When American Idol aired its first season in 2002, it became an instant TV hit, giving the people a brand-new superstar Kelly Clarkson (the winner of Season 1), who is still pretty massive today. Since then, the show has aired a total of 20 seasons (the 21st season is coming soon), and doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon.

Of course, Kelly Clarkson isn't the biggest American Idol alum. It's Carrie Underwood (the winner of Season 4), who used her American Idol win as a stepping stone to even greater success, amassing a net worth of $140 million. Plus, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, and Todrick Hall are some American Idol contestants who did not win in their respective seasons but achieved enormous fame later.

Also, who can forget the judges of the show? From Simon Cowell to Jennifer Lopez to Keith Urban, a lot of big names have judged American Idol. Although fan-favorite Paula Abdul, who was a main judge on the show during its first 8 seasons reportedly tried to quit American Idol on its first day of screening!

With all this star power and financial success, people often wonder how much do American Idol contestants get paid on the show? After all, there's no guarantee you'll be successful after appearing on American Idol. Like Lee DeWyze (the winner of Season 9), whose career didn't do very well after his win, or Caleb Johnson (winner of Season 13). And people also wonder if contestant earnings have changed at all in the last 20 years.

American Idol Contestants Earn More Now Per Episode Than When It Started

Angie Miller from American Idol performance
Fox

NBC's Today reported in 2007 that American Idol contestants only get paid once they reach the Top 12 and become season finalists.

At that time, they sign up with AFTRA, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and are paid $921 every week for each one-hour-long episode.

Once the contestants reach Top 10 and go on to do the American Idols Live! tour, their stipend is higher. But the exact figures are not known.

It has been reported that the stipend for live concerts can range anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000 per show.

Related: Which American Idol Winner Sold The Most Records?

In 2012, Fox Business covered Richard Rushfield's book American Idol: The Untold Story which detailed the contestants' earnings, among other things.

According to the book, the show has expanded its pay list to include the Top 24 contestants now instead of the Top 12 as before. But they still need to sign up with AFTRA first, which costs $1600 to join.

After that, each contestant is paid $1,571 (plus meals) for two-hour shows, $1,303 for one-hour shows, and $910 for result shows that are half-hour long.

So, if the contestants stay long enough, they are able to make up for the cost of joining AFTRA, and then profit afterward.

American Idols Live! Tours Are More Lucrative For The Top 10 Contestants

Noah Thompson on American Idol
Fox

According to Billboard, American Idols Live! Tour 2006 (season 5) made an estimated $35.2 million. So it's likely that touring with the top finalists has become even more lucrative for the franchise now.

But has that translated into a higher stipend per show for the contestants?

"They get around $150,000 for four or five months of touring,” Rushfield mentions. Which, when you break it down, doesn't reflect a big increase in stipend per show since the $1,000 to $5,000 figure reported in 2007.

But Rushfield mentioned that the real value of the Idols tour is in the exposure.

With more than 650,000 people showing up for the city tours across America and all the media coverage that comes along with it, contestants can make real connections with fans during the summer tour, which can translate into career success later.

Related: Mariah Carey Avoids Talking About Her Experience On American Idol During Interviews

And if a contestant is especially popular with the crowd, they can also score record a deal, even if they do not win the show.

Plus, Top 4 contestants get to earn even more once they get a commercial with Disney, which pays very handsomely.

All in all, if they make it far, according to Rushfield contestants can earn up to $1 million during their time on American Idol.

Being On American Idol Is A Costly Gamble For Some, And If They Make It There Are Limited Perks

American Idol contestants don't get paid if they exit the show early or don't make it to the Top 24.

And given the format of the show and its auditions, costs can quickly add up for contestants fighting for a chance.

According to Rushfield, many contestants drop out if they don't have the financial capacity to make it to the second or third audition round if it's in a city very far away from where they live.

David Archuleta (runner-up of season 7) traveled to San Diego from Salt Lake City just to make it past the auditions. And it was the same for Jordin Sparks (winner of season 6) who flew to Seattle all the way from Glendale, Arizona.

Although once they become a finalist, contestants don't have to pay for food or residence anymore. And depending on the season and sponsorships, sometimes they get to live in really luxurious places, and other times they are housed in shared apartments that are functional but not glamorous.

And the same is true for traveling expenses. It's covered once they get past all the audition rounds.

This is not true for their family though. And that can become an added expense for contestants and their family if their family wants to come and see them perform live.

More so if they have many siblings, like David Gokey (third-place finalist in Season 8).

Related: Inside American Idol's Biggest Finale Controversies

As for their clothes, according to Rushfield, contestants have a stipend of $450 for clothes per week, which they get to keep after the show. But the money barely covers the basics, so many contestants fork over more from their own pockets to make a statement on the show.

Like Adam Lambert (a.k.a Glambert) who became popular for his fashion choices along with his singing prowess.

Ultimately, being a contestant on American Idol isn't a financially lucrative decision. But if one has the talent and can make it far on the show, it can turn any regular Joe or Jane into a superstar and a multi-millionaire almost overnight.