Ryan Seacrest Leads Pack of Highest-Paid Reality Stars

July 29, 2009— -- Good news for would-be reality television stars: reality show salaries are finally catching up with those for dramas and sitcoms.

Nowhere is this clearer than for "American Idol," the No. 1 show on television. "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest recently became the highest paid host on reality TV, signing a deal worth a reported $45 million over the next three years. It's a significant raise for the Seacrest, who reportedly made just shy of $5 million last year.

The title of highest-paid judge likely goes to Simon Cowell. The "Idol" judge is reportedly negotiating a raise in salary from $36 million last year to anywhere from $45 million to an unprecedented $100 million.

"What we are seeing right now, nine years into the reality boom, is reality catching up with what has been true in the scripted world for a long time: television makes people stars," said Matthew Belloni, managing editor for features at The Hollywood Reporter. "Once the show is a hit, the stars get to cash in."

"Some of these salaries are so outrageous," said MJ Santilli, who writes about "Idol" on mjsbigblog.com. "But in the early 2000s, the cast of 'Friends' was making $1 million per episode. If you look at in those terms, it's not really that outrageous."

Competition or talent shows like "The Bachelor" or "Idol" generally pay participants nothing, unless they win. Diary shows, which document participants' lives, do pay. How much depends on how popular participants become or whether celebrities are involved.

The women on Bravo's "Real Housewives of New York" started the first season making a reported $5,000 an episode. By the second season, their salaries had reportedly gone up to $75,000 an episode.