America’s Got Talent has cemented the fame and status of several accomplished acts. The NBC show has spanned nearly 2 decades and has featured a roster of judges, but how much do these A-listers get per season?
The talent show was created by show mogul Simon Cowell in 2006, and has produced the iconic acts like Terry Fator, Lindsey Stirling, Jackie Evancho, and Grace VanderWaal. “Over the years, we have seen some amazing acts and met some truly incredible people. It’s true that two or three minutes can change your life,” the judge said of its 20th season. “I want to thank every contestant, all the fans who have supported the show every year and to NBC for believing in this show. And of course, the amazing team, past and present, who make the show so special. Now as always, I am really excited to meet the contestants this year.”
Related: Dancing With The Stars Judge’s Salaries: Here’s How Much They Each Make
So which judges get paid more and which ones called out the show? Read more to find out.
Salary: $70,000
Net Worth: $60M
Seasons: Season 5 – present
Howie Mandel reportedly receives a salary of $70,000 per episode of America’s Got Talent, according to Celebrity Net Worth. That would result to $1.5 million per season. He’s the longest tenured judge on the competition show for 14 years, and has a net worth of $60 million.
Salary: Unknown
Net Worth: $10M
Seasons: 8-13, 20-present
Mel B’s AGT salary is unknown, but the famed Spice Girl’s net worth is reportedly $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Salary: $45M per season
Net worth: $600M
Seasons: 11 – present
As the creator of America’s Got Talent, Simon Cowell receives a salary of around $45 million a year, according to multiple reports. His net worth is estimated to be around $600 million after contributing his producing and judging skills to American Idol, Britain’s Got Talent, and The X Factor.
Salary: $10M per year
Net Worth: $180M
Seasons: 15 – present
Sofia Vergara reportedly received $10 million in her first year as a judge on America’s Got Talent, according to Forbes. With her hefty career on one of America’s most famous sitcoms Modern Family, she has a net worth of $180 million according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Salary: $100,000
Net Worth: $160M
Seasons: 8-13 15-present
Supermodel Heidi Klum receives a salary of about $100,000 per episode, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Since she’s also a super famous model who’s done work for Birkenstock, H&M, Jordache and New Balance, she’s also received a hefty salary on brand deals. Her reported net worth is $160 million, according to the site.
Salary: Unknown
Net Worth: $12M
Seasons: 14
Julianne Hough was a judge on America’s Got Talent for 1 season. Her salary is unknown, but we do know her Dancing With the Stars salary was $500,000 when she was a judge on the dancing competition show. Her net worth is reportedly $12 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Salary: Unknown
Net Worth: $40M
Seasons: 14
Gabrielle Union was a judge on America’s Got Talent for one season after she alleged racism on set of the NBC show. Her salary was unknown, but she reached a settlement with the network. Her net worth is reportedly $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Salary: $20M per season
Net Worth: $650M
Seasons: 7-10
Howard Stern laughed off a question if he was earning $20 million during his freshman year on America’s Got Talent. “Do I work for that little?” Stern laughed at a cameraman, per TMZ. “Yes, to the bank.” So it’s safe to assume that America’s most famous radio personality has a salary around that ballpark. He reportedly has a net worth of $650 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Salary: $2M per season
Net Worth: $20M
Seasons: 1-6
The Times reported that Piers Morgan was one of the top-paid people on television in 2010 when he received a salary of $2M. The news broadcaster currently has a net worth of $20 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
Salary: Unknown
Net Worth: $10M
Seasons: 1-4
David Hasselhoff’s America’s Got Talent salary is unknown, but the Baywatch star boasts a net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Salary: $70,000 per episode
Net Worth: $220M
Seasons: 2-7
Sharon Osbourne revealed that she “only” got $70,000 per episode. “Do you know what I got? The least paid on the f***ing panel,” she told Howard Stern on his radio show, saying that it was “f—k all”. She left the show after NBC dropped her son Jack from a reality show. She also called out Simon Cowell for underpaying her on his other show The X Factor. She has a reported net worth of $220 million which she shared with her late-husband Ozzy Osbourne.
Salary: Unknown
Net Worth: $10M
Seasons: 1
Music icon Brandy only stayed on AGT for its inaugural season, so her salary isn’t known at all. She reportedly left the show because “she felt she couldn’t give the new season the attention and commitment it deserved,” per her rep. Her net worth is reportedly $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
