Ryan Seacrest Now Earns $55 Million Paycheck

Entertainment May 11, 2011 AT 7:01PM
Ryan Seacrest Now Earns $55 Million Paycheck Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Ryan Seacrest is rolling in the dough.

The 36-year-old American Idol host's salary tripled in 2009 -- skyrocketing from $5 million a year to $15 million -- when he signed a three-year deal with FOX and CKX, and now the Hollywood Reporter estimates he earns $55 million a year.

PHOTOS: Before they were on American Idol

How'd Seacrest score such an enormous paycheck?

VIDEO: Watch Pia Toscano sing "I'll Stand By You"

In addition to his $45 million American Idol compensation, he hosts his own KIIS-FM radio show and produces the Kardashian reality shows for E! and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution for ABC.

PHOTOS: Meet American Idol's Top 13!

Seacrest doesn't come cheap, but FOX can certainly afford him. Though operating costs for American Idol rose 17% in the last year, Forbes estimates the program earns $7.11 million every half-hour for News Corp.

Tell Us What You Think

12
Comment by signing in with or creating your Facebook account by clicking below.
  • May 12, 2011 - 10:35am Gena Fisher

    Okay, I like Ryan. BUT when they do their little IDOL GIVES BACK thing, instead of begging money from people who earn minimum wage, why doesn't Idol Really Give Back and Ryan shell out a few million and then hit up Simon for another couple of million?

  • May 12, 2011 - 8:48am Girlretro Celebrities

    wow, so many people bad comment about him

  • May 12, 2011 - 8:47am Lavina Boykin

    meant "or" really good material.

  • May 12, 2011 - 8:46am Lavina Boykin

    His radio show is awful. There is just no personality are really good material. You can tell people just hand him crap, he does no real prep for that show.

  • May 12, 2011 - 8:10am Filomena Araujo

    This clown aint worth that kind of money. I can't stand him. This guy has absolutely NO TALENT. ZERO. ZILCH.

  • May 12, 2011 - 6:49am Ashley Harrison

    I use to like him, but he's so over exposed for no good reason. I gave up on Idol a few seasons ago, Ryan irk'd me too much with his stupid saying...thissssss isssss American Idol. stfu lil boy! spread your wealth to the less fortunate, I dam sure would if I had that type of dough!

  • May 12, 2011 - 2:18am Kim Greene

    What the heck does this clown do to warrant the money - and why is he at the Met Gala?? Who is he really come on?!?!?!

  • May 12, 2011 - 12:15am Charlene Johnson

    ugh .........

  • May 12, 2011 - 12:11am Elizabeth Aspen

    Yes, I would Stephanie. NO ONE needs $55 million a year - NO ONE. It makes me sick that Hollywood tosses money like this around for a no-talent like this guy - not to mention all the others in that town - for pretty much doing nothing more than showing up and standing in place for an hour. That kind of money could do WONDERS for the poor in this country who are homeless and hungry. If someone handed me that money, I'd buy my dream house, a decent car, put some away so that I'd never miss a meal or go without health care and I'd give the rest to the people who really need it.

  • May 11, 2011 - 11:32pm Stephanie Card

    if someone offered you that salary, you'd turn it down?

  • May 11, 2011 - 10:42pm Kathy Allen

    The word "earn" doesn't belong anywhere near this item.

  • May 11, 2011 - 7:31pm Petie Swackhammer

    He's such a tool....

ADVERTISEMENT