Ryan Seacrest Becomes TV's Highest-Paid Reality Host
July 13 2009, Published 4:00 a.m. ET
Ryan Seacrest has just inked a new $45 million deal for three more seasons of American Idol. The pact makes Seacrest the highest-paid reality TV host ever, tripling his salary from $5 to $15 million per season.
Seacrest's deal is with CKX, parent company of 19 Entertainment which created and owns the Idol franchise, and gives CKX the exclusive rights to Ryan's broadcast TV on-camera work for the length of the contract, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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The Atlanta-native has a separate deal at E! to host and manage the cable net's news show. Seacrest also produces several reality TV series including Keeping Up with the Kardashians and he hosts a local morning-drive Los Angeles radio show.
His total annual income is estimated at more than $50 million.