels alot, signs his name to things, gets camera time, talks himself up, and buys Phantoms… wow – Hard work!!
Paula has given much better critiques this season. Yes, Simon is a huge draw to the show. He occasionally comes up with memorable feedback, blunt and honest. This year he has failed – it’s like (gasp) – he’s NOT EVEN LISTENING to the performers. Just moving the chess pieces along and manipulating the voting public to get the outcome he wants that week. He knows what he’s good at. Not deserving of 36 million a season, imo.